jimmyboy
Contributor
Is there a maximum weight you should put into a weight intergrated BC, or can you put in as much as you need?
max weight for bc's??
- Thread starter jimmyboy
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
gfisher4792
Guest
Each BC should list the maximum weight each pocket can hold. For example, my old Aqualung BC could hold 10 lbs in each ditchable pocket, and 5 lbs each in the rear nonditchable pockets. You definitely don't want to overload a weight pocket, as it may cause the pocket velcro or mechanism to fail while diving, or may cause damage to the pocket (ie, seam tears, etc.)
Even though it can hold more - I don't like to pass the 20lb mark for me. If I'm diving cold and need more than that, I'll start out with a belt with 10 lbs then put the rest in my BC.. although I have had up to 20 lbs in the ditchable area, and 10 in the non-dump pockets in my Zeagle Brigade.
The 20 pound max suggestion is good advice.
My spouse is in the process of switching BC's and the model she was trying with her neoprene drysuit had integrated weights plus trim pockets.
With the integrated pockets used and 4 lbs in each trim pocket (25 lbs total) and the addition of an -11 pound Faber tank, the fully inflated BC promptly sank when she took it off in the water. Fortunately it was attached to a gear line and no recovery dive was needed.
So it is important not to just consider the weight of the lead in the BC but also the weight of the tank, particularly if you are using something other than an average AL 80 as it is generally preferred that your BC float all by itself without having to dump weights.
My spouse is in the process of switching BC's and the model she was trying with her neoprene drysuit had integrated weights plus trim pockets.
With the integrated pockets used and 4 lbs in each trim pocket (25 lbs total) and the addition of an -11 pound Faber tank, the fully inflated BC promptly sank when she took it off in the water. Fortunately it was attached to a gear line and no recovery dive was needed.
So it is important not to just consider the weight of the lead in the BC but also the weight of the tank, particularly if you are using something other than an average AL 80 as it is generally preferred that your BC float all by itself without having to dump weights.
Similar threads
