Disposable powerheads

[FredT]

This is a heads up and request for info.

Last Thursday out of Gulf Shores I had a close encouneter of the Hector kind with a 8-10 ft bull. By the second time he bumped me I was regretting not having a disposable with me. By the third and fourth pass I ended up being right annoyed.

The scene was where the shark had been following the divers just out of our vis (roughly 6') waiting for me to take a shot. Less than 10 seconds after I shot an AJ I had a "friend" with an attitude. Eventually all 4 divers and the AJ made it aboard the Deeper Peeper without serious injury. Regretably the shark didn't, mostly due to lack of armament. That boy obviously has associated divers with lunch. It's time for him to become jerkey before he hurts someone!

Solution for future trips:

I intend to put together a minimal diameter hermetically sealed "slip on" tip suitable for this size critter for immediate deployment on a cocked gun. In order to have a suitable power/diameter ratio I'm thinking of using a .30 carbine round (rimmless, heavy case wall) with a bit of extra Unique or 700X in it. A "factory" .30 carbine will be similar to the power of a .223, but in a smaller diameter package. I'd like to hold the OD of the tip to 1/2" or 5/8" for best accuracy. Firing pin will be the shaft tip so it'll be safe to carry loaded for the long term.


I'll probably have a CNC shop whip up a bunch, since it's almost the same expense to get 50 as it is 5. Also I expect to need a few by July 12, and I won't have time to get into the shop to do any serious machine work before then.

What I need to know, is anybody interested in this, and if so what tip or pointed shaft diameter do you use?

FT

[WreckDiver]

I would be interested, 6mm w/ ---- 5/16th threads permenant point. Spearone supplied with gun, what do you figure the cost will run?

[fernandezh]

FredT,
Are you still planning on a trip out of the Deeper Peeper for 12 July? My weekend is still open, & let me know. I'll bring out the powerheads and we'll compare.

Hector

[kitefisherman]

Fred:

When I was out on the Jolly Rogers Memorial Day trip, I met John Riddick who used to own the Tavernier Dive Center - I don't know if you know him. In any event, John had these sealed powerheards in different calibers. The powerheads were sealed in some sort of colored (by caliber) hard synthetic/plastic? material and were very reliable. John told me that he got them a few years back from a supplier in West Palm Beach called Blue Water Tackle and that they were about 50 cents each (probably at wholesae). He asked me to see if I could find the supplier so that he (and I) could get more. I did an internet and Secretary of State search, but could not find a Blue Water Tackle in the WPB area. I know that you have been around this area a long time. Are you familiar with this vendor? I am diving on the JR2 4th of July trip and will try to take photos of John's powerheads and post them here if that will help.

I am interested in obtaining some sealed powerheads and would be willing to split costs, etc. I shoot a SS stinger single barb lineshaft with a 5/16" threaded point and a Riffe 5/16" hawaiiian shaft.

As I understand it, the main factor in the reliability of slip ons is how far the point of the spear inserts into the slip in so as to keep the speartip centered on the primer.

Please PM me if you are interested in moving forward on this project. Thanks.

[Stone]

Fred,

Subdude (on this forum) posted some pictures of a homemade slip-on PH (halfway down This Page). In a case of form following function, we used half inch ID PVC because it slipped nicely over the two barb JBL speartips we use. 45 caliber was the ammo of choice because it fit the half inch ID PVC with just a wrap of electrical tape or a little heat-shrink tubing prior to sealing with paraffin.

[junior]

Check out Ray Odor's slip-on powerheads. It's reusable and a nice little unit. I bought a .223 for maybe $30

[FredT]

He went out of business several years ago. It's a long sad story that involves government meddeling and youngsters gone bad. doesn't need to be repeated. At any rate he developed these with an aluminum body and brass base that work quite well. I'm down to 2 of them in 9mm and need to get a few more. Hence the redesign effort. I expect the cost to be above a $ and under $5 in smallish quantites. I won't be sure until the design is done and the bids come in. In bulk we could probably get the cost down to under a $, but I don't need 10K of them.

FT

Originally posted by kitefisherman
Fred:

When I was out on the Jolly Rogers Memorial Day trip, I met John Riddick who used to own the Tavernier Dive Center - I don't know if you know him. In any event, John had these sealed powerheards in different calibers. The powerheads were sealed in some sort of colored (by caliber) hard synthetic/plastic? material and were very reliable. John told me that he got them a few years back from a supplier in West Palm Beach called Blue Water Tackle and that they were about 50 cents each (probably at wholesae). He asked me to see if I could find the supplier so that he (and I) could get more. I did an internet and Secretary of State search, but could not find a Blue Water Tackle in the WPB area. I know that you have been around this area a long time. Are you familiar with this vendor? I am diving on the JR2 4th of July trip and will try to take photos of John's powerheads and post them here if that will help.

I am interested in obtaining some sealed powerheads and would be willing to split costs, etc. I shoot a SS stinger single barb lineshaft with a 5/16" threaded point and a Riffe 5/16" hawaiiian shaft.

As I understand it, the main factor in the reliability of slip ons is how far the point of the spear inserts into the slip in so as to keep the speartip centered on the primer.

Please PM me if you are interested in moving forward on this project. Thanks.

[joens]

Definately interested in several 5-10 or more depending on the price. I usually use Spearfishing specialties T224 Gulf slip tip http://www.slinginsteel.com/tips.html#slip
Joens

[Screen Name]

Count me in for $50 worth, however far that gets me. Let me know if you get serious.

[dabulltrouble]

if they work put me down for 50$ worth to

[Spearchucker]

Me too, but they have to work at least 80-90% of the time.

[Charlestondivin]

Ditto $50 worth. ss single flopper shaft.

[Johnoly]

I'll take $50 worth also. I've got Sea Hornet shafts with twin 5" spread barb's and the tip is a 5/16"-24 threaded rock point

[mushkee]

i'll take a bunch too...waiting to see the final price...

i use a rob allen 7mm hawaiiian shaft...it has a tricut point..

[Grande]

i will buy some, 5/16 threaded.