SMB Line Shortening Trick

[scjoe]

Actually, String used both terms, just in separate posts. One would hope that an instructor would be a bit more diplomatic, but it doesn't look like emorrow took any offense.

 

[Randy43068]

If you are talking about the SMBs one carries in a pocket then I agree with string. It's nuts to NOT have one attached to a spool.

And NEVER, EVER.. ( did you hear that?? ) attach it to oneself when deployed! NEVER..

For crying out-loud, it can't get easier or simpler to attach an SMB to a spool and stow it in a pocket. Hell, I have attached the same to a D-ring ( not deployed ) when diving a shorty with no pockets.

 

[Blackwood]

I'm not sure I understand. Why would you want to shorten it? What does that buy you? Doesn't it instead corner you? What if you shorten it too much - say to 20 feet, but on ascent you find a ripping current there and want to do your stops at 25 or 30?



Cool looking knots in the thread.

 

[String]

Actually, String used both terms, just in separate posts. One would hope that an instructor would be a bit more diplomatic, but it doesn't look like emorrow took any offense.

Diplomatic gets someone nowhere. If i see an idea that i think is stupid i'll say so. If i see an idea which i believe is dangerous (as in this case), i'll say so.

If anyone takes offence at that they need to remember its an internet forum and nothing more than that, you can ignore the post, board or whatever. And realise that real life isnt as fluffy and cuddly.

 

[String]

I do like how they tie those knots if that's what it's called. Had an instructor who wound the rope on markers like shown in the picture.

We use it to shorted shot lines on the boat, especially if we've slightly misjudged the wreck or current and its too long. It does have a use just not as an SMB guide.

 

[emorrow]

Hello again,

Here are some images of the knot/weave after I remembered how to do it. It is definitely not the chain spinnet as you can see. I have no idea what it's called to be honest. Unlike the chain spinnet it unravels from the clip end (see image 1) with almost no force required (provided that the last chain loop is released). In this case the weight of the fishing lure is enough. As you can see in image 2 it is remarkable how much slack gets taken up with each "link". If anyone recognizes it I'd be grateful for the proper name.

Cheers,
Erin

 

[Deefstes]

Hello again,

Here are some images of the knot/weave after I remembered how to do it. It is definitely not the chain spinnet as you can see. I have no idea what it's called to be honest. Unlike the chain spinnet it unravels from the clip end (see image 1) with almost no force required (provided that the last chain loop is released). In this case the weight of the fishing lure is enough. As you can see in image 2 it is remarkable how much slack gets taken up with each "link". If anyone recognizes it I'd be grateful for the proper name.

Cheers,
Erin

The knot seems to be a variation of sorts of the chain spinnet. It looks interesting as each link seems to take up much more rope length than with the ordinary chain spinnet. I'd love to see how you made this knot. You coulnd't post some more pictures illustrating the process perhaps?

 

[almitywife]

Diplomatic gets someone nowhere.

its an internet forum and nothing more than that,

used the term "Lunacy", not "moronic",

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[4sak3n]

Okay, I can buy being distrustful of a reel because those can get fouled because they are easy to bird's nest the line and they can also get jammed because the line can get hooked on another part of it. But what I can't see is a spool getting fouled or jammed in any way.

Seriously ... it is just not possible. Unless you specifically sit down and tie knows in the line creating some sort of a spider's web, how on earth does one screw up line deployment from a spool? A spool is about as safe as you are going to get when deploying line unless you get the line wrapped around yourself ... but that can happen with any method, even the one described here.

 

[4sak3n]

Why on earth would ANYONE consider ever sending a buoy up attached to themselves ?! Its complete lunacy. No agency teaches anything of the sort. Its a sure fire way to end up in the pot or worse.

I've actually seen someone do this before

It was an instabuddy on a trip I did to a place called Aliwal Shoal.

We got to 5m and started doing our safety stop. I sort of looked across at him as if to say "Am I hauling out my SMB and spool or are you?" He seemed to be a reasonably experienced diver, we had chatted beforehand about diving and he looked very comfortable in the water, so I was expecting him to know what I was asking with my raised eyebrows.

So anyway, as I am giving him the look I see him digging in his pocket so I figured that I had my answer and I settled in to watch him at work. He hauled out this little orange sack, took out a tangled spider's web of line with an SMB attached to it and ...

...

clipped off one end of the line to himself!

My eyes turned into saucers. I was shocked! But this was obviously something he did regularly and he was well practiced in doing it because before I had the time to stop him (literally two or three seconds here) he had already inflated the SMB and let it go!

Needless to say, he did get pulled up by his line. Not all 5m back to the surface but up a bit. And then he couldn't get the line off himself before getting back onto the boat so he spent ages fiddling about in the water getting more and more tangled.

The thing is, he was a really good recreational diver. He was comfortable in the water, had good control over his buoyancy, respected the wildlife (we were diving over a reef), was a good buddy (kept an eye on me), respected the dive plan (NDL and turn pressure) etc etc I would dive with him in an instant again. I'm just shocked that as knowledgeable as he was with diving, he didn't see any problems with this setup before that day.

Anyway, I think we got it all straightened out in the end that day.