DIY trim/tank weights?

[natew]

I really need to get my trim right with my gear. Unfortunately my BC doesn't have any pockets for trim weights on the upper side, I only have lower rear trim weight pockets and front integrated weight pockets and I can't get my trim correct. It seems my fins are always dragging on the ground and I can't do a safety stop and stay horizontal, basically if I'm not swimming I go straight vertical with any weight configuration.

So I want to get some weight up higher, behind my head/neck/upper back area but really don't want to have to spend upwards of $50+ on a stupid tank weight belt and a little weight pouch etc. And since i'm not the most creative person thought maybe a few of you who are great at making your own gear might have some thoughts on something cheap I can do to fasten about 2lbs of weight to the upper part of my tank or BC. I thought about just duct tape but that doesn't seem like a real permenant or reliable solution, not to mention the mess it leaves on everything when you take it off.

So your thoughts and suggestions are much appreciated!

 

[gsk3]

What's wrong with a cam band (can be found used for $10-20) and the little trim weight pockets that slip over the cam band ($10-15)?

 

[natew]

I don't have a very strong used gear market around here, what mostly ends up for sale seems to be new divers who bought a bunch of gear and then decided it wasn't for them or they didn't use it enough. Doubtful many of them would have anything like this.

I don't see anything posted in the classifieds on here either, but if anyone has something they wanna sell me cheap let me know.

 

[Crush]

I trimmed out my BC by threading weights through the top cam band. This is OK for local diving, but when flying you don't want to carry the extra weight and threading/unthreading the weights can get bothersome. Recalling that I had this: XS Scuba Weight Belt which was sitting around unused (my version had 2 x 4 pockets) I cut the 4-in-a-row weight pockets into individual pouches - two pouches were cut off to preserve stitching, two had to be re-sewn. Repeat for the second set of 4-in-a-row individual pouches. Remember to melt the frayed edges with a lighter. You can turn a $40 weight belt with pouches into eight trim pockets and still have a spare weight belt.

 

[redacted]

I use a couple 11 inch (+/-) lengths of 2 inch webbing that I glued a strip of velcro to each end so it can be held in a loop. I then weave that into a hard weight (2 or 3 lb) and attach it around a tank strap so the velcro connection is under the strap and can't come loose.

Pics maybe:

 

[Nitrodiverrr]

Seasoft (who IMHO make some quality equipment) sell a tank weight pouch system made of neoprene with a nylon strap at a cost of $23 including shiping. It will hold a max of about 7-8 lbs of soft weights and straps to the tank not to the cam band. Because the band has the plastic buckle closure, I would consider melting a small hole in the webbing to attach a nylon cord with a snap on it to clip off to the bc just in case the buckle came undone or broke. Amazon has a picture up on their site from the seller LP. Just some food for thought on something costing less than $50 that you can still make up some DIY soft weights for.

 

[natew]

I use a couple 11 inch (+/-) lengths of 2 inch webbing that I glued a strip of velcro to each end so it can be held in a loop. I then weave that into a hard weight (2 or 3 lb) and attach it around a tank strap so the velcro connection is under the strap and can't come loose.

Pics maybe:

That seems kind of what I was looking to do. Where did you get the materials, LDS, local craft/fabric stores?

 

[rcs9250]

Another very quick and dirty way is to use ankle weights at the tank neck. Just clip them under the valve.
They can also be easily made using tubular nylon strap that rock climbers use to make slings out of. Cut the length you need and fill with the amount of shot. Usually two or three pounds is about all you can fit in a normal angle size. You could make it as long as you want I suppose and wrap it around the valve. Just make sure it wont interfere with valve function. You will have to devise a way to clip the ends together. The commercially available ones use a custom Fastex type clip. You could buy a male and female buckle set and thread the end of the nylon through it then sew it to keep it on.

 

[Kilili]

Take a weight, loop some bungee or tubing thru it, and slip over neck of tank.

 

[Hatul]

I really need to get my trim right with my gear. Unfortunately my BC doesn't have any pockets for trim weights on the upper side, I only have lower rear trim weight pockets and front integrated weight pockets and I can't get my trim correct. It seems my fins are always dragging on the ground and I can't do a safety stop and stay horizontal, basically if I'm not swimming I go straight vertical with any weight configuration.

So I want to get some weight up higher, behind my head/neck/upper back area but really don't want to have to spend upwards of $50+ on a stupid tank weight belt and a little weight pouch etc. And since i'm not the most creative person thought maybe a few of you who are great at making your own gear might have some thoughts on something cheap I can do to fasten about 2lbs of weight to the upper part of my tank or BC. I thought about just duct tape but that doesn't seem like a real permenant or reliable solution, not to mention the mess it leaves on everything when you take it off.

So your thoughts and suggestions are much appreciated!

I use XSScuba quick release weight velcro weight pouches on the top tank band. I think they're about $15 each and work well. The velcro release allows you to mount and remove them without removing the tank band.

Adam