SlugLife
Contributor
Today's DIY hack is ultra-simple. All you need is about 24-inches of webbing, and some Stainless Steel triglides. The basic idea is to create a handle for lifting, carrying, or hanging up your BCD.
Pictures probably will do a much better job explaining this DIY hack than a description.
0) Start with about 24 inches of webbing. I recommend 2-inch, because wider webbing will better distribute weight and "cut" into your hand less. From a "semi-pro DIY armature" (hah) perspective, the #1 mistake I've made is starting with too little material. You always need more material than you expect, and if you start too short, you'll often find the material going to waste, because you're an inch short.
1) You'll need a mounting point. There are two options
1a) You can use the upper shoulder straps on most harnesses. You'll need to get a triglide on each shoulder strap, and then run your handle webbing through that same shoulderstrap.
1b) If you have a metal backplate+wing, you may be able to use the slots on the top. Just run the webbing through the gap and secure using a triglide with the webbing running through it twice.
2) For the triglides, I usually prefer ones with teeth, and ensuring there are TWO layers of webbing running through each opening. Depending on the exact triglide you use and webbing thickness, this may not be entirely possible. Basically, the #1 goal is you don't want it coming undone. My BCD is lightweight, however if you have 20lbs and a tank, I'd strongly recommend using double-triglides on each end.
3) Optional D-ring. The main reason I added a d-ring on mine, is because I mostly intend to use the handle for hanging the BCD. My BCD is a sidemount harness, soft backplate, and only about 4lbs of weight, so it's not really needed for lifting my BCD. I typically hang my BCD using a double-ender or boltsnap on paracord, which clips into that d-ring.
4) Optional: Trim off excess webbing and defray the ends with a lighter (carefully, don't burn your BCD)
Just the handle
Handle looped through triglides on my nylon backplate & no shoulder straps installed.
Same as before, but with shoulder straps.
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If you want to do an even fancier and nicer one, you can mimic the following design. However, because I don't feel like spending money and going to the hardware store, I'll let people figure this one out for themselves.
scubaboard.com
Pictures probably will do a much better job explaining this DIY hack than a description.
0) Start with about 24 inches of webbing. I recommend 2-inch, because wider webbing will better distribute weight and "cut" into your hand less. From a "semi-pro DIY armature" (hah) perspective, the #1 mistake I've made is starting with too little material. You always need more material than you expect, and if you start too short, you'll often find the material going to waste, because you're an inch short.
1) You'll need a mounting point. There are two options
1a) You can use the upper shoulder straps on most harnesses. You'll need to get a triglide on each shoulder strap, and then run your handle webbing through that same shoulderstrap.
1b) If you have a metal backplate+wing, you may be able to use the slots on the top. Just run the webbing through the gap and secure using a triglide with the webbing running through it twice.
2) For the triglides, I usually prefer ones with teeth, and ensuring there are TWO layers of webbing running through each opening. Depending on the exact triglide you use and webbing thickness, this may not be entirely possible. Basically, the #1 goal is you don't want it coming undone. My BCD is lightweight, however if you have 20lbs and a tank, I'd strongly recommend using double-triglides on each end.
3) Optional D-ring. The main reason I added a d-ring on mine, is because I mostly intend to use the handle for hanging the BCD. My BCD is a sidemount harness, soft backplate, and only about 4lbs of weight, so it's not really needed for lifting my BCD. I typically hang my BCD using a double-ender or boltsnap on paracord, which clips into that d-ring.
4) Optional: Trim off excess webbing and defray the ends with a lighter (carefully, don't burn your BCD)
Just the handle
Handle looped through triglides on my nylon backplate & no shoulder straps installed.
Same as before, but with shoulder straps.
---
If you want to do an even fancier and nicer one, you can mimic the following design. However, because I don't feel like spending money and going to the hardware store, I'll let people figure this one out for themselves.
BCD Handle?
Hello everyone! I have a very strange question! I’ve been diving with my Aqualung Pearl women’s BCD for quite some time now, and I really like it! However, my one complaint is that there is no handle on the backboard for easy lifting. I do quite a bit of diving out of a small dinghy, which...
