Thinking of doubling up my HP80s

[Marie13]

Yes, you read that right. Even with my knees (that's the topic of another thread and I'm actually going to work with a personal trainer this winter to really build my strength, as well as flexibility to reach valves). I'm probably out of my mind, but here goes. I love SM in the water, but gearing up is a PITA. I'm frustrated enough to try a twinset. I love the plug and play of BM. I've always envied the BM doubles divers on the boat who just show up with everything all set to go. Just get suited up, boom! Ready to go!

So, I'm considering doubling up one pair of my HP80s. Both pairs already have new XS Scuba modular left/right valves. So all I need is the isolation crossbar, correct? Along with bands and a wider wing? Currently have a Halcyon Eclipse 40lb wing.

I'm just off my freakin' rocker.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Or just get a single 130.

 

[Marie13]

Or just get a single 130.

Doesn’t really help for tech in the future.

 

[ajtoady]

If you are flexible, skip the cross bar and run them as independents. You can try them out with out purchasing the crossbar, valves, etc. I can't reach the mid valve due to shoulder issues and use the independent set up. I also twinned LP 50's from Faber, they are steel and I pump them to 3400 PSI, gives me ion the neighborhood of about140-150 CuFt. Just a wee bit less than twinned 80's and just a little bit more than half the weight of twin 80's. Just another option for you. Safe dives!!

 

[RyanT]

I had a set and loved them. They were substantially lighter in weight than my 100s, and with a heavy set of fins, they trimmed out nicely for me. In the end I got rid of them because they just didn't give me quite enough gas reserve for a 200' dive and they were just too short for me to sit comfortably on the bench with them. For a shorter person, they can be a truly awesome set of tanks.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

With bad knees I would seriously consider rebreathers. They are much lighter than doubles.

 

[tridacna]

I'm short, 5'8", and use them. Absolutely love them but only for rec dives. IMO not enough air for tech.

 

[Stoo]

My main tanks are LP 80s... And I love them. I use them for 95% of my local diving. Most dives are in the 105' to 155' range. I can easily get two 45 minute dives out them, while using a 40 of O2 for deco.

I agree about the SM. It's a great setup or many reasons, but as someone who dives out of a 20' RHIB all the time, SM is a PITA.

I would commit and get the isolator manifold. It brings another element of safety to your setup.

 

[Marie13]

A lovely fellow SB-er who shall remain nameless has offered me two pieces of gear to get me started on doubles. . I’ll be getting an unused Blue Steel isolator manifold, as well as a no longer used Dive Rite Rec wing (older model) which was used for HP100 doubles and drysuit. Set of bands and a small amount of tweaking to my SM regs and I’ll try them out in the pool next month.

Thank you!

 

[Shawn Sorah]

hello, I also have really bad knees... 4 surgeries down and I need a 5th. I usually take my doubles to the water or boat on a dolly, then I put them on in the water... saves on the knees. However if I were going to go with double Al 80s I would only use Luxfer tanks... with about 200 psi they are neutral in fresh water. Catalina tanks become very buoyant when empty so you would have to be over weighted at the beginning of the dive which will jack with your trim. Some salvage divers or hard hat divers use the double Al set up but those guys are super heavy. With all that said if you use luxfer tanks you should be fine.