Non-buoyant Riffe Metal Tech

[Lucca]

My Riffe Metal Tech #3 is negatively bouyant without the shaft. To solve this I bought Riffe's Poly Wings, which according to the manufacturer's catalog makes floatable all metal guns without shaft, even with a reel and aluminum muzzle. Mine is still negative... The wings were installed by the authorized dealer.

Any explanation / solution to this? Thanks in advance.

P

[lionfish]

do you have a reel AND an aluminum muzzle?


specs say reel OR muzzle. could that be the problem?

Leo

[bruce_s]

I have an mt1 and its short enough to give me no trouble but it is negative with or without the shaft.I have heard of people pulling off the muzzle and filling the barrel with foam to allow it to float.

[EL TIBURON]

Email Julie Riffe at Julie@speargun.com .....she will be more than glad to help solve any problems your having with the gun...
Bruce the metal tech are actually filled with foam so i dont understand how putting more in it would help....

[Lucca]

Nope, I use no reel nor aluminium muzzle...

[chicotrout]

Originally Posted by Lucca

My Riffe Metal Tech #3 is negatively bouyant without the shaft. To solve this I bought Riffe's Poly Wings, which according to the manufacturer's catalog makes floatable all metal guns without shaft, even with a reel and aluminum muzzle. Mine is still negative... The wings were installed by the authorized dealer.P

I just mailed my MT3 to them for the same exact reason. I have had this gun since 1999 and I was told by Julie (or Jill, can't remember whom) that the early guns did not have any foam in the barrel and so to make sure I decided to send them the gun. My MT3 feels like there's a 10 lb weight on the front of it in and out of the water. So hopefully the addition of the foam plus the wings will make the gun easier to handle. By the way, I have neither an aluminum muzzle nor a reel.

I will let you know how the gun turns out.

[LSUBigL]

I almost lost my MT3 when i got wrapped up with an AJ...had to bolt down about 15 feet to snag it on it's way down to "costing me several hundreds of bucks" land. Best way to solve the problem is to not let go of the gun!

[Bill McIntyre]

I was favorably impressed when I saw the first Metal Tech guns a few years ago. I thought that it was neat that there was a lower cost alternative to the wood guns that would work just as well, but it doesn't seem to have worked out that way.

This is a bit hazy, and I haven't written it all down as it happened since I didn't own one anyway, but as I recall, the first problem was that they filled with water and sank. Then they had the barrels filled with foam, but there was still a problem with fasteners corroding. Then it seems that they still sink unless you buy add-on wings to prevent it.

It may be justifiable to sell a gun intended for scuba divers that sinks without the shaft in it, but its totally unacceptable for a free diver if his gun sinks. All I need is to dive down and cut my fish out of the kelp, and then see my gun passing me on its way down into the kelp while I'm on the way up.

I'll admit that I am looking at this thing from the POV of a free diver, but I think the manufacturer of a gun should make it very clear up front that if you want it to float, you are going to have to buy something extra. As far as I know, this was not done with the Metal Techs.

[Lucca]

Mine is a brand new model (with green camo finishing). The person installing the wings told me he saw pieces of foam coming out when making the screw holes, so I understand my MT is stuffed with it (it doesn't fill with water).

I contacted Jill Riffe. She's very nice. It seems they don't know exactly why the stock isn't positive with the wings. She promised to investigate a bit more and give me an answer. I'll post any news here.

[IyaDiver]

Lucca,

Do you have any kind of attachment like a brass clip with lanyard on butt or anything which is not original the gun. My friend's MT3 comes with the poly and rear teak wing but has aluminum muzzle and reel and it floats.... My MT3 has both the wings in teak + muzzle + reel. It used to float but when one day a grouper took it to perhaps 300+ feet for a few hours, since that day it sinks. The foam probably crushed.

Let me check if I have a friend's friend with MT3 and only poly wing.....will let u know.

IYA

[bruce_s]

I pulled off the muzzle to install the enclosed track and saw a black plug only.I imagine the foam is behind that.I did not realize they were filled with foam.As I said I had heard of this done I did not do it.I have seen a wooden ballast kit for them .Would this allow them to float?

[Lucca]

I know there's the teak wing kit for the MT series; I prefered the more subtle plastic model. My MT3 would probably float if I now attach the teak wings but I don't want the stock full of all possible add-ons (I plan to install a reel soon), especially if it should be positive already... I just want a nice **floatable** medium size gun. Let's see what Jill Riffe says after my case is analyzed hopefully in a family meeting

[Peter R.]

Originally Posted by Lucca

I just want a nice **floatable** medium size gun. Let's see what Jill Riffe says after my case is analyzed hopefully in a family meeting

I'd seek to exchange it for a C3, Hawaiian or one of the Standard series of similar size.

[Bill McIntyre]

Originally Posted by Carraig

I'd seek to exchange it for a C3, Hawaiian or one of the Standard series of similar size.

So would I.

[Blackfoot]

the guns were originally designed for (and who are the primary purchasers of this gun) scuba divers...so they could beat up their guns without damage and avoid the same problem (but opposite) of freedivers... the guns floating without the shaft in it.

but because of the cost vs. teak it made it a desirable gun for freedivers, then with the addition of a reel (so the gun did not fill up with water) foam was injected around the insert areas. almost all the guns do not have foam all the way through them (but i do know that the 0 and the 1 are completely filled). Foam is injected near the muzzle for the poly wing kit inserts and where the reel would attach.

i asked jay after reading this thread and he said that without the shaft the gun barely floats.... but that is with NO attachments, including a metal clip and float line (even that will sink the gun). In the new catalog it will state that these guns are not a posivtively bouyant gun.

now, i personally own a MT5 (the old black finish) with enclosed track, aluminum muzzle, 4x 9/16 bands, teak front stablizer and rigged for breakway. without the shaft in it, my gun floats. this is my favorite gun and julie and i have shot alot of fish with it.

Julie owns a MT3 (black finish) with reel and poly wing and hers floats.

the only advice that i can give you is to Contact Riffe (which it sounds like you already have) and talk with JULIE or JAY. they will take care of you

sask