Which way should a bolt snap face on a finger spool?

[geoff w]

I always heard the bolt snap should have the gate facing outward on a finger spool so the line doesn't go over the edge of the spool. Yesterday an instructor was telling me the opposite, because the bolt snap can rotate around, the bolt can hit the outside of the spool, and the bolt can come undone (there are YouTube videos showing this). I can see the merits of both approaches. Both were discussed in the thread http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/li...82-question-about-finger-spool-bolt-snap.html along with a third approach described at Narc'ed Diving: Finger Spool: Securing the Line

Is there a "right" approach everyone agrees on? And why? Or is opinion divided across both configurations?

 

[Pavao]

Is there a "right" approach everyone agrees on?

By any chance, did you mean to post this elsewhere? You're on Scubaboard.

 

[Teller]

If you move the bolt snap enough it can pop open no matter which way its on the spool but it seems to be a bit more secure when the gate is facing towards the outside of the spool.

 

[nimoh]

I generally take the approach that it doesn't really matter and it can open in either direction, as such I keep spools in pockets.

However, in theory, if you remove some line such that the gap between the wrapped line and the edge of the spool is greater than the size of the gate trigger, and the boltsnap is longer than the width of the spool, then orienting the gate towards the inside would be more safe since the trigger wouldn't be able to make contact.

 

[bradells]

As mentioned, it can open both ways, some find it easier one way or another. It may be dependent on how much line is on the spool for the gate facing in.

I avoid all that by keeping the line sticking through to the outside through one of the holes, and then clipping in the double ender. And then everything is stored in my pocket.

BRad

 

[nimoh]

The problem I have with this approach is that if there is some slack in the line (and based on the picture, it appears there is), the wound line can get over the edge of the spool, and if this occurs the line can come off even though the boltsnap is still in place.

This is also why I don't feed the line through a hole at all, as I find it difficult to get tight. However, a lot of people seem to have success with this approach.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I have the gate facing the outside of the spool. This means when I clip it off it is against me and less likely to get snagged on something. But it also depends on what I am planning to use the spool for. If I have no plans to deploy it until the end of the dive it's in my pocket.

 

[bradells]

<img src="http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=182213"/>

The problem I have with this approach is that if there is some slack in the line (and based on the picture, it appears there is), the wound line can get over the edge of the spool, and if this occurs the line can come off even though the boltsnap is still in place.

This is also why I don't feed the line through a hole at all, as I find it difficult to get tight. However, a lot of people seem to have success with this approach.

Just have the double ender on the loop sticking thru, don't clip it back into the line on the spool.

BRad

 

[Instructor_Tom]

Easy solution to the gate opening is to run the line through on of the holes on the spool and then place the bolt snap on the line only. Make sure the line is tight so that it can not jump the spool and you should be good.

My cave instructor should me this during my full tech cave cert. If the bolt snap is on the spool it really doesn't matter which way it faces it can accidentally open and you could loose a spool or cause an entanglement.

Hope this is useful.

T.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Scubadude_LA]

What Tom said. I pass end of the line thru a hole in the spool (but not like pictured above, just pass the end thru a hole, keep the snap attached to line on the outside of the spool only) and then clip the bolt snap to the loop in the line, then wrap the line once around the outside of the bolt snap then twice more in the inside of the snap, or maybe three to take up slack if needed. That ended all issues with lost reels for me. It is simple to deploy and stow.
I can see where the way its done in Rob's pic could cause issues, coming loose.