2 Side Mount AL40's and a Back Mount S100?

[Kendall Raine]

Maybe I wasn't clear before. I am diving 2 40's in a typical side mount setup. This accomplishes my goal of redundancy for solo diving and also gives me a bit more gas. Additionally, it gives me the opportunity to do side mount drills on shore dives where as I wouldn't be packing 2 side mount 80's or a doubles setup for a typical shore dive.

Now I'm confused. Maybe it was the original title "2 Side Mount AL40's and a Back Mount S100?" I read that as meaning you were (intending) using a back mount 100 in addition to sm 40's (not instead of). In other words 3 tanks. If what you meant was sm 40's instead of a bm 100, sure why not? However, if you're trying to do sm with a BP how do you mount configure the wing? Why not just get a proper sm rig?

 

[coldcanbefun]

Now I'm confused. Maybe it was the original title "2 Side Mount AL40's and a Back Mount S100?" I read that as meaning you were (intending) using a back mount 100 in addition to sm 40's (not instead of). In other words 3 tanks. If what you meant was sm 40's instead of a bm 100, sure why not? However, if you're trying to do sm with a BP how do you mount configure the wing? Why not just get a proper sm rig?

OK, now for sure I was not clear there. You are correct, not a typical side mount setup, yes, BP/Wing with HP100 on the back and two AL40's side mount. I guess, what I meant by "typical side mount setup" was that the AL40's are slung at my side with the back of the bottles attached to the waist strap and the front of the bottles looped with a bungie. I run the bungie loops through the mounting holes on the sides of the backplate. It feels pretty much the same as a side mount harness as far as the position of the bottles, at least on the surface, I have not tried it in the water yet.

 

[PEDiver]

Why not just sling an AL80 stage style? Same amount of gas, less reg switches…

 

[coldcanbefun]

Why not just sling an AL80 stage style? Same amount of gas, less reg switches…

Nothing wrong with that, I guess my thought process was to equal out the buoyancy on both sides. The reg switches are not an issue for me, I'm looking at it as drills. This started with redundancy for self reliant diving, then turned into an added bonus of slightly more gas and the opportunity to drill side mount skills on dives that would normally be single tank.

 

[Diver-Drex]

Why not SM AL80s or LP85s and lose the back mounted tank? These are pretty standard SM setups, give you almost the same amount of gas and dive great. How are your three tanks ok on a shore dive but two SM tank aren’t?

Or doubles? Doubled AL80s would be less cumbersome on a surf entry than a SM set and definitely easier than three tanks.

Backing up a little bit, I don’t ever feel a real issue with slinging a single AL40 in terms of role. If it’s an issue just pull four pounds off the side you sling the 40 on. I think you over complicated the situation.

 

[coldcanbefun]

Why not SM AL80s or LP85s and lose the back mounted tank? These are pretty standard SM setups, give you almost the same amount of gas and dive great. How are your three tanks ok on a shore dive but two SM tank aren’t?

Or doubles? Doubled AL80s would be less cumbersome on a surf entry than a SM set and definitely easier than three tanks.

Backing up a little bit, I don’t ever feel a real issue with slinging a single AL40 in terms of role. If it’s an issue just pull four pounds off the side you sling the 40 on. I think you over complicated the situation.

Fair enough. I may be, can't say until I take it for a spin. In my mind it seems very compact, allowing me to gear up at the truck and walk to the entry with minimal setup at the shore. I may be completely wrong, I won't know until I give it a try. One AL40 for solo is where this started, who knows, maybe that's where it will end up.

 

[happy-diver]

When you have a vision, when you are excited about something you just want to tell the world
a plan needs nurturing, if you reveal it too soon, you may expose it to things, it is not ready for
negativity or doubt from those that don't see what you see just enough to shake you and kill it

 

[Kendall Raine]

When you have a vision, when you are excited about something you just want to tell the world
a plan needs nurturing, if you reveal it too soon, you may expose it to things, it is not ready for
negativity or doubt from those that don't see what you see just enough to shake you and kill it

Very true; in concept.

Also true is that just surviving a bad idea doesn’t make it a good idea.

 

[lostsheep]

How about just practicing buoyancy and trim so that your RMV drops to the point you don’t need 180 cu ft of gas for an NDL dive?

 

[coldcanbefun]

How about just practicing buoyancy and trim so that your RMV drops to the point you don’t need 180 cu ft of gas for an NDL dive?

Think you missed the point. Never said I had a problem with RMV.