Scubapro Rectek rolling control problem

[baz1699]

Hey guys .. I have a paculiar problem which I am sure you guys must have come across .. I have a Scubapro S-Tek Rectek back inflate BCD for a few years. I have started diving more frequently for about a year now. I have been having side ways rolling control problems with this BCD when I am horizontal underwater. I use a 15L steel tank and my bouyancy control is decent but I can't stop rolling to one side. I have played with different weight configurations, tanks, even tighteneted the draw string on the bladder which helped last year until I had to take apart the BCD for servicing and now I can't control it again. Does anyone have any idea what is going on?

Thanks.

Bill

 

[DICKW]

Hi Bill,

I have been diving with that BCD for 6/7 years now. I find it much easier if you have the absolute perfect amount of weight to only just sink. This way, if you dive with hardly any air in your BCD then there is no air to sit in just one wing.

Good luck

 

[baz1699]

I guess you are right because I do dive a bit heavy and have to add considerable amount of air to attain bouyancy. I think i'll get back to the old basics of calculating the weight requirements and start with the 5% of the body weight rule and take it on from there.

Any consideration to the position of the tank? I wear mine really low because I use a Beuchat 15L steel that comes with a Dual Outlet Valve which is considerably higher than the regular valves that one finds on an Aluminum 80. (I can't post a link here, scubaboard won't let me till I post another 5 messages) Now because S-Tec has dual straps to hold the tank I can position the tank only so low for the upper starp to wrap around close to the neck of the tank but the tank is still high enough that I bump my head with the first stage if I'm not too careful. Could this tank position add to how the air gets filled in the bladder and doesn't get distributed properly in the wings causing me to roll sideways?

Thanks.

 

[DICKW]

Hi Bill,

Ignore any weight calculation formulae. The only effective way to calculate your correct weight is to do a buoyancy check at the surface. ie. empty your bcd and float at eye level whilst holding a normal breath. Exhale and you should then sink. Adjusting tank position can alter your position slightly as the tank valve and 1st stage is a little heavier than the rest of your gear. Try some diferent positions and see if it makes a difference.

 

[baz1699]

Hi Dick,

Thanks for the reply. Well what it turns out that with a 15L steel tank and a 3mm full wetsuit .. i really don't need any weight to sink. I did exactly what you suggested over the weekend .. and the funny thing is I sank without any extra weight .. the weight of the tank was more than enough to take me under. BUT the problem remains .. no matter what I do I just keep rolling to my left side .. that means that whenever I add even the slightest air into the bcd it goes into my right bladder hence rolling me left .. I mean I am getting to the point where I am thinking of changing my bcd .. my next attempt is to put my gear on one of my buddies and actully see what the bcd does .. maybe that will give me some clues .. Till then I guess I will be diving with my right side slightly heavy with extra weight

still open to ideas !

Thanks

Bill

 

[drbill]

I have dived the X-Tek harness (predecessor of the S-Tek) exclusively for about a decade and find the same problem with the Rec-Rek wing. I have an aversion to all horseshoe wings because you cant's easily evacuate both sides while leaning over to film... you have to go upright. I loved the Trav-Tek doughnut style wings that I used on my X-Tek until both of mine died after substantial use. Of course both series are no longer made... I was hoping ScubaPro's new line of tech harnesses and BPs would be 100% compatible.

If you like the S-Tek harness (like I like my X-Tek), look for doughnut style wings that will fit on the harness and I think you'll be much happier. I've used the Dive Rite travel wing in the past.

 

[baz1699]

Hey Doc,

You are actually right. The S-Tek harness with Rectek wing by default takes air in its right bladder instead of equally distributing in both bladders and that makes it roll on one side. I tried tightening the elastic cord on the wing to reduce the size of the bladder but that worked for sometime till I had to take the bcd apart for servicing and now I cant get that configuration back.

I use a Beuchat 15L Steel which is a massive tank not to mention heavy as well. I am 6'1 and 190lbs. The tank is so heavy that I dont need any extra weight to go under but the damn thing offsets my trim so I HAVE to use extra weight which I integrate. Hence adding air to become buoyant. Now to resolve the rolling over issue I add an extra 2lbs to my right to keep me from rolling. But this is still a temporary solution and doesnt always work depending on the depth.

I am kinda getting tired of this whole thing. I want to move towards tec diving so I will be looking into changing my gear altogether. Till then I guess I am stuck with what I have.

Still looking for options.

Thanks.

Bill

 

[drbill]

When I added a larger pony to my kit, I used a 2 lb weight on the opposite side to balance me out. It is on my belt so I don't even have to think about it. When I start using my X=Tek harness with the weight pockets (after the current one dies) I will probably put the extra weight there.

 

[baz1699]

Ok so now this is what I have figured with trial and error. I am trying to get my trim right so I added 4# to my tank neck and moved the tank up in the cam strap. This gets me horizontal and stops the rolling. But I still have to wiggle the air in the bladders to balance them and then get into a perfect horizontal position. Anything besides this gets me rolling. I was reading on the website of Dive Rite that to solve the rolling problem you have to add weight behind the shoulders.

I am still trying to fine tune my weights to get the perfect trim but I still have to add significant amount of air because the 15L tank is heavy by itself and any weight added to the tank to get it trimmed means adding even more air.

Till this weekend then !