Sudden loss of weight pouch

[dkktsunami]

Sounder, you seem to have a lot going on for a new diver: new equipment, limited navigation skills, questionable bouyancy, river currents, etc. You might want to get used to equipment in a safer environment. Although I have no cold water experience it sounds as if you are way over-weighted, and you definitely have too much in integrated pockets. You may want to use a weight belt as well as the pockets, or just go with the belt only. Dave

 

[cummings66]

I dive with a group of divers that use that BC and they have never lost weights yet. I would agree with Larry, if you lost 15 lbs and didn't notice it then perhaps you need to first establish how much weight you really need. That surely will help you.

 

[cummings66]

I'd like to add, it's a good idea for you to always use a confined water environment first when you get new gear. It may possibly save your life by doing that. It also lets you get your weighting correct, again that's important as well.

For example, say your buddy who lost his weight pouch was deep at maybe 100 feet and popped up. Can you imagine the perfect way to get into trouble, it starts very much like that.

That's why you need a pool or confined water source, not a river by any means because it's just too dangerous. You need to consider yourself and your buddy lucky this happened like it did, it could have easily been much worse.

Only venture beyond the confined water once you know your gear and trust it, this is how you ought to treat it. Diving is fun, but take it seriously.

 

[Puffer Fish]

That does sound like a lot of weight in the pockets. If I'm diving cold with a lot of neoprene or a dry suit, and have to get up to the 24 lb or so, I like to wear a belt with about 10 lbs, then put another 5 on each side in my dumpable weight pockets, and a 2 lb in each of the rear non-dump pockets.

Now I'm using a Zeagle, so there are no pockets to fall out, or clips that don't work right etc.... It's one of the reasons I like their weight system, I don't have to carry spare pockets like we do with the other brands... But whatever system you're using, I might think getting some of that out of the pockets would be a good idea... and maybe even off your body entirely. If you dropped 15 lbs and didn't realize it, there is a small chance you might be slightly over weighted....

I'm with Larry on this one (not the shameless Zeagle plug, but the amount and distribution). Using a belt is always an option, and might be a good option in your case.

Redesigning the safety aspects of the vest might be ok, but would be very careful before jumping into that aspect.

Note: There is a giant difference in weight systems and how well they work. Larry does have a point about Zeigle.

 

[jstuart1]

I have a Mares Vector Chrome BC with about 85 dives on it. The weight pouches slide in and there is a hole in the handle that goes over a post and is locked in. Anyway I had a pouch come out a couple of times. To keep from loosing one I took a 20" dog collar with a clip on it and ran it through the backside of the pouch where the track is and clipped it closed. Then I took a large D clip and clipped the collar off to my bottom D-ring. I had a pouch come out at 65'ft but it was saved by the lanyard. All I had to do was slide it back in. It works great for me. Yes ditching is a 2 step process now and I make sure my buddy knows about it but it stops accidental loss.

 

[Sounder]

Sounder, you seem to have a lot going on for a new diver: new equipment, limited navigation skills, questionable bouyancy, river currents, etc. You might want to get used to equipment in a safer environment. Although I have no cold water experience it sounds as if you are way over-weighted, and you definitely have too much in integrated pockets. You may want to use a weight belt as well as the pockets, or just go with the belt only. Dave

I couldn't agree more about the practice with new dive gear, etc.... That's why we were diving where we were. It's a large river, mild current with a eddie that will bring us back full circle. Next month we have plans to go to Puget Sound for a deep dive and I feel the need for a solution to my problem before we go.
I greatly appreciate the ideas and suggestions so far. Going out this weekend again to get it figured out. And yeah, I think I was over weighted..... a lot I'm going to lighten the weight in the pouches, as suggested, and try to "accidently" dump them in real shallow water. Try to find the reason they got lost in the first place.

Some of the suggestions listed for making the release a two step process sound very appealing to me. Could someone include some pics of how you did this? I can't quite wrap my head around how it was done. A visual would help me greatly.

Thank you all for the responses and suggestions. Y'all make it easy to ask questions

- Rod

 

[Sounder]

Using a belt is always an option, and might be a good option in your case.

Redesigning the safety aspects of the vest might be ok, but would be very careful before jumping into that aspect.

I think that sounds like good advice Puffer........ The thinking carefully about redesign.
I suppose if I can't solve the problem to my satisfaction by the time of my AOW course I could allways rent a weight belt.

Thanks

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Some of the suggestions listed for making the release a two step process sound very appealing to me. Could someone include some pics of how you did this? I can't quite wrap my head around how it was done. A visual would help me greatly.

Pocket 1 shows the original pocket on my spouse's recon with just the velcro closure.

Pocket 2 shows the 1 1/2" nylon webbing sewn to the front portion of the pocket. to the outisde ot the flap that holds the weigh pouch in the pocket.

Pocket 3 shows the other piece of 1 1/2" webbing sewn to the nylon webbing that keeps the pouch from sliding out the back of the pocket. You can see the seam where the two different types of webbing meet at the bound edge at the aft end of the fabric pocket.

Pocket 4 shows the fastex buckle connected over the pocket and the white weight release handle. It makes it impossible for the handle to snag and self release.

Releasing the weight is a two step process of pinching the fastex buckle to open it and then pulling the release hanlde to pull the weights free. It's a two step process but is still very easy to do even with one hand.

Both seams were hand sewn with nylon upolstry thread.

 

[Sounder]

Excelent pics Aquamaster!! Thank you. I see what you were describing earlier. The weight systems are different but I get the idea....... I might be able to rig something like that up if I need to.

BTW did you have those before and after pics just waiting for this kind of question to be asked or was there another thread similar to this one that I wasn't able to find? LOL

Thanks

 

[Sounder]

I dive with a group of divers that use that BC and they have never lost weights yet. I would agree with Larry, if you lost 15 lbs and didn't notice it then perhaps you need to first establish how much weight you really need. That surely will help you.

How much weight do your buddies have in their pouches? I'm thinking of cutting about 10 lbs and then keeping some weight in the pockets.
Would it matter if I used hard weights or soft weights?