Snaps and Reels

[NJScubaDoc]

Firstly, for those of you who use wreck reels, which is the best one for the money?

Secondly, anyone know where to find SS butterfly snaps cheap?

 

[Dectek]

oooooowwwww I'm telling.....you said butterfly snap.


Dive Rite reels seem to hold up well.

 

[NJScubaDoc]

what's wrong with saying butterfly snap?

 

[Jason B]

Ralph Hood Reels (or Larry Green Reels if you are down south).
You can get them here..http://www.northernatlanticdive.com/reels.htm

I prefer the Jasper handle (bottom of page).

 

[IceBergSlim]

I use OMS and DiveRite reels. You will have to replace the factory supplied SS butterfly snap on the OMS but other than that you will be good to go. Good reels at hopefully a good price.

That was the answer you were looking for?

 

[Double_D]

Slim said it all - I use reels from both outfits and you won't be sorry with either brand. Although Jason's now got me thinking about some fresh product testing, 'cause those spooned handles look sweet (thanks a lot, Jason - my wife's going to be thrilled when she sees the credit card bill....)

Try any reel out with gloves on before you get too attached to it. Reeling out's usually not the problem - however, recovery can be. A clear exception is shooting the SMB where you want to control the unspooling with minimal hassle. So dexterity is an issue, and reels are not all the same regardless of the cookie cutter look.

You'll find what works for you in no time - piece of cake.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Firstly, for those of you who use wreck reels, which is the best one for the money?

Secondly, anyone know where to find SS butterfly snaps cheap?

I use Halcyon primary reels and Larry Green safety reels. Salvo also sells good reels. During my cave classes I've seen three different students have issues with their Dive Rite reels. I'm sure they work great for some people. I would suggest there are better options. Compare and contrast, in the water, before you purchase...caveat emptor.

You don't want to use butterfly snaps. Look at the one in the illustration (second row down, on the left). (Note which "tech" company is selling them...but I digress...)

http://www.omsdive.com/hardware.html

Butterfly snaps are designed in such a manner that they may be rapidly snapped onto stainless steel cables or grommets, such as those found on sailboats. If you examine the illustration you'll see that a taut cable could easily be forced through - or force itself through - the "V" formed by the flanges on each side of the opening.

Under the right circumstances they could also snap themselves to other reasonably taut linear obstacles such as wiring, thin cables, electrical fixtures, or taut heavy gauge monofilament fishing line or spider wire. Just like whats found inside shipwrecks.

Just as you don't use boat snaps due to their unfortunate ability to snap themselves to wiring, cables, lines, and other debris hanging down inside shipwrecks, you don't use butterfly snaps either. You don't want ANYTHING on your harness that could potentially foul itself on some cable or dangling wiring as you're maneuvering through some tight restriction inside a wreck. Unless you enjoy raising the risks you take when penetrating shipwrecks, butterfly snaps fall into the category of strokaphilic retardery.

Instead you want standard stainless steel boltsnaps, as illustrated by the item directly above the butterfly snap. One of the better (less expensive) places to get them in bulk is from Doug Nix, here:

http://216.36.250.99/nixdogcollars/Page_6.html

Regards,

Doc

 

[double80s]

Barry Miller designed a great Primary Reel. Ask anyone who owns one.

There are lots of good reels out there and each has its own pros & cons, however, I strongly suggest you avoid Trident reels. They do the job, but for the little money you save, the quality isn't there.