Post edited 5:17 pm – January 9, 2010 by GW
Post edited 5:25 pm – January 9, 2010 by GW

You ask some very good questions…

1)The inside sling should go to the first notch (that is the notch closest to muzzle) and should be loaded first.  The next sling (outside sling on a two band gun) should then go to the rearmost notch).  On a two band gun you could theoretically put the bands in reverse order and not have a problem.  I've done so and suffered no ill effect.  With 3 bands and up, loading out of order will start getting the bands trapped or tangled.  As it pertains to loading sequence, that is another matter because if you loaded any band on the rearmost notch first, you may have a problem getting the other wishbones to drop in.  This is because the first band's stretched rubber will partially block the remaining wishbones from dropping in groove.

2) The way you describe it is the correct way.  This is because in order to get the last wrap over the release, the bungie needs to be stretched last.  Can you do it the opposite way and will it work?  Yes, there is a way to do it opposite to this but not nearly as easy or as fast!  

3)  In any water I use Loc-Tite 222, removable.  Comes in red bottle but the product itself is BLUE.

4)  Shooting a speargun out of the water is very dangerous for a multitude of reasons.  If you do it, you will likely injure yourself or someone else. 

Recoil and its effects are the biggest problem.  When the gun has no water resistance, the recoil and muzzle lift is drastically increased and the shaft will travel a much greater distance and not ususally where you originally pointed it.  Getting your teeth knocked and putting the spear into something unintended is a likely side effect of shooting above water. Without the water resistance the shaft will also fly at a much greater speed and with a lot more inertia.  With this increased speed and inertia, you will find that the shaft will either break your shooting line or will fly back at you (remember it is attached to a bungie).  Spearguns should be used underwater only. 

You didnt say what your shooting at but, if you are shooting fish, you can easily rig up a bow or crossbow with a line/reel to shoot from above deck.  Check your laws though because in most states and federal water you cannot shoot at any game fish from above deck by any means.