How would you suggest ballasting my Riffe Island? I put the wing kit on it and it is serious need of some weight up front. The thing floats loaded with a 9/32" shaft, probably with the 5/16" too. I was thinking about taking the wings off and drilling deep holes into them and then filling with lead. Please let me know if this is a good idea or if you have any better ideas. Thanks.

If you fill with lead make sure and drill a hole in a scrap piece of wood, then transfer that cooled lead to the hole you drilled in the muzzle. The expansion of the hot lead in my gun caused some delamination.

First the wings are a scam. They were designed to help with the bad problem of the gun kicking up, mainly when heavier bands are put on, as the band slot is too low, and the gun kicks up when shot, tipping the spear and making it go low. This is amplified by putting stronger bands on. You should have put a 1/4" stainless rod in, just under the track, so it sticks out equal on both side about 1 1/2". Maybe 4" total width. You can get a stainless bolt that has unthreaded shank, and cut off the nut and threads, if the unthreaded part is long enough. Take the ends and smooth on a grinder. About 2" rearward of the band slot, drill a 1/4" hole level and about 1/4" below where the shaft would lay. Epoxy the rod in place and let it harden for a day. This will accomplish the same thing, and it will be a whole lot easier to move through the water, and fix the kick up problem. The purpose of the wings is to elevate the bands so they are level with the spear. Riffe screwed up the design, and never fixed it. That is why you cannot power up a Riffe, or it will shoot lower than it already does. This fix will make a Riffe shoot very accurate, wont make it float, and still be very easy to move in the water, not like moving a frying pan around in the water. Good luck. Sorry you were suckered into the wings.

The bands are put on top of the rod so that when they are pulled back, the band lays on top, and parralel with the spear.

You can always mix lead shot with epoxy and fill into a hole, as an alternative to using molten lead.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I've decided to sell it instead.