Slinging A 30cf Pony Tank

[Dnaber]

Well this weekend I was able to test dive my new to me 30CF pony bottle. I slung it off the right side so it would be out of the way of my SPG. The first thing I noticed was that it was very right side heavy. Is this common and should I just reconfigure my pockets weights from the right side to the left to compensate? Thanks

 

[teknitroxdiver]

It wouldn't hurt anything to do that. Is it a Luxfer cylinder? If so, it's only 1 pound negative when full, plus another pound or so for regulator and hardware. A Catalina is another pound negative on top of that. What kind of BC are you using?

 

[Dnaber]

Tek.... thanks for the info. I'm wearing a Mares back inflate. And it is a Luxfer.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Tek.... thanks for the info. I'm wearing a Mares back inflate. And it is a Luxfer.

I'm not familiar with that particular BC, but I can tell you that with my backplate and wing I can trap a little more air on one side than the other to compensate for slung bottles. With this technique even having both an 80 and a 40 on my left side I am stable and level. You do this by going slightly head up, rolling away from the heavy side, then going level again. I'm not suggesting you run out and replace your BC, just that you might be able to do the same with your Mares. It wouldn't take much to balance you.

 

[decompression]

It is more of an inertia thing than an actual weight issue. Most Aluminum tanks are close to neutral. It's a mental hurdle that you have a large metal tank on one side and not the other. practice, practice, practice.

 

[tbone1004]

it's closer to -3 or so with reg and hardware which is enough to potentially throw you off. Why did you choose to sling it on the right? Not that it matters for this discussion, but it is an interesting choice to put it on the right against the norm of the left.

Anyway, if you have a bunch of weight on, it wouldn't hurt to be 2lbs heavier on the side opposite of the pony bottle

 

[Steve_C]

I sling on left and wrap the spg around the outside. I want everything out of the way of the right where I have a camera and it is attached. I am right handed. I even put my reel on the left. Mine is only an AL19 but I do not notice any tilt.

 

[2airishuman]

Hello Don

I sling an AL19 pony. Like tbone1004 I find that bottle full of gas, regulators, and other hardware are several pounds negative. I use a weight belt and after taking some weight off I simply move the weights on the belt over toward my opposite hip, in my case, my right. Without this the weight difference is barely enough to throw off my trim, more of a minor irritant than anything.

 

[Steve_C]

Physically the less side to side torgque a weight causes the closer it is to your center line. For many divers the pony is not held out to their side which would create maximum possible torque. In the water mine is closer to being under the left side of the chest which greatly reduces the torque.

 

[Oldbear]

I prefer to sling mine (AL 40s, AL 50s, AL 63s or AL80s) from the left. Regardless of the size I have not really felt the bothered by them. I also route the hose around behind my neck so it feeds from the rights. With the tank on my left I can see the SPG easily too.

I agree with Deco...it is more of a mental disturbance than an actual buoyance one.