Walter:
And here I thought it was a popular clothing item from the 1950's that matched a poodle skirt.
poodle jacket
- Thread starter badgers
- 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
And here I thought it was a popular clothing item from the 1950's that matched a poodle skirt.
OP
badgers
Contributor
why are back inflate BCD's so bad.
I am not a tech diver so are back inflate BCD's only bad for tech dives?
I am not a tech diver so are back inflate BCD's only bad for tech dives?
A BC is a BC. If it has good features and no bad features, it's a good BC, regardless of the style - back inflate, BP/wings, vest or horse collar.
Good features - doesn't trap air, right shoulder and bottom dumps, fits well.
Bad features - padding, fabric covering of the bladder, traps air, doesn't fit well, cummerbund.
Good features - doesn't trap air, right shoulder and bottom dumps, fits well.
Bad features - padding, fabric covering of the bladder, traps air, doesn't fit well, cummerbund.
annasea
Contributor
- Messages
- 19,453
- Reaction score
- 22,023
Some clarification, please. Are you claiming that "fabric covering of the bladder" -- even on a wing -- is a negative attribute? My understanding is it is better/safer to have a wing that is the *bladder in a bag* style as opposed to a wing that is just one layer of material.Walter:
Also, don't all or most vest-style BCs have covering over their bladders? I never investigated them all that closely, but I got the impression that more than one layer of material was used.
I would generally prefer a wing with an outer tough fabric covering over a hopefully durable and tough inner bladder. There are some that utilize a rubber/urethane impregnated fabric to serve dual purpose--no internal baldder. In a good quality item either method can make an excellent wing.
There are essentially three types of BC, broad catagories and of course you can subdivide and argue forever but I see three general catagories and they are:
1) wings-- which use a seperate back plate (BP) in a modular concept. These generally have a webbing harness and are simple and durable and therefore often the choice of "serious" divers. In the 80s I had been told I could not dive this style because I would drown face down---lol. These first appeared about 1978.
2) vest/horsecollar-- an archaic design still enjoyed by some divers and military, para military and rescue operations. These fit over the head and down over the chest and tummy area and use straps behind and for crotch to hold them in place. These first appeared widely about 1970
3) jacket style--first popularized by the ScubaPro Stabilizing Jacket. Nowadays most of the BCs sold and advertized are of this type and truth be told the agencies and especially PadI prefer them because they look and fit and function like a life jacket as their primary purpose and as a bouyancy control secondary. These first appeared around 1974/76 era. I place all of these sorts, back inflate, cumberbund, weight integrated in the same catagory. These are the curreent high profit margin products of the scuba industry and some have up and down levers and four or more dumps, padding, pockets everywhere and often a dozen D rings and varous straps and buckles. Some divers refer to them as poodle jackets because of all these bling/fru-fru additions to catch the consumers eye and score a purchase. The simple-er versions of these jackets are very functional and comfortable--I am told.
N
There are essentially three types of BC, broad catagories and of course you can subdivide and argue forever but I see three general catagories and they are:
1) wings-- which use a seperate back plate (BP) in a modular concept. These generally have a webbing harness and are simple and durable and therefore often the choice of "serious" divers. In the 80s I had been told I could not dive this style because I would drown face down---lol. These first appeared about 1978.
2) vest/horsecollar-- an archaic design still enjoyed by some divers and military, para military and rescue operations. These fit over the head and down over the chest and tummy area and use straps behind and for crotch to hold them in place. These first appeared widely about 1970
3) jacket style--first popularized by the ScubaPro Stabilizing Jacket. Nowadays most of the BCs sold and advertized are of this type and truth be told the agencies and especially PadI prefer them because they look and fit and function like a life jacket as their primary purpose and as a bouyancy control secondary. These first appeared around 1974/76 era. I place all of these sorts, back inflate, cumberbund, weight integrated in the same catagory. These are the curreent high profit margin products of the scuba industry and some have up and down levers and four or more dumps, padding, pockets everywhere and often a dozen D rings and varous straps and buckles. Some divers refer to them as poodle jackets because of all these bling/fru-fru additions to catch the consumers eye and score a purchase. The simple-er versions of these jackets are very functional and comfortable--I am told.
N
annasea:
When the bladder is inside a fabric bag, you've accomplished one thing and one thing only - you're created drag. That applies to wings as well as to horse collars, back inflate or vests. Putting cloth over a bladder instead of making the bladder stronger in no way contributes to safety, if anything, it is less safe.
There are vests of both designs. I have no idea which is the most common. I do know that very few BCs (vest, back inflate or BP/wing) are well designed, IMO.
djanni
Contributor
*** Pootle Jacket......... Tech slang for a jacket style BC?
*** A tec diver wearing a poodle jacket would be like a harley biker riding a moped.
Why are tech divers and most bp/w divers so unsure of themselves? Why do they display so much self-doubt? Why do they feel they have to demean people with terms like Poodle Jacket and Stroke Why do they feel they have to criticize other peoples equipment? Is it their way of building themselves up by knocking down others?
When you think about, it's really pretty sad.
*** A tec diver wearing a poodle jacket would be like a harley biker riding a moped.
Why are tech divers and most bp/w divers so unsure of themselves? Why do they display so much self-doubt? Why do they feel they have to demean people with terms like Poodle Jacket and Stroke Why do they feel they have to criticize other peoples equipment? Is it their way of building themselves up by knocking down others?
When you think about, it's really pretty sad.
annasea
Contributor
- Messages
- 19,453
- Reaction score
- 22,023
Well, if the bag is close-fitting to the bladder, just how much drag is being created? And if there IS a bit of drag, why does it matter?Walter:
My safety comment wasn't clear... I meant safety in terms of protecting the bladder from punctures and whatnot, not my personal safety.
I understood what you meant by "safety." Putting cloth around the bladder will not protect it from punctures. Making the bladder itself out of more durable material will protect it from punctures.
Drag matters because we are moving through a very dense medium, often in strong currents. Drag increases your work load which increases your fatigue, your air consumption, your CO2 build up and your chances of a DCS hit.
Drag matters because we are moving through a very dense medium, often in strong currents. Drag increases your work load which increases your fatigue, your air consumption, your CO2 build up and your chances of a DCS hit.
Similar threads
