Storing Rob Allen rubbers and shafts in tropical humidity: the honest manual

Thailand’s climate is the enemy of spearfishing gear. Salt from the water, humidity from the air, sun from above, and — if you’re on Koh Samui, Phuket, or Krabi — salt-laden wind that never stops. Done wrong, storage kills a 1,000 THB rubber in 6 months. Done right, that same rubber lasts 18-24 months and performs 10% better throughout.

This is the practical storage guide. Takes 10 minutes after every session, saves thousands of baht per year.

The short version

• Every session: fresh-water rinse, dry in shade, flat storage.
• Monthly: deep rinse, talc-dust the rubbers, inspect for cracks.
• Offseason (monsoon months): sealed container, silica gel packs, horizontal storage.
• Common killers: UV sun, residual salt, hanging rubbers stretched, storing near fuel fumes.

Why tropical storage is different

In temperate climates, spearfishing gear can sit in a garage for 6 months between seasons and be fine. In Thailand, that same gear will degrade 3-5× faster because:

1. UV intensity: Thai UV Index hits 11+ regularly. Latex rubbers lose elasticity at 2× the rate of temperate-stored rubbers.
2. Humidity: 80-90% relative humidity keeps residual salt water on the gear. Salt recrystallises in micro-cracks and accelerates degradation.
3. Temperature cycling: Thai coastal temperatures swing 15-20 °C daily. Expansion and contraction fatigues materials.

Rubbers — the big spend

A set of quality 16 mm rubbers costs 900-1,500 THB. Used hard in Thailand, a rubber lasts:

• Best case (proper storage): 18-24 months
• Average case: 10-14 months
• Worst case (stored wet, in sun, stretched): 4-6 months

The delta between best and worst is 3× cost. Storage discipline saves you 2-3 rubber replacements per year.

Rubber storage rules

• Never hang rubbers stretched. Storing a rubber tensioned for months elongates it permanently and reduces power. Always store loose.
• Store flat or gently coiled. Never bent sharply. A kinked rubber has a weak point that snaps in the first 10 loads.
• Keep out of direct sun. UV kills latex. Store in a drawer, cupboard, or dark bag.
• Fresh-water rinse, then talc-dust monthly. Baby talcum powder absorbs residual moisture and prevents UV/heat cracking.
• Inspect for white film, chalkiness, or surface cracks. All three mean the rubber is at end-of-life. Replace before the next dive.

Rubber lifespan indicators

• Green, shiny, elastic: new. Full power.
• Slight dulling of surface: 3-6 months of use. Still full power.
• Visible surface micro-cracks under bright light: 10-12 months. Power dropping ~5-10%.
• White chalky dust rubbing off: end of life. Replace immediately.
• Any single visible crack larger than a hair: replace NOW. A loaded gun with a cracked rubber can fail mid-load and damage the muzzle or injure you.

I stock replacement rubbers in single (14 mm) and double (14 mm, 16 mm) configurations at /shop/rubbers-shafts.

Shafts — stainless but not invincible

Rob Allen shafts are 17-4 PH stainless steel. They resist rust far better than standard 304 or 316, but they’re not invincible in salt water, especially if stored wet.

Shaft storage rules

• Rinse every session. Fresh water, focus on the notches and flopper pin area.
• Dry completely before storage. A wet shaft stored in a gear bag develops micro-rust spots in 48 hours.
• Store straight, never bent. A bent shaft shoots wide and can’t be re-straightened without tools. Use a shaft tube or simply lay it flat.
• Oil the flopper pin monthly. A drop of silicone oil (not WD-40, not mineral oil) keeps the pin free.
• Sharpen 10-15 strokes per side, monthly. Maintain the original tip angle. A sharp tip penetrates cleanly, a dull one just bruises fish.

When to replace a shaft

• Visible bend you can see by rolling it on a flat surface: replace.
• Flopper pin seized or missing: replace the pin (usually part of shaft assembly).
• Tip rounded/blunt after repeated sharpening: replace. You’ve sharpened it too many times and the metal is fatigued.
• Rust spots deeper than surface scratch: replace.

Average shaft lifespan in Thai conditions: 2-3 years with good care. About 3× longer than the rubber.

Line + reel

Shooting line

• UHMPE / Dyneema line is nearly indestructible chemically. It just wears mechanically.
• Replace when you see fraying at the loop-knots or wishbone contact points.
• Typical lifespan: 12-18 months of regular use.

Reel line

• Also UHMPE. Check for abrasion where it wraps around the spool lip.
• Store the reel with the line tension released.
• Replace when the outer jacket is visibly frayed or the diameter has thinned.

Gun body + muzzle

Aluminium barrel

• Rinse thoroughly. Dry. No coating needed.
• Inspect the band-anchor slots for wear — grooves deeper than 1 mm mean the muzzle insert needs replacement.
• Muzzle cracks (hairline) at the shaft-slot edges require immediate repair or replacement. Don’t shoot a gun with a cracked muzzle.

Trigger mechanism

• Monthly: strip if possible, flush with fresh water, drop of silicone oil on the sear and pivot points.
• Never use petroleum lubes — they swell rubber seals and O-rings.
• Annual: full disassembly + inspection by us in Lamai if you’re Thailand-based. Message me on WhatsApp.

Storage setup for offseason (monsoon months)

During May-October on the Andaman (or whenever you’re not hunting for a month+), proper offseason storage:

1. Rinse everything one last time, dry completely in the shade for 24 hours.
2. Store rubbers flat in a sealed plastic container with 2-3 silica gel packs (the kind that come in shoe boxes). Keep the container in a dark cupboard at room temperature.
3. Store shafts in a shaft tube or wrapped in a bath towel, flat.
4. Store the gun body unloaded, vertical or horizontal, away from heat sources (not in a car trunk, not on a sunny balcony).
5. Check monthly. Open the container, inspect for any moisture or corrosion. Re-talc rubbers if they look dry.

Full interactive checklist

Our speargun maintenance checklist tool has per-dive, weekly, monthly, and annual task lists with check-boxes that save your progress and last-completion dates. Use it after every session. It saves money.

The economics

A diligent spearo in Thailand spends about 5,000 THB per year on replacement rubbers and shafts. A neglectful spearo spends 15,000-20,000 THB because they replace gear 3× as often. Ten minutes of post-session care saves 10,000-15,000 THB per year.

It’s also safer. A rubber that snaps mid-load can injure your face or hand. A bent shaft can deflect off a fish and hit your leg. Maintained gear is safer gear.

Need replacement parts? Browse rubbers and shafts — all in stock, 3-day delivery.