Streamlining Weight

[CuzzA]

I'm always looking for ways to enhance my rig. Of course weights are probably one of the biggest pain in the butt items to streamline and get out of the way. I had a couple Armor weight pouches attached to my tank, but I didn't like how much they stick out and then they pose a problem if I want to tank mount a pony.


Solution: 2x Dive Gear Express light pockets ($17 ea) , 2x 5 lbs. lead ingots ($10 ea) coated in PlastiDip ($7). These can be tucked slightly behind my BC, yet they are still ditchable. I moved the Armor pockets to the sides of my waist harness for when I need more weight. And my weight belt is now officially retired.

 

[rongoodman]

When you say "my BC", what exactly do you mean? If you want to streamline your weight, start with a stainless steel plate and proceed from there. If you want more than the standard six pounds or so, you can get one from DSS and add on weight plates.

 

[CuzzA]

I would agree a backplate setup would make this much easier due to being able to configure items in different ways, but I have a Dive Rite HunterPac which is a nice setup. Basically it's similar to a backplate and wing, yet everything is integrated and the "plate" is soft. Eventually I will move on to a bp/wing, but this is what I have for now.

 

[tbone1004]

looks like a steel tank, how much neoprene do wear that requires 10lbs of lead with a steel tank?

Don't count on them for ditchable weight, you don't need it, but I'd be careful with that velcro being able to hold 10lbs. Shake the rig pretty good to make sure that it doesn't come out. Looks pretty slick though

 

[CuzzA]

tbone, thanks for your insight. I'm definitely open to more conversation about weighting as I'm still pretty green when it comes to diving. The thought of the lead slipping is something to be concerned about. I could rig some shock cord through the plastic ring and over the top/backside of the pocket. Of course this would make it slightly more difficult to ditch, but still doable. It's 5 lbs. per pocket not 10 and the pockets definitely have a good amount of velcro.

So considering a conversation about weight and my setup, first, I'll start with the activities I intend on doing during most of my dives. One is hunting. My gun is positive so I believe that needs to be taken into consideration. Also, I carry a PLB in a canister which is positive as well. Not a lot, but there is air in the canister. Tank mounting my Luxfer 19 cu ft. pony bottle (valve down) when hunting is what started this whole idea. For other activities I would just sling it, but while hunting I don't want anything in the way in front of me. The other activity would be photography. Obviously, there's not too much to consider with amateur photography. I would just sling the pony. I believe for both activities being "slightly" over weighted would help.

I own two steel LP Faber 112's and an AL 80 with the intention of adding two more 112's for a total of 4 and keeping the 80 for backup or as a boat hang tank. My diving will be exclusively in saltwater and at a minimum I would likely wear a skin suit. However, in the spring and fall I would wear a 3mm suit and in the winter a 7mm. I'm ~190 lbs. So if my calculations are correct (of course I will weight check before a dive, especially with a new setup), when I'm wearing a skin suit I would likely not utilize the "tank" pockets (0-4 lbs. tops in my waist pockets). In a 3mm suit I would carry just the 10 lbs. as pictured above and in the winter with a 7mm suit I would add another 12-14 lbs. to my waist pockets with the 10 lbs. on the tank pockets.

Does this sound about right? Thoughts?

 

[tbone1004]

With Faber 112's in a 7mm you should be good with 10lbs total. You only gain about 2lbs of lead advantage vs. an AL80 vs PST/Worthington tanks that usually gain you about 6.

Your weight is pretty irrelevant, I hate when instructors teach lead requirements as a function of weight. I weigh 280lbs, but I sink like a brick... Best way to do this is to take a luggage scale *one of the cheap hang ones*, and put your rig in the water with the tank as close to empty as you can and note the weight. Take that weight. That is with your PLB, AL19 when empty, gun clipped to it, etc etc.

Get in the salty stuff and see if you can borrow about 20lbs of weight.
2x 1lb
2x 2lb
2x 5lb

Put your suit at the surface preferably in one of the mesh bags and find out how much lead it takes to sink it. Repeat for each suit, and repeat with you in a bathing suit and a "normal breath". Subtract these numbers from the weight above. That's the amount of lead you need for each exposure suit.
Add the numbers together and add 15lbs *112 cave filled and full al19* and that is your wing requirement at maximum suit compression.

For the 19, I would leave it mounted to the 112 and wouldn't bother slinging. It is too small to sling comfortably in my experience and is best just left on the tank.

 

[CuzzA]

Sounds like a good technique. I've had no trouble waiting myself with AL80's. Next week will be my first dive on the steel tanks. So obviously it will be a different experience, although I'm told it will be a much better one.

At the end of the day, I'm just happy to get rid of that weight belt.

 

[tbone1004]

with 112's only take 2lbs off, but it sounds like you're very heavy with the al80's

 

[CuzzA]

I'm all for shedding weight. Fortunately if I find this amount of lead to be too much for me personally it's nothing that a chop saw and another dunk in PlastiDip can't fix.

 

[eelnoraa]

Nice idea. but I do see issue with using DGX light pockets for weight. The shape of the pocket is not common to the shape of weight. It is good if the lead inget is all you use. But if one day you decide to need less, or you are on a vacation spot, their weight won't fit in there. I think XS weight pockets are still better ideas. They are cheaper, fit most common scuba weight piece, may not be as streamline as your custom setup is true. But I think a weight belt is still the most streamline tho if 10lb or so is what you need.