Choker Clip Solutions...

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I am about to venture into the sidemount realm and am curious as to a couple of things. First off, I currently own a couple of HP117 Fabers. Are they too big or heavy when full to be held by the clip solution discussed here? I like what I saw that Netdoc configured. Looking forward to pics. Secondly I am thinking about a machined split collar instead of a hose clamp for a more secure top attachment due to the weight of my available cylinders. Comments?:coffee:
 
Here's are some recent pics from the Sea of Cortez:

PeteSidemount6.jpg


PeteSidemount7.jpg


PeteSidemount9.jpg


You can see the entire album here: SideMounting & Sidemount Mods - - ScubaBoard Gallery
 
I have only dove overly heavy steel tanks in caves: PST HP130s. It's my understanding that the Fabers are the way to go and I am looking for a pair.

As for the machined split collar, that only works if you ONLY dive those tanks. The hose clamp method can be used for a variety of tank neck sizes and you can even make do with a big zip tie like I did in the Sea of Cortez. Here is my write up of that trip: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/si...liveaboard-musings-my-trip-rocio-del-mar.html

I am about to venture into the sidemount realm and am curious as to a couple of things. First off, I currently own a couple of HP117 Fabers. Are they too big or heavy when full to be held by the clip solution discussed here? I like what I saw that Netdoc configured. Looking forward to pics. Secondly I am thinking about a machined split collar instead of a hose clamp for a more secure top attachment due to the weight of my available cylinders. Comments?:coffee:
 
I got to dive my rig on the Vandy this past Sunday with Steel HP 80s. WOW. That was way fun!!! I need to make some shorter rigs for these tanks, as I could not get the slack out. Actually, I really didn't try: I just assumed that the slack could not be dealt with, so I left it. It sill worked, but I wasn't happy with the bungee placement. Time to sew again.
 
A note on the machined collars. They would be able to be removed as fast as a hose clamp if not faster. Two screws and they would be in halves. I have currently tried a hose clamp around the neck and through a "suicide" clip. I think that that is a viable alternative to the clamps and if I put a flat spot on the clip it would not have a tendency to flop over and stay square to the valve.
 
The problem with a machined collar is that you would be stuck to just one diameter neck size. They are anything but consistent.
 
Point taken. I'll stick with the hose clamps.:coffee:
 
OK, you got me thinking... I like the idea of using a zip tie or hose clamp directly to the butterfly clip. I decided to weld the swivel on the end of the butterfly to see if that's enough stability. I also did away with one buckle and I like how it turned out. I took some pictures and will upload them in just a bit.
 
My thoughts are: butterfly or suicide same end result. Both clips can capture a ring or a rope unknowingly. Either clip can be opened with about the same effort. The suicide clip is easier to hook up to your harness rings and has a fixed eyelet for the tank strap. The location of the top tank clip is fairly well protected either way from inadvertent snagging. The suicide clip usually has a larger throat or opening than the butterfly which lends to easier hook up or unhooking. This is however just my take at this time and is subject to change as I move forward in sidemounting. On a side note, I am not doing caves or entering wrecks so my entanglement risks are slim. I just want to be safer and enjoy longer dives. That my back is not compromised is a definite plus.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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