home-made harpoon

**lpf** · 12-05-2008 10:50 PM

Hey guys/ gals,

Someone helped me realize that it was time for me to step up and start doing a little posting so here goes. Since I have acquired valuable knowledge here, I though I would start out by sharing something that may help some of you, that would be the home-made harpoon. First off I would like to say I have poked a fish with the offshore innovation harpoon, if you are looking for a state of the art stow-able harpoon, get one. If you are like me and like to build what ever you can, you may find this useful. One version of the home-made harpoon:

Materials

1 ½ inch wood dowel (I use the ones you place in closets to hang clothes on hangers) 7 ft or more

J B weld

18 inches of threaded metal pipe, that is the same diameter as the wood dowel

a metal end cap that screws onto the metal pipe

a dart shaft that can be purchased from Fishermans Outfitters in Gloucester, Mass, among other places

spray primer

spray rubber coating

Building

First you want to place the metal pipe (the business end) onto the dowel, you want an extremely snug fit, sand the top 18 inches of the dowel down so the metal pipe almost fits over it. Then start the pipe down the dowel, use a heavy plastic mallet or mini sledge to pound the 18 inches of pipe over the first 18 inches of the dowel.

Then drill a snug hole in the tip of the dowel (unsheathed by the metal pipe) deep enough to accommodate half of the dart shaft (half in, half out), you want to drill it a touch smaller than the shaft and pound it in, but don’t drill it too small or you will crack the wood dowel.

Next drill a hole in your metal pipe cap that the dart shaft will be able to fit through.

Spackle some hot jb weld on the exposed junction of the dowel and dart shaft, then screw on the pipe cap.

Let that cure, then primer and finish coat with whatever you like, I used spray rubber coating.

This harpoon has worked well for me on giant tuna and makos. In fact I once tapped a mako and deposited the dart in the stomach of the mako, that one did not get away. Nothing ever got away that I have used this on. The weighted head gives you some significant penetration power. I haven’t tried it but Im sure the weighted head configuration would throw quite well, if you were ever in that situation. Also, I would bet that it floats too, I haven’t got to test that either. Anyway hope this help someone.

lpf

**WAHOONBOX** · 12-06-2008 04:03 AM

NOW THAT IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT DUDE!

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR WORLD!!!

**silenthunter** · 12-06-2008 06:43 AM

it will make a hole.. but you might want to think about making the harpoon shaft longer so that it will go thru the fish so the dart end will be on the other side of the fish..unless you wanted it to be that short. but still good idea for a home-made harpoon..

**Jared D** · 12-06-2008 08:37 AM

Great post. Unfortunately, we dont need the harpoons for the critters I catch, but I am really wanting to stick one into something. I may need to go sword fishing so I can get a toss in.

I actually have a couple harpoon heads like the one pictured. My question for yall is, do you sharpen them? Mine is rather dull, but I am sure with enough @$$ behind it, it would sink in. A shark hide may make it tougher though. I doubt you could get a good edge on brass though.

**Offshore Bob** · 12-06-2008 09:46 AM

Both the Brass and SS darts can be sharpened very easily using a "good" file(flat *******), and hold the dart in a bench vise. The SS darts can be filed sharper than the Brass and hold an edge and point better.