Is it worth hauling a steel tank?

[ligersandtions]

Steel tanks are fantastic! Not only do they allow you to drop weight from your belt (six pounds come off me going from an Al80 to my HP130), but they also allow you to trim out effortlessly.

I hadn't used an Al80 for over 80 dives until I went to Hawaii in June....I couldn't wait to get back home to my heavy steel tank!

 

[scjoe]

I do find it a tad easier getting on and off the boat and dropping things off at Catalina Baggage without the tank and weights, but the real advantage to renting is that on busy days you can pick up a tank for the second and third dives a lot faster. When things back up, they fill their own tanks first. Of course, this adds a bit to the cost of the day.

 

[SelkieDVM]

I love love love my HP100s for single tank diving. Being a short female, I find them actually easier to carry than the longer AL80s. They're only a little heavier as previously mentioned.

 

[pacificgal]

I usually dive the steel 80's and today couldn't rent one. What's the weight difference between the AL80 and the steel 80? 6 pounds about right?

 

[Teamcasa]

I usually dive the steel 80's and today couldn't rent one. What's the weight difference between the AL80 and the steel 80? 6 pounds about right?

The change in your ballast is about 5lbs more when switching from a HP80 and a AL80.

 

[Rainer]

Closer to 7# (assuming PSTs are also like Worthigntons):

See chart here:
Worthington Low Pressure 77 CF Steel Cylinder

 

[pacificgal]

Looks like I'm going to be a bit heavy. Thanks Teamcasa!

 

[clay144]

I use steel 100s all of the time, but I never travel with them. Only when I drive to a dive site do I use them. I also use steel double 100s.

 

[walke121]

I have 2 pressed steel 119's and 2 130's and won't use Al 80's unless I have no other option.

 

[Atomic_Diver]

I Love LP Steel Tanks because they are full at 2400psi, and you can overfill them which gives you more (for ex: a LP 121 cu ft overfilled to 2650, has 131 cu ft of Air), for the most part i dive with Double LP 108's in Caves, and either Double LP 121's in OW or Double AL 80's depending on the dive site/depth etc... either way Steel tanks are best because you can take lead off your belt, they are not positivley Bouyant at the end of a dive, and they can be overfilled squeezing more air into a smaller tank as supposed to carrying a larger more bulkier tank....