Have you ever added something to your rig?

[Guba]

Have you added structural components to your diving gear that were not "approved" by the manufacturer? I'm not talking about d-rings, clips, etc...I'm referring to add-on harneses, weight pocket configurations and that sort of thing.
If so, what did you add, what was the rationale for it, and would the..er..."diving community" approve (that's a subtle way of saying "scuba police").

 

[DaleHall]

I don't know if this is what you are talking since this isn't anything major, but I added two tank band weight pockets onto the upper tank band of my rig. My harness only had two weight pockets to begin with and I wanted some "trim" weight. I figure the OMS pouches were made for tanks bands so I don't really see it as a major add-on.

 

[scarefaceDM]

well to be honest..to add any thing to a BC would be pointless. You exceed manufacture standards for such a modification unless it is to repair something or replace something. Each BC has it options. Some can be adjusted some cannot. Plus in the event of an accident..Heaven forbid...all warranty etc would be void becaue YOU tammpered with the proper operation of such gear.

The only thing of value to add would be trim weights which is Optional gear which as mentioned is attached to tank straps. Or sewn in a strategic area on the BC. Say upper head, middle and or lower back area. Maybe a buckle or something of sorts.

On a flip side...if you sell your rig and you did mods to it..chances are the person may not want them mods and then you may be stuck with it.

 

[divad]

I had a sailmaker sew two fastex buckles and straps to the side of a Zeagle "Scout" to accommodate an upside down AL 19 behind my left arm. It worked great. I didn't consult "the diving community," but after I had quit using it for a while I noticed that Zeagle was selling something similar.

 

[MSilvia]

I've never owned a BC, drysuit, or set of fins that I didn't modify to some extent, but I've never been one to care much for what the manufacturers think. I usually don't even bother to send in warranty cards, except on computers and regs.

Off the top of my head, I had a Seaquest BC that I added a second cam band to, and then mounted trim weights on the original band. I also found it difficult to open the pockets on that BC while wearing cold-water gloves, so I popped brass grommets in the flaps and tied on big wooden beads I could easily get a grip on.

When I had a Transpac II after that, I again put holes and grommets in the shoulder straps so that I could tie bungie cord loops through them to hold my light while it was clipped off.

I glued a 5th Dimension bellows pocket on to the left thigh of my drysuit. I also punched a hole in the left leg so I could install a P-valve, which has been a great addition.

The Weezle Extreme undergarment I wear with it has a diagonal strip of medium weight synthetic fabric glued across the front to help prevent the lighter weight outer fabric of the suit from getting caught and ripped in the drysuit zipper (again).

My fins all lose their straps before they hit the water, and I put on custom built spring straps.

I removed and discarded the housing my Suunto SK-7 compass came in, and mounted it in an aftermarket DSS bungie wrist mount. I did the same with my Uwatec bottom timer. The Bezel on the SK-7 was replaced with a custom part I made out of thermoplastic.

My BP crotch strap and Jon line as well as all of the stage rigging on my deco cylinders is DIY... no manufacturer involved unless you count me.

I replaced the laces on the Converse All-Stars I wear as drysuit boots with bungie cord.

I've also modified a ton of other stuff, but I don't care to think much harder about what things I've tinkered with over the years. In any case, there's still a good sized pile of DIY modification and building projects I still haven't gotten to, and so far I don't have a single regret.

well to be honest..to add any thing to a BC would be pointless.

That's ridiculous. If you can improve something, go ahead and do it. If you can't, don't.

You exceed manufacture standards for such a modification unless it is to repair something or replace something.

Yes, and as we all know, there's a special layer of Hell reserved for those who exceed manufacture standards. Better to exceed them than to fall short of them, I say.

Plus in the event of an accident..Heaven forbid...all warranty etc would be void becaue YOU tammpered with the proper operation of such gear.

Very scary.

The only thing of value to add would be trim weights which is Optional gear which as mentioned is attached to tank straps. Or sewn in a strategic area on the BC. Say upper head, middle and or lower back area. Maybe a buckle or something of sorts.

Yes... nothing else you can do would be valuable... unless you can think of something that is.

On a flip side...if you sell your rig and you did mods to it..chances are the person may not want them mods and then you may be stuck with it.

That's an excellent reason not to make crappy modifications. I've never had a problem reselling, and have in fact been able to get more than the going "used" rate for some modified gear I resold.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

No slip, no dangly on a DUI W&T harness. DUI like it.
Zipper protector on the Viking Extreme. I have no idea what they think.
I cut off the welded on spindle of an OMS reel and replaced it with a bolt.
Wrapped duct tape around the "unused" latex portion of the wrist seals. The duct tape protects the seals when working around traps.
Done other stuff too.

 

[scarefaceDM]

Typical.

Question was based on RIG , BC .

Do not get me wrong GOOD mods a gooder...crappy mods make you wonder why you got the dam thing anyways...If you CAN improve go and improve whom gives a crap anyways...your stuff do what you will. Just be smart about it.

I have added a flap to my drysuit zipper..but it looks like it was there to begin with. Added ^pcket..yup looks lik eit is supos to betehre and very useful...Humm it was optional...who would have thunk it?. Added fin springs, Yup good mod...they are better than straps. Changed cam bands because they were way better than the Stock straps on my Ranger at the time.

I should have said " If it doesn't hamper the performance and safe operation of your life support system AKA RIG- BC "..then hey whom am I to judge.

Why not add a super duper power-inflator to add Air that much faster..
MORE power is gooder in a scooter.

To each his own

 

[Nemrod]

Nope, I ain't never done anything like that. N

 

[airsix]

well to be honest..to add any thing to a BC would be pointless. <snip>..Heaven forbid...all warranty etc would be void becaue YOU tammpered with the proper operation of such gear.

The only thing of value to add would be trim weights ...

Different strokes for different folks. No thing designed by a human was ever perfect. Anything can be improved upon given enough resources.

My DIY mods: a V-weight in my plate, a DIY canister light (under const.), drygloves & rings for a friend (he loves them), a purge valve for my dry-hood (no longer a balloon), weights to make a Aga FFM neutral, new holes in my STA to make it fit my BP/W better (nicely countersunk & indistinguishable from the factory holes). This week I'm going to put a heavy band of Velcro around my corrugated BC hose and a corresponding piece around my harness strap because the whole DIR hose under a bungee thing just isn't doing it for me.

Most things don't have a warranty after a year anyway. Make it work the way you need it to. One size does not fit all. I'm not advocating regulator modification or anything stupid, just simple smart stuff to make your equipment fit your needs.

-Ben

ps - forgot spring-straps for my fins. (With anodized titanium retainers and grommeted webbing pull-tabs because that's just the sort of thing you do when it's 2 weeks until the next dive and you've got cabin fever.)

 

[MSilvia]

Typical.

Question was based on RIG , BC .

I must have missed the BC part... I read, "Have you added structural components to your diving gear that were not "approved" by the manufacturer?"

Why not add a super duper power-inflator to add Air that much faster..

I can think of a number of reasons that wouldn't be a good idea. As the OP said, what would the rationale for that be?

To each his own

Indeed. While I wouldn't hesitate to cut a hole in a $1000+ piece of gear to make4 an improvement I feel is within my meager abilities, there are lots of other folks I wouldn't want near a tape measure without close supervision. The important thing is to not do more harm than good. Beyond that, if you're happy with a modification, more power to you. If you can modify something in a way that lets you restore it to it's original condition if you decide you don't like it after all, so much the better.