Mares pressure gauge

KA · October 17, 2008, 20:39:22 CET

Hey guys, I just got to know about this forum accidently as I was browsing and I have to say its quite interesting .. Anyways just for an intro - Im 25 year old gozitan and lately I ve decided to take spearfishing a bit more seriously... Im coming from a 2 year break cos of studying obligations but now its over and bit by bit im getting fit for the sport again... Currently Im using a pneumatic - stealth 70 and have been trying to find a gauge to measure its pressure - did my research and ordered cressi gauge - but guess what the gauge did not fit (im not a good researcher)... Any clues where I could find a gauge compatible with mares?

baghira · October 17, 2008, 21:56:51 CET

Hi KA
Welcome on board. I am sure that like many of us, if you really like this sport you will come addicted to this website like it happened to most of us. What I am sure is that here you will find help. I always did.
I am sorry not to be an expert in pneumatic guns, I was always afraid of, and never owned one. I heard too much complaints about them. Such as this..... But what I am sure is that you will for sure find help from Subaqua supplies at Msida. You will easily find the telephone number either in this forum, or at the operator. The owner's son is Alex, and I also beleive that they are from Gozo, so they might be able to bring you the item needed over there. So check this out, SUBAQUA SUPPLIES, MSIDA. Easy to find also on Yellow pages.

KA · October 17, 2008, 23:39:31 CET

thanks for the feedback .. just saw yr catch pics .. Good one eh !!

EmicMalta · October 19, 2008, 09:04:04 CET

Hi, wellcome in this forum.

I do not think that they make them cos I heard a lot og guys doing one by them selves.

If you want I can send you all the information regards it but you need to be a bit technical to make it

Also as we know the fish in malta is a bit hard to get them in range and a stealth 70 would have maybe 3mtrs range with all that noise. If you modify it to a mamba then I can suggest you to make the gauge cos will be worth it but still a 70 is a bit short. That one is better to measure the pumps you give it and that all and use it in cave hunting, then make some money apart and buy a good gun for your budget. Here are lot of guys at the moment that all using the carbon marlin elite 105, but there is also different measurements cos it comes from 85,95,105,115,125. For its price its really worth it cos it comes all equipped with half the price of other moddles and if its trouble free in my hands, it means that it really heavy duty. I had good guns but like this with nearly no recoil its hard to get.

KA · October 19, 2008, 12:15:20 CET

thanks emic .. I agree with your points.. But I have to admit that Im more baised toward pneumatic as have been using this one for quite some time and for now it served its part well. I tend to dive in shallow waters ( 5-12metres) and am more into octupos diving so range its not an issue for now.. Currently my major drawback is lack of breath as have been on break for two years and smoking (which I had manage to quit 2 months ago

).. But breath is increasing with training and eventually I would be focusing more on fishing hunting and will definetely take note of your advice.

Lately I heard about the mamba kit, any clues whether anyone installs them in malta?

EmicMalta · October 19, 2008, 19:31:48 CET

No one here is selling them but to get a kit is too simple. Just call them and they send u the set according to your gun. Here in Malta I know 2 guys that uses them. But personally i never tried it and to use pneumatics i find it too hard to change.

As you use it mainly for octopus, I don t see the need of the gauge. Just givi it a no of pumps and that s it.

An important thing, never try to get more time down there if not with someone. Its really danger

KA · October 19, 2008, 23:29:24 CET

Im on the other side of the court.. I find it hard to shift to band guns, they have a rather tricky loading even though there are significant pros for using bandguns.

Re mamba - I know that they are easily available but to install the kit one need to dismantle the guns if Im not mistaken and I dont have the tools and neither the know how

EmicMalta · October 20, 2008, 07:12:08 CET

its just half an hr job. They have a manual, but still to install it on a 70 its not worth it. A lot of Italians use it even installed on the 70 s but their water is with 3-5mtr visibility and thats the only reason. If I will try one of mine ( Giovanni got 2 cressi super leggero 110 ) I find it better. Even I have a friend from Sanremo, he use to install a system similar to the mamba but with differnt piston. Its called System Tavorich. They say that with shorter lengths the cover greater shoots.
But as you said, find it hard to change from pneumatic to band guns, I feel the same. I believe that one need to get all the guns the same model, just change size

KA · October 22, 2008, 21:23:15 CET

thanks emic .. appreciate your comments

toni t · October 22, 2008, 22:44:49 CET

Hello everybody this is my first post here.

Re the gauge I have the Mares but I suggest you buy the one by Maori, the mamba manufacturer. I have both. The mares one is very simple, assuming you will be able to find it....ask Sub Supplies maybe you get lucky and manage to locate one for you.....I had asked several times without success. Re Mamba kit dont bother on short guns its a waste of money.......I bought it for a mares 110. ITs not very difficult to install....of course it takes time and patience especially since you usually do such things once.....but with some practice it is not very difficult to dismantle airguns..........just basic tools and a couple of home made items.

I prefer elastic guns but I like to experiment and a couple of years ago I was into airguns and spent some time modifying my mares 110.

Regards Toni T

EmicMalta · October 23, 2008, 08:55:11 CET

when I said I know 2 guys that use them, I was refering for you Toni T. Jean told me about you.

Thanks for your reply and wellcome in this forum

toni t · October 24, 2008, 22:59:15 CET

OK Emic so you are Jean's friend....have not seen him for a long time; he had come over to my garage when he was starting out. I think we met once early summer before diving at golden bay if I am not mistaken.

KA: as a start you can pump the air gun from scratch and follow the manual so that you know the number of pumps to get the pressure value. Suggest you do it over a couple of sessions since the pump heats up and the valve starts loosing air. Write down the number of pumps you inject each time and then just add them up. If you plan to be in Malta with your gun you can bring it over and we can read off the pressure with my gauge.

EmicMalta · October 25, 2008, 08:46:00 CET

At the moment he s back on books and cannot come with us diving. But still he s eating fish cos I give him a lot. Yes that day I was with Giovanni at golden bay.

KA · October 26, 2008, 10:48:25 CET

I will try to pop up at sub supplies some time next weeek ...tks toni