Question Storing your BC

[went_postal]

I will get this out of the way:

• Yes I searched the forum... no I didn't really find an answer
• Yes I understand that if I dive more I won't have to store it... If someone would like to fund my scuba habit I am not opposed
• The BC is clean (inside and out) and there is just enough air in it at the moment to keep the bladder from touching
• Currently it is in my garage which is conditioned and usually sitting at around 40-50% year round (assuming I don't leave the big door open too long)

So... that all being said... How do you store your BCs? Do you find a way to lay them flat or do you leave them on a hanger?

I happen to have a BCD hanger... it's just that the BCs are not dainty and I am curious if there are long term issues for the straps with it being "caught" in that one position for too long.

So It seems like if you can lay it flat it would remove some of the stress... you just need to find the space.

Just curious what other people are doing.

 

[lizardland]

When I used to use a standard BCD I'd leave it inflated because it dries quicker then I'd deflate it and sling it in my kit box with everything else. Sometimes I would forget about it and would still be sitting there inflated until the next dive.

When I swapped to a wing I'd inflate it and leave til it was dry then I'd fold it up and sling it in my kit box with everything else. Sometimes I would forget about it and would still be sitting there inflated until the next dive.

Nothing bad ever happened in either case. The wing on my rebreather is 20+ years old.

So It seems like if you can lay it flat it would remove some of the stress...

What stress are you trying to remove?

 

[Nemrod]

Sounds like you have a conventional jacket type BC. Just put it on the hanger you have in a cool, dry place out of sunlight. Ozone, UV and chemical fumes can damage plastics, rubbers and fabrics.

Get some Steramine tablets. Remove the corrugated hose and drop one inside the bag and then rinse the bag interior with warm water, drain and flush it out. Reassemble the hose to the BC. Let it dry partially inflated. Of course rinse your BC in fresh water, maybe use a gentle product like Woolite to remove chlorine and salt and rinse again in freshwater.

 

[Allen-1]

Rinse it (very) well, including deliberately putting water into the bladder. Empty it, let it dry, make sure that all water is out of the bladder, put some air in the bladder and hang it up.

Mine's hanging in the closet, out of direct sunlight.

 

[went_postal]

What stress are you trying to remove?

just the weight of the BC pulling down on the straps. Don't want the straps to get a "memory" from the hanger was my thinking.

Sounds like you have a conventional jacket type BC

More or less.... I have a Scubapro Hydros Pro back inflate.

Get some Steramine tablets.

Thanks... first time I think I've really seen someone recommend that. I will check them out.

I know one of my initial instructors commented that using SimpleGreen in a high dilution tends to clean a lot too.

Rinse it (very) well, including deliberately putting water into the bladder. Empty it, let it dry, make sure that all water is out of the bladder, put some air in the bladder and hang it up.

Yeah... I did all this stuff. The Dive Shop that I purchased from actually goes over all their recommended process for cleaning and this was part of it.

 

[Nemrod]

@went_postal, Steramine is a food safe, human safe, environment safe general disinfectant to prevent microbial growth inside the bladder.

 

[lizardland]

just the weight of the BC pulling down on the straps. Don't want the straps to get a "memory" from the hanger was my thinking.

Most schools and dive centres that I've seen have them on hangers. There must be thousands of them hanging up right now. If it was a problem then I'd imagine it would've been spotted with the sheer numbers in the rental industry. Keep it out of sunlight, keep nasties from growing inside it and keep salt from crusting up the moving parts are the main things to remember.

 

[CT Sean]

just the weight of the BC pulling down on the straps. Don't want the straps to get a "memory" from the hanger was my thinking.

If you really want, you could modify a hanger with some piece of pool noodle, or PVC pipe, to round the straps a bit but it's really not necessary. Looking at those shoulder straps online - between handing and trying to make flat, I'd be more concerned about long term laying flat causing folds.

 

[johndiver999]

I just throw them on a shelf in the garage once clean and dry. I spray the hose and dump valves with armour all or a similar protectant once every month or two, but I doubt it is necessary.

303 Aerospace Protectant - Provides Superior UV Protection, Helps Prevent Fading and Cracking, Repels Dust, Lint, and Staining, Restores Lost Color and Luster, 10oz (30307CSR) - Walmart.com

When I clean my gear, I fill a garbage can with water and soak and dunk everything. I spray water into the inflator and try to drain (most of) it out when it is hanging. I have never, ever introduced any kind of cleaning agent (other than tap water) into any BC that I have owned. I think my efforts toward maintenance are better directed elsewhere.

I have used a lot of BC's and in my experience, scuba pro makes probably the best BC's with better plastic and components and they will remain functional for many years and until they are very faded and beat to hell.

 

[Litefoot]

Rinse the inside well with fresh water. Drain all water. Partially inflate. Hang upside down for an hour in the bathroom. Depress inflator button to drain water that has accumulated in the corrugated hose. Re-inflate. Store upside down in closet.