Alternate Routing of BCD Inflator / Corrugated Hose / Inflator Hose

[DevonDiver]

Great point DevonDiver. I think that is exactly what I was trying to accomplish. I totally agree. By routing under left armpit, it follows with the DS inflator hose. This way the DS inflator hose, BCD inflator hose and BCD corrugated hose all follow the same path to the same location. It is much more compartmentalized than splitting the DS inflator hose from the BCD inflator assembly. It also follows the natural "drape" of the hoses coming off the 1st stage and off the BCD. I just adjusted the dump valve to point the corrugated down at like a 60 degree angle right towards the back of my armpit.

So...if I'm imagining this right: You swap the corrugated hose from the left shoulder down to the left hip dump? Then route the LPI hose down from the 1st stage, under the armpit and up to connect with the corrugated?

My main concern would be oral inflation. Not all corrugated hoses are sufficiently 'stretchy' to reach up to the mouth for oral inflation. The routing of the LPI under the armpit might well also restrict the stretch of the corrugated - preventing it easily reaching the mouth.

As for rescues... I see this concept as no more 'un-intelligible' that a Mares AirTrim (type of design (the kind with fancy pneumatic inflators set at the hip). It's the diver's responsibility to brief/buddy check with their diving partners. It is not their responsibility to dumb down their preferred configuration to satisfy the ignorance of all-and-sundry divers they might ever find themselves sharing ocean with...

 

[relmbl]

DevonDiver- not exactly. The inflator assembly is still attached to te upper left vent port. I just loosened the dump valve and reassembled it at a different angle given the hexagon points of contact inside (kinda hard to explain unless you look at the plastic around the o-ring inside dump valve. The angle now points the corrugated hose directly at the back of my arm pit. I twisted the coruggated hose on the port and inflator valve to be oblong flush with my body and routed the dry suite inflator hose, BCD inflator hose and corrugated hose all together, directly under my left armpit and around torso to the front. I use O rings over the corrugated hose to hold the dry suite hose and BCD hose down onto the corrugated hose with the exception of the last part of the BCD hose. This way, if I raise the BCD hose, my drysuite hose doesn't get pulled away.

The problem I was trying to solve was streamlining, better view and manipulation of the valve assembly and better hose routing of the three hoses. I know it's not huge, but it is less cluttered and I have never likes the inflator going over m shoulder. It's always too long, too short, in the way of d-ring and flopping around when trimmed parallel to bottom. Now, both my shoulders are fairly clear and my hoses route down without looping out and sticking up by the tank valve.

i will try to get some pics going.

 

[DevonDiver]

I think I can imagine what you did (pics would help though). So can you access the LPI directly and with ease for oral inflation in an emergency?

 

[relmbl]

Lets see if this works from an ipad.

Ignore the fat rolls. Holly cow that sucks. I will use winter as an excuse. In any case, this gives you an idea.

 

[relmbl]

I think easier access. And I can see it with an OTS Guardian on I case of free flow etc.

---------- Post added March 14th, 2013 at 08:10 PM ----------

The green line is my GreenForce can light. Still working on the best routing. Just ignore that for time being.

 

[fnfalman]

I want to save you. If you don't feel the need to accomodate my "want" in that case... that's entirely your right. Just let me know before you enter the water. In fact, let me know before we leave the dock so I can help you get your gear off the boat before we get under way.

You get paid to provide rescue service to me as one of your customers. I don't cater to your wants. You cater to my wants. At least that's how business works.

And yes, your shop doesn't have to take my money either, but if it does, then you need to do your job, which is to cater to my wants. Or else refund the money and I'll take my business elsewhere.

Better yet, have your shop/charter post a list of approved equipment configuration on the website so that the prospective customers don't have to waste their times signing up for an outfit which won't support their personal equipment preference.

---------- Post added March 15th, 2013 at 02:45 PM ----------

Give it a whirl and then let us know how it works out for you.

I don't see anything that would make you die.

I think easier access. And I can see it with an OTS Guardian on I case of free flow etc.

---------- Post added March 14th, 2013 at 08:10 PM ----------

The green line is my GreenForce can light. Still working on the best routing. Just ignore that for time being.

 

[relmbl]

Thanks SB Addict. It's worked on the 5 dives so far but June is a big dive month for us so I will report back.

 

[RJP]

Better yet, have your shop/charter post a list of approved equipment configuration on the website so that the prospective customers don't have to waste their times signing up for an outfit which won't support their personal equipment preference.

You're missing the point. My comments weren't directed at the OP's equipment choices getting him left at the dock... they were about your attitude choices getting you left there.