Lift Bags

[like-fish]

Ripstop nylon at any fabric store sew up to make some decent $5 lift bags. i use them to float my stringers of fish from depth. Also I learned from a friend they are nice to have on deco stops while spearfishing. I attach the line from my gun to my homemade lift bag, inflate, and hang at depth. I carry 2 of them on me at all times in my BC with a rubberband around them. Cheap and effective.

 

[ScubaToneDog]

Ripstop nylon at any fabric store sew up to make some decent $5 lift bags.

Hmmmm...interesting...do you need to do anything special to seal the seams? Or is the leakage so minimal that its not an issue.

 

[like-fish]

Very little leakage at seams. I just rolled the seams over themselves 2times? it think and wife sewed for me. i kept it real simple as it was an experament and the test bags are the ones i carry with me.

I can hang from a bag at 15' for 10min or so without loosing too much air from bag. I think I made 2 bags for about $10-$15 including some nylon i bought for straps. ti hang my stingers form.

I have floated an anchor with one of my bags also. I was shocked to see it rip out of my hands and scream to the surface!

 

[hullscrubber]

Depending on the weight you are lifting, a simple old horsecollar bc will work. I several that I bought off ebay for 5-10 bucks apiece and use for when I do propeller remove and replacements on yachts in my work....

 

[dannobee]

I'll go even cheaper and easier. Put a plastic garbage bag inside of the canvas bag instead of using contact cement.

turn it inside out, apply three coats of contact cement and let dry 24 hours. Dust it with baby powder and turn it right side out. A gallon of Contact cement is 8.47, the canvass bags I found for 2.99, and a 3 inch paint brush.

6 lift bags for under 30 bucks, not a bad idea.

 

[scubaskipper]

Inner tube is a no brainer, least amount of work and cost. You just have to know how to tie some knots.

 

[koen]

you could also use a life jacket for kids with a litlle cilinder (or how do you call it) so it blows up in a few seconds
one small issue life guards think you have drowned a kid (woops)

 

[BuoyantC]

Another idea is just get a small drybag. If you don't need it as a drybag, you can use it for a lift bag, and vica versa.