Velcro and BCD's

[buffdownunder]

Hi,

I'm new to scuba and I dive with a personal SEAC jacket BCD.
The thing keeps moving up no matter how good I adjust it above water and below water. I assume my exposure suit to be to "slippy" when wet.

Now I've been thinking of applying a patch of velcro on the lower part of BCD belt/collar and attach the opposing velcro on the exposure suit.
Just a small vertical strip that secures the BCD without having expansion/compression issues and opens up easily when donning the BCD.

Is there any reason to not do this?

Any feedback is appreciated.

Cheers,
Edward

 

[RogueClimber]

Have you considered a crotch strap?

 

[buffdownunder]

Have you considered a crotch strap?

Thanks for replying, Rob.

Yes and I have read some threads in this regard.

It seems as if the strap opens up all kind of other issues like "Where to attach it? How to remove it in an emergency? Buddy procedures,...

That's why I thought about something that "just" holds the BCD in place without having to use force to detach.
A velcro strip would do the job without raising issues (so I think That's why I raised the question here to see if someone comes up with a good reason not to use velcro.

 

[Angelo Farina]

My wife's BCD has a large velcro belt which secures it perfectly on her body.
However she changed at least 5 jacket-style BCDs before finding this one. It has a single-layer structure (no separate internal bladder) so it is very light and low-drag in water, and the buoyancy is almost entirely on the rear part.
If your BCD does not stay in place, you should consider something different. Perhaps a modular back pack with intelligent harness and a rear-inflating bladder (aka as a "wing"). Such a system is highly configurable.
In my case, I use a plastic back pack (very old style, it was built in 1985), equipped with a DIY harness (with fast regulation shoulder straps and a velcro belt as in my wife's jacket, and no crotch strap), with a very strange wing made by Coltri which, instead of floating free entirely behind you, can be partially connected with the velcro belt and the should trap, keeping it always very adherent to the body, for minimal friction.
There are also backpacks made of carbon fiber, of aluminium and of stainless steel.
And any kind of wings: reverse U, donut, different sizes, etc.
A modular solution takes time and effort for being configured properly, but in the end is the only way to solve all problems and to be at least partially reusable with different tanks, etc.

 

[RogueClimber]

Thanks for replying, Rob.

Yes and I have read some threads in this regard.

It seems as if the strap opens up all kind of other issues like "Where to attach it? How to remove it in an emergency? Buddy procedures,...

That's why I thought about something that "just" holds the BCD in place without having to use force to detach.
A velcro strip would do the job without raising issues (so I think That's why I raised the question here to see if someone comes up with a good reason not to use velcro.

Velcro could work (I'm not a fan generally of velcro) but I would expect the attachment phase to be a two man task. If it isn't lined up correctly it is going to stick where it sticks....

 

[buffdownunder]

A modular solution takes time and effort for being configured properly, but in the end is the only way to solve all problems and to be at least partially reusable with different tanks, etc.

Thanks for your answer, Angelo.
I am amazed to hear that fit seems to come down to try and error after decades of equipment development.
I am thinking of going down the modular path sooner than later but for the moment I'm looking for a low cost solution that is safe.

Regards,
Edward

 

[buffdownunder]

expect the attachment phase to be a two man task. If it isn't lined up correctly it is going to stick where it sticks....

I'm thinking in the direction of a velcro strip that's 1 cm wide and 5-10 cm long. It's mounted on the lower back in line with the spine.
The "Prickly" part is attached to the exposure suit. The "soft" part is attached to the BCD belt/sleeve.

This arrangement should only stick when the two are on top of each other. So when you put the BCD on and you have both shoulder straps on, you should be able to line the two strips up perfectly by simply sliding the lower back of the BCD a little bit to the left or right.

It's not expensive so I'll give it a go, test it out during shallow water buoyancy training and make some pictures. I'll post an update on my findings.

 

[Edward3c]

I’ve found most new divers tighten the shoulder straps up as hard as they can, causing the jacket to ride high; try loosening them off a bit. Once your in the water and horizontal your jacket shouldn’t ride up. If your still vertical, or even at 45’ it will ride up.

I’m not convinced velcro will hold.

 

[buffdownunder]

I’ve found most new divers tighten the shoulder straps up as hard as they can, causing the jacket to ride high..
I’m not convinced velcro will hold.

I noticed that I was pulling my shoulders up when looking at the gauges so I loosened them but I'll try loosening them more and I'll work on my trim.

Thanks for the advice, Edward

 

[Julius SCHMIDT]

I can just hear the whoosh when your tank moves and aided by a square inch of velcro
pulls your suit away from your body and lets the cold water rush down your spine