Why not attach spool to DSMB before the dive?
- Thread starter Brilig
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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
Contributor
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
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
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
Not for me.
See spool knitting
See spool knitting
Spool knitting...
N.B. Halcyon blob which has a bolt snap.
Once done, clip the other end of the double-ender anywhere.
N.B. Halcyon blob which has a bolt snap.
Once done, clip the other end of the double-ender anywhere.
bradlw
Contributor
ha ha...but it seems like you didn't pay attention to many of those minutes. The point was that he's NOT screwing around with anything underwater. THAT was the point!
and thanks @Wibble ! I was just coming back into this thread to post a follow-up question about how best to attach the spool to a DSMB that has a permanently attached snap! Mine is a Halcyon too! I like the swivel idea. Especially good if you practice deployment much...to minimize twist. When I was playing around trying to implement the Hickory SCUBA video idea, what I landed on was pretty close to your setup, except without the swivel.
The thing I was considering though, was trying to figure out a way to eliminate the double ender since there's already a bolt snap in the tangle.
Anyone else have ideas about that?
There's two bolt snaps for a reason: one for the SMB and the other double-ender for knitting the string to the spool when it's bouncing up and down in front of you (as the SMB's umpteen metres/feet above you).
More knitting pics:
When I used to use the Apeks spool, which is heavier relative to a plastic spool, it would go up then fall down, but rolling as it went and sort of flying out to the side and bouncing the bolt snap. Hence needing the 'knitting'.
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