Inexpensive Hawaiian Slings

Hawaiian Slings are one of the oldest spearfishing implements. They are also one of the cheapest and easiest to make. Most of the equipment you need can be found at your local hardware store. You will need the following supplies:

• Barrel -1" diameter PVC tubing, about 8" long. Just about any tube with a hole in the middle will do. If you happen to have something else lying around that is similar (Bamboo), by all means use it.
  

• Sling band - Surgical tubing, about 16". If you want to double up the power you should get twice the length.
  
• Cup - Nylon spacer with an inside diameter (ID) of 1/4". Your hardware store should have drawers full of small miscellaneous items, these should be located there. They cost about 50 cents.
  
• Shaft - 1/4" X 48" stainnless steel rod. You can use plated metal if you can't find stainless.
  
• Barb - Riffe single floppers cost $3 and inlcude a stainless rivet and washer. I've heard that moly bolt drywall anchors can be disassmbled to make two barbs, but I haven't tried that. I should, they're in the hardware store afterall.
  
• Trailing Line - Nylon string or mono will work. Most people don't use a trailing line, but here in low-vis Northern California that would mean lots of lost shafts.

1. Drill a 1/4" hole in the nylon spacer, about 2/3 the way down the length. If you are making a two banded sling, drill another hole 90 degrees from the first hole and just above it.

2. Cut one end of the surgical tubing at an angle so that it makes a long point. Thread this point through the nylon spacer, centering the spacer on the tubing. If you are using two bands, repeat with second sling band - the bands should now form an "X".

3. Fasten the sling to the barrel (PVC or Bamboo tube) by wrapping string around it tightly. You can cheat and use electrical tape followed by a stainless steel hoseclamp if you want.

4. Drill a 3/32" hole in the shaft, just over 3" from the tip. If you are making a trailing line, drill another hole in the butt of the spear. If you want to do a really good job, grind down the shaft where the flopper is going to sit so that it is recessed and thus more streamlined.

5. Install the flopper using a rivet and washer (the Riffe floppers come with them). Bang on the rivet to flatten it out, but BE CAREFUL. Don't make the rivet too tight or the flopper will not flop.

6. Try it out. My limited experience with Hawaiian slings tells me one thing: it takes practice.

To add a shooting line, see the section Shooting Lines for Hawaiian Slings.

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