AL80 Stage Rigging

[chrpai]

I currently dive a Hogarthian style single tank (AL80) rig. I normally dive with a really good buddy but on occasion the vis in Lake Travis can turn to crap and on occasion I solo dive. I also sometimes don't have my really good buddy. I have dove with a 20, 30 and 40cf pony on several occasions. I've never dove a stage but I've seen my buddy do it and he tells me he barely noticed it during the dive.

I've read about people who use AL80's as pony bottles since they are readily available when traveling. I'm considering adopting this practice and I have a few questions. I have 3 tanks and I'm trying to come up with the best strategy that will extend my air supply and give me redundancy.

Also I'm wondering if the Dive Rite travel stage strap kit is a good solution / quality / value for money? For my local diving I can keep my straps on forever but when traveling it might be useful to take them on and off easily. Not sure if that's important or not.

Any thoughts?

 

[Dr. Lecter]

I doubt you'll notice it any more than the other slung bottles you've used -- I know I haven't. If you're just using it for redundancy, there should be little to no weighting changes for you. If you're planning on breathing it as a stage or deco bottle, though, you'll have double the buoyancy swing of a single AL80 and that can be challenging.

Can't speak to the DR kit, though I was looking at a DSS solution that's similar (all parts captive, secures with a cam band so no tools required). But it only takes me a minute or less to slap a standard stage sling and rubber bands on an 80 using a small flathead screwdriver when traveling or using a rental bottle, so I don't see the point.

 

[decompression]

Stage bottle rigging is easy and cheap, 5mil rope, fuel hose or similar, SS hose clamp and 2 bolt snaps. For travel, use a cam band instead of the hose clamp, if you want instructions PM me. There isn't a lot of difference between a Al 40 and 80, as mentioned the buoyancy shift and a 40 being easier to handle. I get the feeling that sidemount could be in your future.....balanced, redundant air........

 

[Colliam7]

I've read about people who use AL80's as pony bottles since they are readily available when traveling. I'm considering adopting this practice and I have a few questions. . . . Also I'm wondering if the Dive Rite travel stage strap kit is a good solution / quality / value for money? For my local diving I can keep my straps on forever but when traveling it might be useful to take them on and off easily. Not sure if that's important or not. . . . Any thoughts?

I use 80s as deco bottles, and do not notice a substantial effect on trim, when clipping an 80 to one side, or when clipping and 80 and a 40 to one (same) side, for that matter. Of course, that practice is usually part of a configuration where I have steel doubles on my back, and am diving a drysuit. You may find the need for some 'station-keeping' with your fins at first, but after a brief interval probably won't notice it.

As for the Dive Rite rigging kit, vs Halcyon, or 'DIY' rigging: I have Dive Rite rigging kits on several bottles, and have Halycon rigging on several bottles. The biggest differebnce - the Dive Rite kits generally have bigger bolt snaps, which are easier for me to use with gloves. If I am not using gloves, it doesn't matter. A DIY appraoch is probably just as easy, and about the same expense

Regarding whether you leave the rigging on 'permanently': you generally do. About the only time my rigging kits come off is when I send the cylinders out for hydro, or if I see any corrosion developing around the bottom screw clamp, and take the rigging off to rinse / clean the clamp and the cylinder. Once I have the rigging in place, where I want it on the cylinder, I don't see the need to change it.

Having said that, if you want portability, there are some other options. When I started diving sidemount, I didn't use rigging kits. Instead I used cam bands for the bottom / butt attachment points, and some loops of 1/4" braided cord, with bolt snaps, for the top. I like that apprtaoch, I take the rigging off the cuylinders after each use, I can carry the cam bands and loops with me when I travel, etc.

Were I to set up my 80 cf deco / stage bottles again, I might use that approach, although a (SS) cam band is probably a bit more expensive than the rigging kit. Still it offers some flexibility.

 

[steveharriss]

As Decompression says:

DIR-diver.com - Stagebottle rigging

 

[Divin'Papaw]

As Decompression says:

DIR-diver.com - Stagebottle rigging

This is the method I use on all of mine. It is rock solid and inexpensive.

 

[RTee]

This is the method I use on all of mine. It is rock solid and inexpensive.

Same here

 

[chrpai]

Stage bottle rigging is easy and cheap, 5mil rope, fuel hose or similar, SS hose clamp and 2 bolt snaps. For travel, use a cam band instead of the hose clamp, if you want instructions PM me. There isn't a lot of difference between a Al 40 and 80, as mentioned the buoyancy shift and a 40 being easier to handle. I get the feeling that sidemount could be in your future.....balanced, redundant air........

Funny, the guy in the LDS was pushing sidemount hard. Who knows, he might be right. But he stopped after asking some good questions and listening to my answers. I mentioned the cost of rigging a tank I already owned was minimal and that I'd have use for it down the road for other purposes. Who knows... maybe the both of you have a point. We'll see.

I rigged it using a cam strap instead of a ss clamp. Hopefully I did a decent job.

 

[HenrikBP]

Looks like you put the rubber bands *under* the "rope handle". I put one of mine on top of the handle about midway between tank shoulder and hose clamp. the other goes below the hose clamp/tank strap. I also have a length of fuel hose (as mentioned by others) on the rope. The hose helps keep the rubber band off the tank a bit, which makes it easier to stow the regulator/hose especially UW.

Are those rubber bands the EPDM you can buy? If so you can cut them in half lengthwise. They'll have enough holding *power* and be a lot easier to work with when stowing the regulator/hose.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I preferred to keep the bands under the stage rigging - it won't inadvertently come off that way.

I used to do this hog rigging with stages used in back mount, and for primary tanks used in sidemount. I dropped using the tubing around the rope - it really did nothing useful.

Now however I use the Edd Sorenson approach for sidemount stages. On the primary side mount bottles, I just use a cam band for the lower bolt snap and a bolt snap looped around the valve with 550 cord for the upper bolt snap.