Tank Strap Advice

[Old grouch]

My 13 year old son regularly has difficulties with the cam strap when he is setting his kit up, he is doing everything right but he just struggles to get it tight enough. As he only dives with me it’s not a major issue as I can sort it out for him but he really want to be as self sufficient as possible. Is there any alternative to the traditional cam that is available in the UK that would make his life a little easier

 

[pjhansman]

What about trying a ScubaPro style band with the SS clamp?

 

[victorzamora]

There are a few other systems out there. I think Scubapro has a pretty clever system that's very different from the "normal" way. However, it might be an issue of technique. There are a few tricks that are practically impossible to describe, but one of them (the best one) involves lifting the cam slightly while threading all of it, much earlier in the process than you'd think. If the issue is strength in CLOSING the cam band, then I'd sugges he learn to use the strap as a "cheater bar" to close the cam with a lot more torque with less force.

 

[rhwestfall]

IIRC, there is a "ratchet strap" out there somewhere.....

 

[WB2GLP]

You could try hunting down one of these. Mares airlock

 

[grf88]

This might be the easiest solution:
https://www.deepseasupply.com/index.php?product=43

 

[buddhasummer]

Assuming he has plastic ones I'd swap them out and get some stainless steel ones they are much easier to get tight. I have been using these for years without issue.

Top of the page:

Tank Straps, Adapters and Weights - Dive Gear Express

 

[rhwestfall]

Assuming he has plastic ones I'd swap them out and get some stainless steel ones they are much easier to get tight. I have been using these for years without issue.


Top of the page:

Tank Straps, Adapters and Weights - Dive Gear Express

some folks have reported durability issues with the second ones down from the top. I have them, and, though not as solid as SP branded, they have been okay.Warning, they are finger biters...

---------- Post added January 17th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ----------

found it! Trident Ratchet Tank Band for Scuba Diving

 

[kwinter]

The Trident ratchet is something I proposed many years ago, taking a tip from snowboard bindings. I was amazed that nothing was done for years.

But you can also just make sure the straps are well soaked before tightening. Remove the strap from the last threading through the buckle. Yank tight and then partially close the cam buckle to keep tension. Then thread the last part through and close all the way.


Please pardon any typos. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[knotical]

... But you can also just make sure the straps are well soaked before tightening. Remove the strap from the last threading through the buckle. Yank tight and then partially close the cam buckle to keep tension. Then thread the last part through and close all the way...

Adding to what kwinter said, there's also a technique that is a lot easier to show than describe.
When it's wet, reasonably tight and under tension:
- keep pulling on the strap end while "rocking" the buckle a few times. This incrementally tightens it even more.
- then like kwinter said, keeping tension with the cam buckle position (partly closed), thread through the last slot, and
- then close by pulling on the end of the strap to maximize leverage.