Twin 72’s vs HP133

[Eric Sedletzky]

@Eric Sedletzky,

Do you still have your solid-bar, single-outlet manifold? If you do, then before it's sold away, you might give manifolded LP50's a try. 5.5" outer diameter (versus 6.9"), and lighter weight (~20# ea empty) than a '72 (~27# empty?). Bands are readily available. Such a neat little rig. I wonder if these will work better for you for your walk-in diving urchin work than manifolded '72's. And you can switch to a two-outlet manifold if you ever decide you want to run two complete regulators.

rx7diver

I do, but some dude already inquired about it, I'm just waiting to hear back.
If I was still into vintage I'll hang onto it, but I'm just into practical now for our urchin operations, so I'm sticking to big HP single tanks.

 

[ZephyrNYC]

I do, but some dude already inquired about it, I'm just waiting to hear back.
If I was still into vintage I'll hang onto it, but I'm just into practical now for our urchin operations, so I'm sticking to big HP single tanks.

What's the biggest size tanks that you prefer to use? How tall are you?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I'm 6'4" and I use steel 120's.
I'd use a 130 too if I had one.

 

[Still Kicking]

I'm 6'4" and I use steel 120's.
I'd use a 130 too if I had one.

I am 6' 2" and use 120s exclusively. To me, they are God's tanks Lol.

I don't like 8" tanks as much, not for diving reasons but because they take up more room on my (small) boat, don't fit many tank holders, require me to readjust cam straps etc.

 

[rx7diver]

What's the biggest size tanks that you prefer to use? How tall are you?

I'm 6'4" and I use steel 120's.
I'd use a 130 too if I had one.

I have two PST 3,500 psig HP120's, long unused (long unworn). They were my Great Lakes extended-range cylinders, manifolded. They are too long (28") for me to wear (BM) comfortably as singles. I am 6'2", with long legs and short torso.

Their HP100 little brothers (24" long) are perfect for me as BM singles if I am wearing a thick wetsuit and if I need the gas volume. They are too negatively buoyant for me when I am wearing my 3/2 jumpsuit in freshwater.

I love the 7.25" OD of these HP120 and HP100 (and HP80) cylinders. (However, I love, love the 6.9" OD of old school PST '72's!!)

I absolutely hate cylinders that have an 8" OD! Even my stainless Freedom Plate can't make me love an 8" cylinder!!

rx7diver

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I have two PST 3,500 psig HP120's, long unused (long unworn). They were my Great Lakes extended-range cylinders, manifolded. They are too long (28") for me to wear (BM) comfortably as singles. I am 6'2", with long legs and short torso.

Their HP100 little brothers (24" long) are perfect for me as BM singles if I am wearing a thick wetsuit and if I need the gas volume. They are too negatively buoyant for me when I am wearing my 3/2 jumpsuit in freshwater.

I love the 7.25" OD of these HP120 and HP100 (and HP80) cylinders. (However, I love, love the 6.9" OD of old school PST '72's!!)

I absolutely hate cylinders that have an 8" OD! Even my stainless Freedom Plate can't make me love an 8" cylinder!!

rx7diver

I'm not fond of 8" cylinders either, I think they look disgusting. I hate them almost as much as Aluminum tanks...well maybe not as much as those vagrants. Whenever I see an aluminum 80 laying in one of our beaches I tell them "We don't like your kind around here! You need to go back to Florida or Cozumel where you belong". Most of the homeless in CA aren't from around here, aluminum 80's included.
Anything steel over 120 will be 8" as far as I know.
And yes 6.9" dia steel 72's are magical, just not enough air for what I'm doing. But for goat trail hiking down to remote beaches to do reconnaissance dives they are perfect, especially if I can get a fat fill.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I have two PST 3,500 psig HP120's, long unused (long unworn). They were my Great Lakes extended-range cylinders, manifolded. They are too long (28") for me to wear (BM) comfortably as singles. I am 6'2", with long legs and short torso.

Their HP100 little brothers (24" long) are perfect for me as BM singles if I am wearing a thick wetsuit and if I need the gas volume. They are too negatively buoyant for me when I am wearing my 3/2 jumpsuit in freshwater.

I love the 7.25" OD of these HP120 and HP100 (and HP80) cylinders. (However, I love, love the 6.9" OD of old school PST '72's!!)

I absolutely hate cylinders that have an 8" OD! Even my stainless Freedom Plate can't make me love an 8" cylinder!!

rx7diver

If you ever make it out here on a road trip to freeze your ass in our wonderful ice cold ocean then go sip wine, bring those tanks.
Do you still have the original valves?
You can meet the whole gang and try some uni!
Yummy

 

[ZephyrNYC]

I'm 6'4" and I use steel 120's.
I'd use a 130 too if I had one.

Thanks. Do you recommend these cylinder capacities for a diver who is 5'8"? I'm not worried too much about weight: I have strong legs. It's the height I'm worried about, especially the longer 120s. I've never tried these before but I know that most 120s are longer than the typical Al80s and steel LP85s that I've tried. I know that the typical 130 is about the same length as these small cylinders though.

 

[rx7diver]

If you ever make it out here on a road trip to freeze your ass in our wonderful ice cold ocean then go sip wine, bring those tanks.
Do you still have the original valves?
You can meet the whole gang and try some uni!
Yummy

Thanks for the invite. I've wanted to dive Monterey ever since I visited the Aquarium during a trip out West to visit my brother who was teaching at Santa Clara Univ at the time (mid-1990's). That's in your neighborhood, correct?

Yes, still have the original valves and boots. The round "Sherwood Genesis" tank stickers are long gone, though, removed immediately and discarded. Born 12/1997, and purchased new in 1998 (IIRC). Only ever been dove in freshwater, and not for a long time (2003?). Last hydro'd in 09/2021. I told myself that if I hadn't dove them at least once the next year, I would get rid of them. Yet, they're still here (!!), serving as cascade tanks for topping up my LP50's and LP46's.

Sold my monster OMS (Faber) LP121/125 (29" x 8"; 2,400 psig + 10%) cylinder a few months (?) ago, dove maybe twice. A SB member in OR or WA wanted it enough to pay the shipping from central MO! I quoted him a good price to take it off my hands! HAVE NOT MISSED IT!!

rx7diver

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Thanks for the invite. I've wanted to dive Monterey ever since I visited the Aquarium during a trip out West to visit my brother who was teaching at Santa Clara Univ at the time (mid-1990's). That's in your neighborhood, correct?

Yes, still have the original valves and boots. The round "Sherwood Genesis" tank stickers are long gone, though, removed immediately and discarded. Born 12/1997, and purchased new in 1998 (IIRC). Only ever been dove in freshwater, and not for a long time (2003?). Last hydro'd in 09/2021. I told myself that if I hadn't dove them at least once the next year, I would get rid of them. Yet, they're still here (!!), serving as cascade tanks for topping up my LP50's and LP46's.

Sold my monster OMS (Faber) LP121/125 (29" x 8"; 2,400 psig + 10%) cylinder a few months (?) ago, dove maybe twice. A SB member in OR or WA wanted it enough to pay the shipping from central MO! I quoted him a good price to take it off my hands! HAVE NOT MISSED IT!!

rx7diver

I'm north of the GG bridge up in Sonoma County, city of Santa Rosa to be exact. A lot of hippies But the weather is nice.
It's right smack in the middle of wine country, it's also becoming a big huge tourist trap.
If you look on google maps you will see Jenner by the Sea (north of Bodega Bay), Stillwater is about 17 miles north of Jenner.
Really pretty spot!