Question for LadyHawk/KnightHawk owners

[scububa]

OK, sorry for not clarifying more.....

My feet tended to go up. Putting weights in the back pouches made it worse.

<snip>

The fins are slightly positive.

When I put 1# on each thigh, plus 4# in each weight pocket, I have really good trim and it feels right.

I have not tried experimenting with the tank placement. What should I try?

Thanks!

Sort of surprised that no one suggested switching to a negative fin :06: Seems like a simpler solution than strapping weight on thighs. And, with a longer lever (end of the leg) it would seem a little weight goes a long way for trim.

 

[love2godeep]

Sort of surprised that no one suggested switching to a negative fin :06: Seems like a simpler solution than strapping weight on thighs. And, with a longer lever (end of the leg) it would seem a little weight goes a long way for trim.

I agree, although I have decided I really like my Force Fins and don't want to trade them in.

I have been experimenting with the tank position. With the tank a little lower, I find that most of the time I manage fine without the weights on the thighs. One day there was surge, and that seemed to tip the balances a little; I had to struggle just a little to keep my feet down, but it wasn't a big problem.

 

[scububa]

I agree, although I have decided I really like my Force Fins and don't want to trade them in.

I have been experimenting with the tank position. With the tank a little lower, I find that most of the time I manage fine without the weights on the thighs. One day there was surge, and that seemed to tip the balances a little; I had to struggle just a little to keep my feet down, but it wasn't a big problem.

I tend to have the opposite problem with my KnightHawk. I wonder if it is a basic physiology difference between male and female? i.e weight distribution, center of gravity. I tend to get my tank as high as comfortable for head movement. I have about as much weight in the back trims as I feel is safe. I don't want too much non-ditchable. My instructor (who is a cave diver) has me working on position and kicks and discussing possible cavern classes thinks I need to not try and bandaid too much with constant weight tweaking and work on developing the muscles required to maintain position. (I think that means he thinks I have the weighting pretty close and now the rest is me.)

My fins are negative ... maybe we need to trade

 

[love2godeep]

Somehow my message posted twice, so I wanted to delete this one, but couldn't find a way. Sorry!

 

[love2godeep]

I tend to have the opposite problem with my KnightHawk. I wonder if it is a basic physiology difference between male and female? i.e weight distribution, center of gravity.

Makes sense! It's interesting that with very similar equipment we're running into the exact opposite sitation.

My instructor (who is a cave diver) has me working on position and kicks and discussing possible cavern classes thinks I need to not try and bandaid too much with constant weight tweaking and work on developing the muscles required to maintain position. (I think that means he thinks I have the weighting pretty close and now the rest is me.)

From the looks of your photo, you're not exactly lacking in the muscle dept! But I am sure there is something to be said about just developing both skills and musculature. In my case, I imagine that changing the adipose: muscle ratio would impact my diving. [/QUOTE]

My fins are negative ... maybe we need to trade

Happy bubbles!

 

[bober99]

Do you stuff extra weight into the integrated system of the knighthawk? You say you carry 30-32#s of weights but the knighthawk is designed for only 20. I'm considering buying a knighthawk and a seaquest balance but think I'll probably need a weight belt since I also carry about 30-34#s from my initial tests.

I own a knighthawk..my wife a ladyhawk...neither of us has had any issues so far....

I carry 30-32 pds of weight when in cold water and 6-8 in warm water...depending on thermal protection. I've not had a balance issue, nor has my wife. In cold water I make use of the trim pouches near the bladder for about 4 pounds of weight..for warm water I generally put it all in the ditachable pouches.

What type of balance problem are you having? Are you always heads down, rolliing to the side, etc??

how much weight are you using and what type of thermal protection?

hagve you tried playing with the tank position?

 

[humanFish]

Do you stuff extra weight into the integrated system of the knighthawk? You say you carry 30-32#s of weights but the knighthawk is designed for only 20. I'm considering buying a knighthawk and a seaquest balance but think I'll probably need a weight belt since I also carry about 30-34#s from my initial tests.

Bober,

I have a Knighthawk and it easily holds more than 30 pounds of weight. I bought mine this year and inside each of the ditchable pouches there is a tag that indicates 12 pounds...that's per pouch. In addition, the tank puches can hold at least another 5 pounds each if you really need it. In the ditchable pouches I have been about to place more like 14 pounds in each...

However, perhaps the size you are looking holds less....or maybe it is an older release...I think I was told that ScubaPro had recently redesigned the pouches to allow for more weight....

BTW - The most I've ever loaded it with was 32 pounds..but I am confident that it could hold 38 or maybe even 40.....hopefully I'll never need that much

 

[rje634]

My wife had the same problem as you, positively bouyant fins and used ankle weights to level out. She now uses negitively bouyant fins and taken off the ankle weights. Maybe negitive fins is worth a try. Scubapro Twin Jets are made of different materials ranging from negative to positive, maybe Force Fins do the same.