How to shoot a

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usmc4x4

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safety sausage? I must admit I never had a formal "class" on the proper deployment of a safety sausage. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks. Also I want to purchase a new sausage as well as a finger reel, any suggestions? I have a Zeagle Brigade (think Ranger if you don't know the Scubatoys guys) and was wondering what is considered the best attachement point/method? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks.
 
Can't help you with attaching it to a Zeagle.

I've tried three different SMBs, and to my chagrin, liked the Halcyon one the best. It's the easiest to inflate, although the elastic is hard to manage until you figure out that the best way to deploy it is just to yank it apart.

If you aren't doing it for a class, I'd suggest loading the SMB on your spool and keeping it that way. Put the loop at the end of the spool through the D-ring or ring on the SMB, and then pass the spool through the loop so it locks onto the SMB.

To deploy, pull the mess out of your pocket (you do have pockets, right?) and clip the double ender off on a D ring somewhere. Unroll the SMB away from you until it's out to full length. Get slightly negative, tilt a little head down, and inflate the SMB with a full breath. Look up in both directions and let go of the bag. If your spool is Delrin, you can just watch the SMB head for the surface; the Delrin spool will spin out and stay in front of you. If it's stainless, you'll have to keep it in place with your fingertips. Once it reaches the surface, clip the line off to the spool with the double ender.

Pitfalls are getting the whole assembly too close to your body, so you have a risk of getting caught in the line and dragged to the surface (ask Rick Inman about that); not managing your buoyancy properly so you end up positive once you've filled the bag, and while you are still holding onto it; not looking up, and releasing the bag into another diver or other obstruction. Or you can do what I watched a novice diver ALMOST do, had I not stopped him -- deploy the bag, fill it and release it without hooking it up to the spool . . . :)
 
The gang at Breakthrudiving (formerly 5thd-x) have a couple of DVDs that have this skill as well as other skills captured on video and explained in detail. It's not a suitable replacement for adequate instruction but it is a place to start.

I had a Brigade briefly. With the setup TSandM is talking about, I doubt you have the pockets to store an SMB/spool properly. You can probably hang it on one of your D-rings but who knows what the best place would be or what hazards you incur by putting it in an exposed area.

My suggestion is, think about doing tech pockets on your legs. They are far easier to access than pockets on your BCD. The tech/cave guys use these pockets extensively so this method for stowing gear is well tested.
 
I have a closed circuit 4.5' halcyon alert diver marker. I like it alot.

You will need a spool with 100' of #24 cave line and you will need to tie a yosemite bowline knot and a woody jasper knot in it.

Get a bag that is small enough to handle but big enough to be seen when you need it.

My advice is not to deploy with a reel. Keep it simple, use a spool. Preferably one made of metal or delrin.
 
One tip is to initially fill the sausage from your inflator. This way you stay neutral. Then top it off (to a % based on your depth) orally or with a reg and after release refill your BC as required.
 
How to shoot a sausage? Simple.

Breath
Relax
Aim
Squeeze

JK :D
 
Couple other point (learned the hard way)

Not a bad idea to empty and rewind your spool occasionally. After shooting the DSMB and recovering the line as you ascend, the line wrapping gets a bit messy and may tangle. So one moment you are watching your spool dance in front of your eyes, and then it is gone. Good thing it wasn't too windy.

The other is don't get complacent. There are so many ways you can do it wrong that you really need to stay on the ball. I always dump my BC into the DSMB first to get it straghtened out and to mak sure the valve is working OK. Do the final fill from a reg on a long hose so you are not too close. I've managed a couple rides to the surface over that one, both short trips thankfully. One was trying to fill it from an Air2. 3 buttons, one is right, and one is very wrong. The other was trying to use my bungeed reg (retired Air2) rather than switch.

Also launch deeper rather than shallower, or don't feel bad if your DSMB looks like it needs viagra. Trying to launch from only 15 feet usually means a limp bag or an undesired ascent.
 
usmc4x4:
safety sausage? I must admit I never had a formal "class" on the proper deployment of a safety sausage. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks. Also I want to purchase a new sausage as well as a finger reel, any suggestions? I have a Zeagle Brigade (think Ranger if you don't know the Scubatoys guys) and was wondering what is considered the best attachement point/method? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks.

usmc4x4,

Zeagle's new mounting attachment will fit any Zeagle BC. I have one on my Stiletto, which is very similar to your Brigade. The pocket zips on and off easily, and the stainless spool is clipped to the bottom D-ring at your side.

Easiest procedure, once float is out and detached:

1- Hold SMB and drop the spool from stop depth. Mine has 30'. YMMV.
2- Inflate SMB with primary, best are duck-billed closed types. See Zeagle deluxe model.
3- Watch the line stream by you as the buoy ascends.
4- Reach out and grab the line after it stops.
5- Real up as you ascend.

Any stop deeper than 30', for advanced recreational types anyway, is so short that it's over before you could deploy a float anyway. Again, YMMV.

SS spool is a Quiver model. It, the mounting device and SMBs are shown on my website's Quiver page. See www.mobilescuba.com

Chad
 

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