Question Floppy DSMB

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

My DSMB is a bit floppy compared to DSMBs of other divers. I would like it to stay rigid inflated even after very long dives. Looking for ideas.

I’m using Dirzone 180cm DSMB, closed bottom. It’s not deflated but it loses maybe 10-15% of volume.

• There is enough gas, if anything too much (I might deploy 1/3 full DSMB from 50 meters).
• I’m generally not pulling myself up on the DSMB or hanging under the DSMB (definitely not compared to many other divers who don’t suffer from floppy DSMBs).

My thoughts:

• Leaks?
• OPV is too tight or not tight enough? OPV position is quite high - maybe that forces some gas out?
• Inflator nipple leak?
• I should try different DSMB brand?
• I’m a moron and pull too much?

 

[rick00001967]

viagra??

 

[Chrisk919]

put soapy water on it and find where the leaks are. I often get tiny puncture wounds on mine.

I hate to resurrect a 7-month old thread, but I have a 2-year-old 7 foot DSMB that has developed a crack/leak near one of the 'welds' on the side seam.

My first thought was 'replace' but 2 years and < 30 deployments (I don't drift dive much) seems like I should get more life out of it.

For the puncture wounds, do you just use aqua-seal or similar, and how long does it hold up?

 

[johndiver999]

If they are just annoying leaks, then I would put a dab of aquaseal here and there. If it is in risk of failure - should the glue not hold, then get a new one.

 

[madamimadam]

I hate to resurrect a 7-month old thread, but I have a 2-year-old 7 foot DSMB that has developed a crack/leak near one of the 'welds' on the side seam.

My first thought was 'replace' but 2 years and < 30 deployments (I don't drift dive much) seems like I should get more life out of it.

For the puncture wounds, do you just use aqua-seal or similar, and how long does it hold up?

I've experienced similar issues with a few dsmbs—always started as a pinhole on the unstiched, unwelded side near the inflator nipple, apparently due to wear from keeping the dsmb rolled-up. Although GearAid and a patch with GearAid worked very briefly on a couple dsmbs, they failed soon after.

Recently though I took my clothes iron to the entire unwelded side to effectively create a new weld along the full length (height) of one dsmb which had at least one hundred dives and a couple small holes. I've also cut about two feet off the top of a new six foot dsmb which was too long for my needs, and ironed a couple inches of the remaining open top. Granted, I have fewer than twenty deployments of each of these dsmbs, but so far they've worked like a charm (I do dive with a backup).

I used a standard clothes iron on the highest setting, with a piece of parchment between the iron and the dsmb, and a neoprene pad underneath the dsmb. I repetedly ironed about a half-inch in from the edge, using firm pressure until I could see (and smell) the weld.