19cuft Catalina Pony Question

[GrumpyOldGuy]

If you go back mount, make sure you can access the valve. Personally, I was not able to access it when mounted valve up without going through a lot of contortions. I thus mount valve down when I back mount.

It is all to easy to have a "senior moment" and not fully open the pony valve before the dive or some divers prefer to dive with the regulator charged but off to prevent undetected free flow. Of course, slinging the pony provides instant valve access and a cleaner solution overall. With the 19, you can do either.

 

[mikecotrone]

Thanks Grumpy! When you backmount with the tank pointed downward do you route the hose under your left arm or right? I assume this is personal preference right?

Thanks!

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Thanks Grumpy! When you backmount with the tank pointed downward do you route the hose under your left arm or right? I assume this is personal preference right?

Thanks!

Neither. One of the problems with a back mounted pony is you can end up with 3 second stages. This is asking for a mix-up either by you or some desperate buddy, besides looking like a Christmas tree.

To address this, the second for my pony is next to the valve for the pony held in place by a bungy around the tank. Similar to how you clip a 2nd to a slung tank. The pony reg is thus essentially out of sight of any buddy and is highly unlikely to be confused with my octo (on a necklace).

The downside of this is it is possible for the pony second to free flow out of my eye sight. It has never happened to me and I could elect to charge the lines and dive with the valve closed. I don't feel the need and prefer immediate access to the gas so the valve is open and the pony second is slightly de-tuned to prevent FF. I admit, a back mount pony is not a perfect solution, but it works for me.

 

[Crush]

Neither. One of the problems with a back mounted pony is you can end up with 3 second stages. This is asking for a mix-up either by you or some desperate buddy, besides looking like a Christmas tree.

To address this, the second for my pony is next to the valve for the pony held in place by a bungy around the tank. Similar to how you clip a 2nd to a slung tank. The pony reg is thus essentially out of sight of any buddy and is highly unlikely to be confused with my octo (on a necklace).

The downside of this is it is possible for the pony second to free flow out of my eye sight. It has never happened to me and I could elect to charge the lines and dive with the valve closed. I don't feel the need and prefer immediate access to the gas so the valve is open and the pony second is slightly de-tuned to prevent FF. I admit, a back mount pony is not a perfect solution, but it works for me.

I am not saying that Grumpy's approach is incorrect. I prefer to sling my pony for the following reasons:

1. I can put the pony on or take it off in seconds - no tools, no hassle. I suppose that I could "hand it off" to someone underwater, but I don't think that this will realistically be necessary;
2. I can always see my pony tank and the reg. I can see if my reg is free-flowing, or if there appears to be a leak from the O-ring. If it snags on something, I can see what it snagged and fix the situation;
3. My basic gear configuration is unchanged - I use a primary and a bungee'd octo/secondary necklace. The pony reg is bungee'd to the pony bottle, far from my other two regs, and therefore will not be confused with them; and
4. I can consult the pressure gauge on my pony - this gauge is obviously connected to the pony and therefore will not be confused with my main tank pressure.

As a final note, many tech divers will pressurize their stage bottle then turn the valve off to prevent inadvertent gas loss during a dive. Perhaps one day I will do this, but so far, my pony is pressurized and the valve stays open during the dive. This might not be great if I had to rely on that gas for a deco obligation, but I believe that I am likely to see a leak in the pony.

 

[hypertech]

I sling my 19 with no trouble. I also pressurize to check it and shut the valve off. I once had a freeflow on entry and by the time I got to it and got it to quit, nearly 1000 pounds had blown off in what seemed like just a couple seconds. The pony is small as it is, I don't want to risk losing the gas so I keep it off or wait to turn it back on after I start my descent.

 

[mikecotrone]

I am not saying that Grumpy's approach is incorrect. I prefer to sling my pony for the following reasons:

1. I can put the pony on or take it off in seconds - no tools, no hassle. I suppose that I could "hand it off" to someone underwater, but I don't think that this will realistically be necessary;
2. I can always see my pony tank and the reg. I can see if my reg is free-flowing, or if there appears to be a leak from the O-ring. If it snags on something, I can see what it snagged and fix the situation;
3. My basic gear configuration is unchanged - I use a primary and a bungee'd octo/secondary necklace. The pony reg is bungee'd to the pony bottle, far from my other two regs, and therefore will not be confused with them; and
4. I can consult the pressure gauge on my pony - this gauge is obviously connected to the pony and therefore will not be confused with my main tank pressure.

As a final note, many tech divers will pressurize their stage bottle then turn the valve off to prevent inadvertent gas loss during a dive. Perhaps one day I will do this, but so far, my pony is pressurized and the valve stays open during the dive. This might not be great if I had to rely on that gas for a deco obligation, but I believe that I am likely to see a leak in the pony.

Crush what First stage/second stage are you using on your Pony? I am using an Apeks XTX 20 Second stage with an Apeks DS4 First Stage. The Venturi lever on my XTX 20 in the minus position prevents free flowing very nicely so far in my test rounds. I may also leave my gas open on my pony like you are at this point. I figure it is one less thing to do while at depth.

In my case I use an Octo Z on my power inflator instead of an octo second stage along with a Air integrated transmitter to eliminate an SPG. I am trying to stay stream lined for bringing on more equipment such as a pony and/or a stage bottle.

I also just bought a 7' miflex LP hose to use on my primary XTX50/DST since I am using an Octo Z. This way if I am not carrying a pony and I need to share air I can hand off my primary regulator to the OOA diver and not worry about having to try and swim together with a short hose.

 

[BoltSnap]

Questions:

1. If you place the slung pony on the left side of the diver, is the pony SS LP hose connection an issue? Since most regulator SS hoses are connected to the right side of the SS housing, does that matter in this case?

2. What is the recommended SS LP hose length for the slung pony?

 

[hypertech]

I am not DIR, I don't pretend to be. I set this up for a when the crap hits fan sort of situation and not a planned stage type use. So, my pony setup might be odd.

I have a DIN first stage. I mount it sideways so the LP port the reg is connected to points towards the bottom of the tank. I use a 30" hose so that the hose does not go past the bottom of the tank. This presents it from possibly getting hung up and being difficult to deploy. I switched the reg to left hand. So, to use the pony, I just grab the reg, pull it out and breath off it.

 

[mikecotrone]

Questions:

1. If you place the slung pony on the left side of the diver, is the pony SS LP hose connection an issue? Since most regulator SS hoses are connected to the right side of the SS housing, does that matter in this case?

In my case I have an Apeks XTX 20 for my pony which is reversable. I can switch it from a left or right connection on my SS very easily (after I read through the manual ) What SS are you using?

2. What is the recommended SS LP hose length for the slung pony?

I use a 40" Miflex LP hose from my FS to my SS on my pony.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Questions:

1. If you place the slung pony on the left side of the diver, is the pony SS LP hose connection an issue? Since most regulator SS hoses are connected to the right side of the SS housing, does that matter in this case?

2. What is the recommended SS LP hose length for the slung pony?

1.) No. It is not an issue. When you "deploy" the hose, you can loop it behind your head so that it routes and feels just like your primary 2nd stage.... or what I do: Just turn the 2nd stage and stick it in my mouth without bothering to loop it behind my head, the hose is flexible enough that it is just fine, no "pulling" noticed.

2.) 36 - 40 inches. I use a spare "octo" hose (36 inches) on mine. Other folks prefer 40"... this is the same setup as on stage bottles.

However you decide to mount the pony and "stow" the hose, make VERY sure to practice deploying the hose until it become second nature.... you should be able to have your pony's 2nd stage in your mouth by the count of three.

Seriously, it should be that fast, and done with eyes closed: ... 1 ... "Uh, oh! I need to switch to my pony!" ... 2 ... Grabbing the pony's 2nd stage ... 3 ... Breathing from pony.

Best wishes.