Jon line

[Bronte]

So, I love Dive Rite gear, but couldn’t face parting with $40 for a Jon line. Decided to make my own, very simple build. Found a similar carabiner (~$12), and 1” webbing on Amazon. There is another carabiner that more closely matches the DR version, but it was around $26, figured the difference wasn’t worth it.

Added a quick release clip that I had lying around to the other end, in case I want to clip off to a d-ring, and built in a hand loop just above that, because, why not . Overall length is about 7 feet, wraps up pretty small. Tied off a bungee loop so that when you lift the carabiner, it just slides off. Will test underwater to make sure it doesn’t tangle.

 

[Bronte]

 

[ScubaJCBS]

Looks good, Just be sure to watch out for the Working Load on the carabiner a lot of the cheap one have little to no working load.

 

[Bronte]

Good point. From what was shared in the description, WL is around 1560 lbs for the 3/8th, but will definitely keep an eye on it. Just cos it’s written that way doesn’t mean it was manufactured that way….

 

[scubadada]

Hi @Bronte

I have very rarely been in a situation where a Jon line would used, perhaps your diving is quite different. The Jon lines I have seen have had a clip rather than a carabiner. I guess there is no risk of a carabiner sliding up the line if it is quite angled in brisk current?

 

[O-ring]

Hi @Bronte

I have very rarely been in a situation where a Jon line would used, perhaps your diving is quite different. The Jon lines I have seen have had a clip rather than a carabiner. I guess there is no risk of a carabiner sliding up the line if it is quite angled in brisk current?
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The carabiners can absolutely slide. In those situations I have seen folks do a friction wrap or two with the webbing/line around the anchor line and then clip the carabiner back onto the jon line itself. It works, but can be a PITA to unhook with one hand in current when managing bottles and a scooter, etc. A lot of us use the Garvin clips instead. Mine is a homemade affair with a Garvin clip on one end and a large bolt snap on the other.

 

[Bronte]

Hi @scubadada , thanks for the reply! Small world - I used to live in Philly, and just moved to the Pompano Beach area. Couldn’t handle another winter. I’m not doing spectacularly technical dives atm , mostly drift down here in south FL, and probably some Keys wrecks later this year. Mostly just wanted something I can use if I’m tired or there are a lot of bods hanging on the line in current, or just as a ‘crap-it-would-be-handy-to-have-a-line-to-do-xyz’

 

[Bronte]

Hi @O-ring , thanks for the insights. Wish I had a scooter to manage!

 

[scubadada]

Hi @scubadada , thanks for the reply! Small world - I used to live in Philly, and just moved to the Pompano Beach area. Couldn’t handle another winter. I’m not doing spectacularly technical dives atm , mostly drift down here in south FL, and probably some Keys wrecks later this year. Mostly just wanted something I can use if I’m tired or there are a lot of bods hanging on the line in current, or just as a ‘crap-it-would-be-handy-to-have-a-line-to-do-xyz’

We've had a townhouse just north of Boynton since 2011, do a lot of diving in Boynton, Jupiter, and West Palm

 

[O-ring]

Hi @O-ring , thanks for the insights. Wish I had a scooter to manage!

It will probably work just fine for you as is. I doubt DiveRite would make them that way if they didn't work for the majority of folks. I started out with one that had a giant bolt snap on each end before moving to the Garvin clip. Like everything, give it a shot and see how it works out. Then adjust as needed.