Does anyone use tank skins?

[costi]

I use plastic "fish net" tank skins to protect my tanks during transport. I take them off prior to my dives simply because I am not confident that they don't allow a tank to slip. (I also like the looks of them)
I don't have any basis to have a concern about using them...except slipping them off and on again adds to my already too long list of "things to do" to get dressed for a dive. Obviously it woulld be a lot easier to leave them on and only remove them when I have inspections done to my tanks.
So my question is...do any of you have any experience either good or bad in diving with these on your tank?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Bob

 

[ronbeau]

I use plastic "fish net" tank skins to protect my tanks during transport. I take them off prior to my dives simply because I am not confident that they don't allow a tank to slip. (I also like the looks of them)
I don't have any basis to have a concern about using them...except slipping them off and on again adds to my already too long list of "things to do" to get dressed for a dive. Obviously it would be a lot easier to leave them on and only remove them when I have inspections done to my tanks.
So my question is...do any of you have any experience either good or bad in diving with these on your tank?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Bob

I used the plastic "Fish Net" on my Aluminum 80s but I leave them on when diving. I have about the same number of dives as you and have not had on come loose. In fact I have never even seen the "fish net" move up on the tank at all. My tanks look like brand new.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I have them on my tanks and leave them on. They have taken a lot of abuse over the years, some of the netting is sliced in places but they've protected the tanks. I've never had them slip either. The only PITA is when I switch from a net tank to a no net tank I have to make a slight adjustment to my bc strap. The nets make the tanks slightly fatter
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[mstevens]

I can't see any possible benefit from these things, and see several potential problems with them.

 

[costi]

I can't see any possible benefit from these things, and see several potential problems with them.

One of the benefits is tanks protection. As Ronbeau mentioned above, his tanks look like new. I just needed to know if they pose a "slippage" problem.
BC

 

[Damselfish]

I used to have these on some tanks and didn't have a slippage problem, think they may have actually helped with that. They did get torn up though and I thought they made it a little harder to get the BC on the tank.

 

[MikeFerrara]

We had them on our rental tanks at one time. We used to get them fee I think when we baught tanks and I think I still have a box of them someplace. We were concerned about customer abuse but I never had them on my own tanks. The edges get ragged and like other have pointed out they make it a pain to get your scuba unit onto the tank. Who needs that?

Also, they may protect the tank from little scrapes and scratches but I doubt it will protect the tank from anything that could do it any real damage. So it's just a looks thing?

Take your new tank and roll it around a gravel driveway for a while and then you can stop worrying about it. LOL

 

[costi]

We had them on our rental tanks at one time. We used to get them fee I think when we baught tanks and I think I still have a box of them someplace. We were concerned about customer abuse but I never had them on my own tanks. The edges get ragged and like other have pointed out they make it a pain to get your scuba unit onto the tank. Who needs that?

Also, they may protect the tank from little scrapes and scratches but I doubt it will protect the tank from anything that could do it any real damage. So it's just a looks thing?

Take your new tank and roll it around a gravel driveway for a while and then you can stop worrying about it. LOL

Thanks for the input..I think I'm going to continue doing what I am now...just using them for scratch and little dings protection durng transport...removing them for dives.
Kind of like a new car, once the first scratch is there, the rest don't matter as much.
Thanks guys, bob

 

[Aquanautchuck]

I have had them on my tanks for years and have never had them slip. I dive with two pony tanks clamped to them along with the BC. They do keep the tanks protected and increase their visibility. As for making it hard to get the BC on. A trick is to get some thin cord at a boat or mountain shop and thread it through the top of the net. Pull tight and tie a knot. BC strap then slide down the net with no hassle.

Charles

 

[miketsp]

I've used them on a lot of boats & yes they do protect the tank and no they don't slip. If anything the BC band is less prone to slip with the net.
OTOH I get very conscious of them when diving wrecks or squeezing through crevices in reefs and take extra care for them not to snag. So for peace of mind I probably wouldn't use them if I owned my own tanks.