Runaway Scooters - Throw-behind/Throwback

[Jon Nellis]

Sometimes you need to stop now (cave diving) and you won't have the luxury of finding a convenient something to shove in the prop that may or may not render your scooter permanently inoperable or allow it to get away from you.

Most stuck on scooters are fixable in the water.

I know that some scooters can be stopped with a hand on the BACK of the prop, but as a manufacturer in the sue happy US, I can't recommend that. Many of the older scooters that use a clutch only have about 0.25HP to 0.35HP and use blades that snap off at the hub. The Genesis is 1.25HP and takes a lot more to stop, that's why we have redundant ways to stop rotation. Sticking your hand in it, is not a wise option and will be very self-critiquing.

...but this makes a lot more sense:

Toss the scooter down and between your legs and get off the trigger. The scooter will act as a sea anchor. The leash is not long enough to toss over your shoulder.

No, it does not make any sense, even in open water, but I'd like to see a video of that just for a laugh.



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[PfcAJ]

The scooters you're referring to have metal pins in the blades. Not worried at all about snapping them off.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I have no training in "scooter diving" or cave diving, but... The possibility of a scooter "sticking on" is not that improbable. I had it happen more than once. If water leaks in and shorts out the switches, the scooter may not shut off. Tilting it to another position, presumably moving some water may stop the problem for the moment, but you REALLY should have a game plan prepared for when it won't shut off.

If you are in open clear water, I don't see any big problem with simply riding it to the surface in a controlled spiral. It would be much easier, if you signaled a buddy to ascend and he sets the ascent rate and you use them as a reference point and simply buzz circles around them on the ascent. I would use that option first for my scooter.. better than breaking things or jamming my catch bag in the prop intake.

I don't know much about the more advanced scooters and adjusting the pitch while spinning etc., but if the experts say that is feasible than I assume they are correct.

A stuck scooter is not that big of a deal, but a spinning out of control and powerful scooter in a cave or wreck could turn the visibility to zero in an instant and be super scary. I don't really have a clue how to handle that type of situation, but I would feel very uncomfortable diving with a scooter without a viable plan(s) for failure.

I was testing a DIY scooter one time in 185 feet while solo and it flooded on descent. I ran it into the bottom, clipped the floatball, line and hook to it and set it loose. It was filled with water and became extremely heavy, very quickly- so trying to ride it for a spiraling ascent didn't seem like a good idea at the time. I felt unsure of my ability to control the thing and was reasonably sure we would be able to recover it when the battery died.

 

[g1138]

Well since we're now on a new topic, what are better techniques for making an emergency stop?
Let's set aside the wonderful thing of prevention and say you find yourself having to come a quick stop.

 

[kwinter]

Sticking a hand in the prop stops it cold. Jon says that's a bad idea since the prop could break and hurt your hand. He recommends putting something else in there instead.

Stick Jon's hand in the prop. Problem solved.


iPhone. iTypo. iApologize.

 

[PfcAJ]

Well since we're now on a new topic, what are better techniques for making an emergency stop?
Let's set aside the wonderful thing of prevention and say you find yourself having to come a quick stop.

changing your body position from horizontal to vertical really slows you down a lot. What action steps are needed to stop the scooter varies between different models.

 

[Jon Nellis]

Stick Jon's hand in the prop. Problem solved.

I'll make you a deal Ken, I'll stop your prop with my hand if you TRY to stop my prop with your hand.

Just so you know, I dive a Genesis SW that requires about 4 time the torque as a standard clutch, to slip the mag coupling.

...and let me get the camera first. Deal?

As for providing training information to someone via an internet forum on emergency procedures for a scooter, I'll have no part in that.

Find someone that can show you how to use YOUR scooter, when you get one. There are no universal procedures that cover every situation with every brand of scooter. Since the OP does not operate a scooter, asking hypothetical questions without specifying a particular scooter, diving location or experience level, will only generate varying opinions based on the responders scooter use, location and experience level. While the responders actions might be correct for their situation, they will likely conflict with someone else's experience.

The only thing worse that offering training information to someone you know absolutely nothing about, is accepting training information from someone you know absolutely nothing about.




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[Dr. Lecter]

Having seen what the Genesis prop on full-tilt boogie does to the occasional reef fish that doesn't veer off the way I expected it to, I'd stick with jamming almost anything in the prop but my hand in an emergency. A backup light, a reg, a reel, maybe an elbow if I could get in position. Maybe a fist with my Petrel wrapped up like a pair of brass knuckles to take some of the force.

 

[fisheater]

Dr. Lecter is right.

Nothing I was born with is going into my Genesis prop when it's running.

 

[TONY CHANEY]

Since I have had my scooter I have had only one time that it was in a runaway situation. Mako. I directed it toward the exit site of the quarry which to me is an almost first step to do. Just like in a cave, gear fails and you turn the dive! (just in case the fix would render the DVP unable to start again and leaving me in the situation of either towing it or ditching it) I then got to safety stop depth and guided the nose to an sturdy object (rock) and then played with the triggers and it turned off. Come to find out that that it was just some grit / sand in the trigger housing.

I have no idea as to why all scooters do not have a kill switch and I have given it some thought about installing one myself.