Why not attach spool to DSMB before the dive?

[lukeb]

@Wibble could you attach another photo without the DSMB on the Reel showing how you threaded the bungee loop through the handle? Thanks!

 

[Wibble]

@Wibble could you attach another photo without the DSMB on the Reel showing how you threaded the bungee loop through the handle? Thanks!

More photos…

 

[Wibble]

The Kent Tooling reel is very rugged — if you dropped one into Neptune’s locker it would outlast a battleship.

The dual 16g CO2 cartridge SMB is also from Kent Tooling and is easy to deploy. The alternative could be an AP Diving “crack bottle” SMB.

 

[inquis]

The Kent Tooling reel is very rugged

Folks might do well to remember that before giving you sh*t for being last out.

 

[lukeb]

Thanks for the photos! I have a large McMahon Reel I want to add bungee to like you have on your reel. That way I can try and keep them attached. No way that combo is fitting in a pocket though!

 

[Wibble]

Thanks for the photos! I have a large McMahon Reel I want to add bungee to like you have on your reel. That way I can try and keep them attached. No way that combo is fitting in a pocket though!

I normally dive a rebreather and clip the reel to the bottom of the backplate/stand on the RHS. It sits either on top of the RHS deco bailout cylinder, but mostly ends up on my backside between my legs, thus both out of the way and I can feel that it's there.

Reaching behind is easy enough; pulling off the red bungee to release the SMB, then tightening the reel to remove the slack, then unhooking the black bungee loop on the SMB, flailing it out, unwrapping the two pull toggles, pull the first one to half-inflate -- can easily hold this at depth and get a little tension on the line, look around, pull the second toggle and release the ratchet (thumb) and up it goes...

Periodically during its ascent I'll stop the ratchet (it's a KT reel!) to check and slow the ascent (the closer to the surface, the more it pulls), then it'll stop. Wind in any excess line and start my ascent, winding as I go. Being a large diameter reel, it needs fewer turns than a small reel (𝝅 d).

Once at a stop, will let it bounce in front of me (waves above), so there's an instant reference. With thin string, there's not much tidal pull on the line.

 

[bradlw]

What do ya'll think of this technique for securing the finger spool?

I'm thinking that he makes some good sense. Is there a problem that I'm not seeing?

So far I've been doing what seems to be the most common method...what he shows at around 2:30 into the video...mostly just because that's what I was shown to do.

skip to about 13:30 for the summary if you want to skip all the chatter about the whys and hows

 

[NothingClever]

What do ya'll think of this technique for securing the finger spool?

Good gravy!

10+ minutes to get to this little macramé technique.

No way am I screwing around with that while underwater.

That spool is some janky alibaba crap, too.

 

[RIHappyDiver]

What do ya'll think of this technique for securing the finger spool?

This is coming from an observational standpoint, as I am rarely in a situation that requires deploying a DSMB. There was nothing about his preferred setup that overcame a flaw that he pointed out in a previous example setup, and that is that there is nothing keeping the gate from opening if the clip hits the spool or the DSMB. As far as I could tell, there was nothing that made that more secure.

And, yes, that is a lot of nothings.

Erik

 

[Wibble]

Not for me.

See spool knitting

DIR- GUE Post in thread 'Spool to SMB attachment'

Sep 20, 2021

Spool knitting...

N.B. Halcyon blob which has a bolt snap.

Once done, clip the other end of the double-ender anywhere.

• Wibble

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