Pony Bottle

[ArcticDiver]

I can tell you my decision and why.

I decided that traveling with a tank of any size was not realistic. By the time I put in my dry suit, other gear and clothing, etc I was either over my weight limit, or had too many bags. Plus, there was the tank hassle.

Almost everywhere I go there are plenty of AL80s and often other size tanks.

So, my "pony" is a second tank back mounted in a bracket made for that purpose.

A "pony" is really an Independent Double with unequal size tanks. In my case both my tanks are the same size.

 

[Bonuss]

I have the same question as OP; and am thinking a 19. Nemrog got my attention with "Yes you will have to empty the bottle for travel, get a whip to put pressure back in so the dive shops don't try to charge you for a VIP. N"

Good thinking! (I didn't even consider this) But when do you put air in?? Pick up an 80 and "sneak off" : )

Bob in CO

 

[Nemrod]

Bonuss, I am expert at busting rules but I am just plumb wore out over all the pony debates--lol.

A whips can be very useful including for those times you inspect a tank yourself and to then circumvent the odd requirment some--some--dive shops impose on empty tanks of charging for another VIP. What they don't know don't hurt them. Put a cap on the tank to keep FOD out of it so it will be safe to reinstall the valve and use the whip to fill it and let the dive ops top it if need be.

N<---weren't born yesterday

 

[Timeliner]

A 19cf left side slung works pretty good for me. It'll do the job for a Recreational Solo Diver and not really get in your way at all underwater. Here is a picture of the one I just configured. I did just add an inflater hose too for the heck of it. It might come in handy to fill my BCD or a flat tire
Actually... that pony inflater hose gives you one more alternate air sorce too...
"Your BCD"
Granted, it is a last ditch effort but it could be the thing that saves you.
So if you do dive with an Octo and a Pony bottle then you actually have 2 alternate air sources and a Hail Mary!
http://www.frankpoye.com/scuba/DSC02363.JPG
I designed and sewed the the complete harness myself and built it up just like I wanted. I tested it out yesterday and it works great.

 

[Bonuss]

Nice rigging Timeliner. I was actually thinking of DIY harness as well. I make all sorts of stuff....(well except watches)

Bob in CO

 

[grazie42]

My first recommendation would be not to backmount your pony, feel free to ignore it.

Since you´ve decided to backmount, the only issue with a 30cft vs 19 could be that it takes more lead than you need to balance the 30, making you overweighted. Only you know what exposure protection you plan on using and how much weight you need so that´s something you need to think about. A 19 will propably travel easier but since you´ll be backmounting I´d go for a 30 for a bit of extra margin and for future flexibility...

ymmv

 

[95yj]

Just thought I'd share this even though a lot of you are using backplates and won't care.

I have a Zeagle Ranger XLT which has accessory zippers on both sides under the wings. They make an elastic sleeve that slides over a 19' pony with a zipper that zips into the BC. It goes in front of the wing and the strap that holds the wing to the vest goes over top of the bottle. The bottle hangs upside down giving good access to the valve. It's a really clean setup that gives me access to the bottle and puts my hoses right where I want them. Once in the water, I can't even tell the bottle is there.

Now all I have to do is find a bottle that doesn't weigh so much. By the time I add enough lead to balance the bottle, I'm overweighted.

 

[Timeliner]

I guess I don't have too much an issue with being over weighted or out of balance with a 19cft left slung pony.
I mean... It ain't a freekin' dumptruck it's a little thing :blinking:
I use 2 lbs. less Lead and just hang some things different on my right side.
I could drop a bit more Lead actually but in the event that I need to use the pony bottle it would get lighter. It's like everything else I guess the deeper you go the more it seems to affect you with neoprene especially a Winter set up.

 

[UP4AIR]

Just to put in my 2 pennies...One thing to keep in mind as you choose between the 19 or the 30 is what is your dive profile? If you are one to push the limits of your puter to the NDL..and have a failure at say..100' Then you may have obligated yourself to a stop along the way to the surface. This is not to say that a 19 will or will not have enough gas to do the stop nor is it for me to say that a 30 is better over the 19. This is just devil's advocate and putting forth thought.

The second thing here is that I have a 30. I have mounted it on my back using 2 different methods. Both methods were to my main tank (AL80) one used a strap device and the other used a pin with a clevis. The strap was a PITA. I had to put one strap of my BC on the tank then the pony mount then the other strap of the BC. NOT GOOD. The other method was using a pin device (pony tamer? I think it was called)...not too bad, but tended to weight me to one side and I had to counter balance to adjust. I finally decided to just sling it on my left side...and my oh my! what a difference. It doesnt get in the way, you can easily see the pressure gauge on the tank, you can pass it off to the drowning buddy without drowning yourself, you can add nitrox to it for a quicker deco stop if you get into that. I found that the advantages of slinging were way better for me.

Bottom line...try one way and see how it goes...if it stinks...try something else. Take the advice here of fellow divers and use what works BEST for YOU.

 

[Timeliner]

UP4AIR does that arm belong to you under the Tatoo in your Avitar ??

Scuba~ Snake ~ Dive Flag Hey I like it ...Not Bad !