Thinking of doubling up my HP80s

[Caveeagle]

True, but the comparison was after it was "hauled to the boat" so the tanks would be set up ready to go. You're sitting on the boat with your SM rig on, told to get ready, clip one tank on and jump in with the other one in your hand, clip it on and away you go. How much slower do you think that would be?

Well, I think you are comparing theory to practical, or even typical. Admittedly, I have never dove sidemount from a charter boat. I do know a couple charters the discourage it all together.

Most of my diving is easy park truck, and walk to the springs. A typical BM diver walks to the water, gets in, dons fins and slips out of the way.

In comparison, a typical SM dives makes at least a couple trips to the water, has two or more tanks laying around on steps or decking. Then often spends several minutes getting clipped in and adjusting before moving out of the way,

Sure there are folks that have their **** well sorted that break the mold.. but this is pretty common, and I don’t think boat captions discourage SM just because,,

 

[WetRocks]

True, but the comparison was after it was "hauled to the boat" so the tanks would be set up ready to go. You're sitting on the boat with your SM rig on, told to get ready, clip one tank on and jump in with the other one in your hand, clip it on and away you go. How much slower do you think that would be?

I'm having a hard time understanding your technique there...no way I would jump in the water with a tank in hand .just saying...

I've only got 1 ocean SM dive,...i was the only SM diver on the boat and was the first to splash. I had LP50s all hooked up and ready to go, walked right to the entry point and splashed. Walked right out and climbed up stairs with them on at the end of the dive .

 

[aquacat8]

I thought the advantage was NOT carrying 2 tanks at once, instead having crew hand off. More work for them of course, and could be very difficult to impossible in higher seas.

 

[MichaelMc]

I thought the advantage was NOT carrying 2 tanks at once

The sidemount advantage could be any of: doubles redundancy that travels easily, able to use most any two tanks, tanks at sides for access/streamline/turtling/flexibility, not carrying two tanks at once, ..., or actually going in tiny passages.

+1 to not jumping off a boat with a tank unclipped.

 

[Mike1967]

+1 to not jumping off a boat with a tank unclipped.

The second tank is actually clipped from the top choker to hip dring but carrying the weight in my hand.

I had LP50s all hooked up and ready to go

Try that with LP100s

 

[Marie13]

Both DRIS and DGX offer complete HP doubles packages. I got curious and emailed DGX for the heck of it, asking about the 2.5” wide bands and short HP80s issue.

The response I got indicated no one had ever indicated an issue keeping the 11” bolt spacing.

With out the boot, you have a workable flat surface of 14.5", the center of the bands comes out to 1.25". Remove the top and bottom band space from the the 14.5" should leave you with 12". This gives you an inch to adjust up or down.

With all that being said, you should not have to modify your back plate using the HP 80's and bands we offer.

I was able to snag a pair of the skinny bands on eBay last night for $75. Much easier than I thought to find them!

The guy at DGX and a local tech instructor both said anyone they have ever seen diving HP80 doubles has the thinner older bands. I’m now told these were probably made by OMS.

 

[laikabear]

Another option vs the clip-on weights, if you still find yourself head-heavy with new fins, is a tail weight pouch. Halcyon makes one and I use it on my sets of doubles. It goes on the bolts underneath (before) the wing and backplate.

 

[Marie13]

Another option vs the clip-on weights, if you still find yourself head-heavy with new fins, is a tail weight pouch. Halcyon makes one and I use it on my sets of doubles. It goes on the bolts underneath (before) the wing and backplate.

That’s what I’ll probably need anyway when I add my heavy undergarment.

 

[leadduck]

That’s what I’ll probably need anyway when I add my heavy undergarment.

You could also try a DUI classic weight belt harness. With a weight belt harness you can use any fin you like and put a lot of weight on the hips (instead of the waist like a regular weight belt), that may be the perfect place to achieve good trim depending on your body shape.
Heavy fins can feel like ankle weights, you have to move the weight around with every fin stroke. You'll find that many people don't like ankle weights because of this, but then recommend heavy fins instead, which doesn't make a lot of sense either for the same reason when you think about it.

 

[_Ralph]

Or just buy a V weight, cut it in half (or 2/3, or ...) and hang that from the bottom bolt. Gives you a few options on where to put that weight without having to deal with loose lead

_R