Horse Collar BC's

[kalvyn]

AaronBBrown once bubbled...


Unfortunately many (if not all) of the major agencies teach using the drysuit as a primary means of bouyancy. I don't have my SSI manual in front of me, but it states that directly somewhere.

I had to learn through experience that it was MUCH easier to dive when I was using my bouyancy compensator for bouyancy. Since I did my OW in a drysuit, I didn't know any better in the begining. This was exacerbated by having a boat captain give a long lecture about how I should dump all the air from my BC when I am under and only use my drysuit to stay neutral. Luckily, I have learned a better way.

I just had my first drysuit orientation session last night, and the instructor was asked this very question. While we were shown using the suit for bouyancy in the bool, he suggested to use the BC on the open water. He's found that works better with all the weight we have to wear around here (PNW). So he ended up telling us pretty much the same advice I've read here; add air to the suit to compensate for squeeze, and use the BC for bouyancy. So some instructors are definitely willing to give advice that goes against "the book".

Jimmie

 

[digordie]

Thanks everyone for your help. It would be great to hear from someone who (still) uses the LBJ, Horse collars, toilet lids. I guess taking into account the prohibitions/recommendations against using ones' drysuit as an bouyancy device, using a jacket BC would be the best bet all around---carrying a few things and then also have bouyancy.

Grant

 

[Soggy]

digordie once bubbled...
Thanks everyone for your help. It would be great to hear from someone who (still) uses the LBJ, Horse collars, toilet lids. I guess taking into account the prohibitions/recommendations against using ones' drysuit as an bouyancy device, using a jacket BC would be the best bet all around---carrying a few things and then also have bouyancy.

Grant

I don't really understand why you want to use a horse collar...What perceived benefit does it have?? Use a BP/wings or conventional BC. The backup bouyancy can be provided by your suit (i.e. your BC fails...unlikely...so you get to the surface with your suit).

 

[digordie]

My logic is that if they still make them then they must have some benefit. Companies usually don't continue to make products that don't sell. I know the benefits ( of Wings and regular BCs--it is just that, as I stated in my initial query what are the benefits of using a horse collar? I conjecture that they would be the most streamlined of all bouyancy devices. Just use a backpack--which many companies still produce and a couple of add-on pockets. Just my thoughts without experience---which is why I posed the question in the first place.

grant

 

[rmediver2002]

I still use mine for working dives, it is a US diver model.

Jeff L

 

[JeffAustin]

The nice thing about a horse collar is you can use it for free diving when you need surface buoyancy(rough water, pulling in a big fish...) Although I dive a BP/wing combo now, my horse collar/ backpack combo was very enjoyable to dive, more so than the Scubapro BC vest that replaced it!! Thanks for the link to Buddy, I didn't think anybody made horse collars anymore. I'm thinking about getting another horse collar for the above mentioned reasons. I wish I never sold my old one!

 

[ew1usnr]

This line seemed to bog down into whether to use a dry suit for buoyancy or not. Talking strictly about horse collar BC's, the advantage of these devices are that they are light weight, compact, and allow options in their use. They allow you to use them with a back plate, allow the use of the back plate alone, or allow the use of the BC by its self as a snorkle vest. It allows the tank and harness to be shed in an emergency while retaining the vest. They work best if the diver is wearing no more weight than what he actually needs.

 

[pkmaven]

The Horsecollar BC has seen its day. I swore by my Fenzy for years. It was, without a doubt, the most heavy duty, high quality BC made in the world. The company went out of business and the vulcanized rubber seams cannot be repaired. The new BCDs are absolutely more comfortable and provide a better degree of lift than a horsecollar.There are a few companies who manufacture all the new BCDs and their marketing efforts are amazing. One of the most touted features of every BCD is the "dumpable" weight pockets. I have been a certified diver for over twenty years and I have never had to dump my weights. I don't know anybody who has dumped their weights. The balance in the water because of the ability to store weight in the rear of the BCD makes a big difference in upright stability in the water. The "D" rings on all BCDs allow attaching things that the horsecollar didn't allow for when diving. P.

 

[ew1usnr]

Here is a shot of my SeaQuest horse collar. It's nice because it has the CO2 inflator as well as an auto-inflator. My Voit Trieste regulator has a LP port that I run a combination octopus/inflator hose off of. So as not to upset the cave divers, this picture was taken in open water in the spring basin at Blue Spring State Park in Florida.