DSMB / SMB Finger Spool Setup 2.0 - Apeks Lifeline Review

[@SeattleRingHunter]

Simular kind of stitching as used on paraglider lines. Should hold for really long time! This is a quality looking kit, I'm sold!

[@frankea2]

I totally agree with you, it’s the best spool I’ve ever used!! I’m glad you spoke about the bolt snap. It truly is the smoothest bolt snap out there.

[@UKDiver]

It really is!

[@SafetySolutionsAc]

Andy, your fingers are beautiful just the way they are! In all seriousness, two great videos. I’m not gonna be spending the coin on an Apeks “LIFELINE” but the setup gave me a couple of ideas as to how I’m going to adapt your setup with several of the Apeks ideas. It will be a fun little project and I’m looking forward to cooking it up and then trying it out!

[@kurtsteiner8384]

If you rig your SMB with a d ring shackle you don't need to mess about with tiring knots and loops underwater. You can also use carbineers as well if you wish to hope it helps.

[@ThePolary_TPY]

Great Video mate! I also own the apeks spools and these products are still unbelievable great stuff!

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

Two ways of correctly setting up a spool. 1. Remove the overspun line (reducing your 30m to a 15~20m spool), tie a big loop, tie a small loop to the side, tie another small loop at the end of the big loop. 2. Remove the Apeks spool from the cardboard card.

[@UKDiver]

Yep. I’d say that’s pretty fair!

[@jposaki5015]

Great video, both this one and your SMB setup video! I am still debating whether to get the 15 vs 30m..... mostly for my SMB but I wonder if there’s any repelling reason to go with the 30m instead... any thoughts? What would you need 30m for? You should get commission from Apeks! This is what sold me the spool!

[@UKDiver]

Hey Maya. If you’ve got the money, go for the 30m version. It going to give you a bit more flexibility for launching a bit deeper if you ever need to without much extra bulk. That’s my take on it anyway! Safe diving wherever you are in the world! Andy

[@heggedaal]

"...have been magpies in a previous life..." Guilty as charged!

[@UKDiver]

It’s the truth! All of us 🤣🤣😎

[@timlipinski2571]

Great video ! And great info for the Tubing on the Big Loop. Another KZbin video has the Spinner 15 feet from the end of the line for a Stop... Thank you for the video ! tjl

[@ronanbriant]

Hello Andy Thank you very much for this video. However, I am missing the part on how to attach the DSMB to this finger spool. Could you explain to me how you do it? Do you tie your DSMB every time you have to use it and in the water or do you tie it before you go into the water, so that it can be deployed in a few moments? Thank you in advance. Ronan

[@ronanbriant]

@@UKDiver Thanks Andy. Very useful. Dive safe too. Ronan

[@leviathan19]

go and ask Apeks for your sales commission, you sold me one (blue 45m), also you made me see a video of 16m about a spool lool

[@mikeaugustin2494]

So I bought the 15M Apeks Lifeline. I want to attach my DSMB (via D-ring) to the spool and not break it down. IOW, pre-attach the DSMB to the spool for easy launching. With the Apeks leader line, how would you recommend I set it up? Thanks.

[@Viltxon]

Gracias por tus vídeos! Thanks for your videos!!

[@geedoubleu641]

Another decent reel with some of the attributes of the Apeks, but for much le$$ is the Johnny Aluminum Dive Reel 100 Feet of Scuba Line. No bolt snap and only basic line, but a decent reel it seems.

[@SeattleRingHunter]

Damn I love a smart well thought out solution!

[@dharmapunk5]

Nice review, thanks very much. Liked your finger spool set up video too, it was very helpful.

[@user-rv6hb8ou2r]

Agree with everything apex spools are the dogs ballocks

[@dh5645]

😂 In the second half of the video… I didn’t know if you were describing the finger spool or my ex-wife 🤣

[@UKDiver]

Ehm....I wouldn't like to say :D

[@laloloco1925]

You forgot to mention it's biggest drawback, it's a negative spool. If you drop a delrin one it stays more or less in place, that one sinks like crazy.

[@miamiwax5504]

why don’t they have some kind of handle? seems kinda silly to just hold in your hand/

[@richardmooney8378]

I had the same thought. I tried a small spool with a handle. If you reel a finger spool properly using the double-ender as a brake and rotating your hand to spall up the slack (see innerSpace Explorers for an excellent example of how to do this) it is straightforward. HOWEVER, if you are trying to reel up the line with the SMB being pulled by waves as you go, you'll find (well I found) that the mini crank is too puny for the job because of the pull upwards by the waves.

[@Chaellerschwii]

Thank you for the video. You’re talking a lot. The video could be shorter, because life is short... 😉. But your review is great. Good job.

[@nigelw8575]

I have purchased exactly this spool with the same flat line, swivel and bolt snap without the APEKS laser etching for about 30% of the cost. Came directly from China....

[@richardmooney8378]

@@UKDiver I tried one from China listed on eBay. The spool itself seems ok for size and general configuration. The line that it came with is flat like the Apeks original but seemed to me rather narrow and very fine. Also the line was not properly attached to the spool at the end, but simply wound on with no tie-off so buyer beware! (The usual method as I understand it is to make a proper large loop as you show in your first video at both ends of the line and attach the loop to the spindle that way.) The stainless anti kink swivel may or may not be reliable but I simply took it off along with the very thin flat line and replaced it with traditional heavy gauge cave line. I was not just concerned with durability of the thin narrow flat line on my Chinese model, but also with the fact that it may not have sufficient coarseness or surface area to ensure I can grip the line against the double-ender when winding it up (see the nifty Innerspace Explorers" video on how this is done for those interested). Finally, the gear like grip surface on the metal spool inner side was a bit rough and may wear the cave line as it spalls rapidly out when the SMB is deployed, so I dressed the inner side of the "gear" teeth with a file to ensure that it is smooth. So, I score "cautious optimism" on the Chinese knock off but with a few modifications required (at least in my opinion). Even so this yields quite a savings over the hyper-costly Apeks unit.

[@TheAshantidutch]

sorry I do not agree about the kit tart lol, just had a delivery of some bits and bobs, thanks for sharing.

[@robk5437]

I don't even dive and I want one LOL that's how shiny and sexy it is

[@UKDiver]

Hahaha fair enough that! 😂

[@c.patricksadowski9959]

$170.00 USD retail for the 45m spool...yes, expensive. You get what you pay for.

[@GI-AUS]

That tiny S/S swivel will fail at the slightest load, as well as the sharp edges will chave through the lines. Just a fail point waiting to happen. Avoid! Instead, learn to spool your line properly by 'wheeling' up the line instead of twisting it on.

[@leviathan19]

that swivel is rated like 800lbs is for fishing so I think it won't fail at the slightest load

[@leviathan19]

@Bogy 1 Kinoby that's what I found out doing some research

[@markthomas2526]

Watched you review brought one off the back of it ….

[@rednissan001]

Bought not brought 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@simon1234567ful]

Polaris makes a spool thats almost identical but half the price

[@grsmustard9139]

Wtf