The Jet Harness

[ShoalDiverSA]

ShoalDiverSA once bubbled...

Final question: Are you prepared to reveal your real name to us? (Ve haf vays und meenz to make you talk!) :scared:

I have cleared up this one mystery for myself. I am so glad that the Jet Harness is made by someone called Jeff Schoonover and not Oatmeal !

 

[Conor]

Oatmeal, good to see someone building products that make sense, serves the customers and welcoming debate.

From where I sit, your product makes sense, and if I had seen it a year ago I may well have bought it instead of my TPII, well I would have at least considered it. The one question/issue I would have had is that a large proportion of people who would be looking for a single tank harness would be travelling divers, so why steel ?

I don't have the same concerns about the plate being flat, in normal swimming position most spines are recessed, hence the need for spine pads in wetsuits. Well, its a guess really.

Best of luck with the product, and I look forward to hearing something from customers

 

[gqllc]

Jet Harness also has Titanium back plates as well!!!

 

[Conor]

gqllc once bubbled...
Jet Harness also has Titanium back plates as well!!!

Ooooo very flash

 

[ShoalDiverSA]

Conor once bubbled...

Ooooo very flash

:lol:

Andrew

 

[oatmeal769]

Hello Shoal, and everyone!

Okay first question - mounting to a standard backplate.
We tried to engineer our cell to fit as many different plates and systems as we could, so it depends on the plate and / or single tank adaptor. If there are slots for webbing in both, you should be able to weave the tank straps through the whole assembly with no problem. We can also place a set of SS grommets down the middle of the cell, spaced 11 inches apart for a couple bucks extra. We made the middle portion with heavy nylon webbing for this reason, so just let us know how you'd like it.

The rest of the world -
Yes, we do ship internationally, our ad was written a bit weird in that regard, and the designer has been flogged. We meant that the fixed shipping charge only applies to USA; other countries are based on actual cost.

I checked out the Roger Lacasse design, the measurements look pretty standard to me, so it should work just fine for your endeavors. As long as it's 316L or better, it should be great.

The urethane bladder -
Is one piece, ultrasonically welded. Just unzip the zipper that goes around the inside of the cell, and you can pull it right out. We made the bladder with the 'smooth' urethane, to facilitate easy repairs, and it's protected with a urethane-backed nylon inner 'sleeve.'

Connor -
I used TransPac II's as well, before switching to the BP harness setup. I think Dive Rite makes good stuff, and was really happy with it.

For traveling divers, we also make an ABS plate, and a Titanium plate. (We’re out of Ti until after the first of the year...) My own 'recreational' harness with the SS plate compacts into a size that will fit into a briefcase (for those quick lunch break at the office dives) and only weighs about 9 pounds.
I took it to Roatan with me, and it was great because I needed no weight at all with the negative weight provided by the plate. I'm pretty skinny though, and even here in CA with a drysuit, I only use 10 - 12 LBS. They'll certainly want to see what's inside your bag at the airport though...

As far as the spine thing, we don't notice any problems, but are very open to introducing a pad if there is demand for it. At this point, it may be in the works anyway, because I think DocMartin is right, there is the perception of it being uncomfortable for some. If customers want a pad, we're going to make them happy.
We're also trying to keep moving on doubles plates, a larger air cell, integrated weight pouches, and so on. We're still new, and pretty small, so it takes time.

Have a great day everyone!
Jeff
(You vill keep a zecret my real name, ya?)

 

[ShoalDiverSA]

Thanks "Oatmeal" (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)

You've pretty much covered all the bases for me. This question may frighten you, but how are urethane bladders repaired? Is there a kit for this?

Could you PM me an approximate cost for shipping to S.A.? Keep in mind that the last 2000 miles of the delivery will be undertaken by horse-drawn carriage! And there is extra insurance required in case the lions get to the package first.

IMHO, I can't see that a flat backpack will be a problem, unless your spine is similar to the Big Momma in Aliens ! :alien:

Now where did I put that money...?

Cheers,

Andrew

 

[SeaJay]

Firstly, from a customer who's spent several thousand dollars in the past six months on dive gear, I'd like to tell you... Here's what I really like about your endeavor...

1. Your attitude about customer service is admirable, and in several ways. I like that you don't seem to have the word "no" in your vocabulary.

2. I love the idea that you're wanting to create a new and unique product. Experimentation is the father of invention, after all.

3. Your website is very nicely done, and "small" or not, it gives your company an excellent image.

4. Your products seem to all be displayed in a very appealing way. The backplate, especially, appears to be a nicely finished unit.

5. Your market aim appears to be focused on the recreational, single tank diver. While this need appears to have been met already, the market is new in terms of a focus on single tanks combined with a backplate. You appear to be working on that, and that could benefit many, if it's accepted.

6. Your price point is fantastic. A complete rig for $329 is possibly the best price I've seen to date.

I would love to see you stick around and have your company succeed... Certainly you have some excellent ideas to share, and it appears that you are willing to build them.

In a nutshell, nicely done.

Okay, here's my suggestion, which I recommend simply because of the fact that I'd like to see your new company survive: I recommend that YOU take the DIR-F course offered by GUE. At the very worst, it will help you to understand your client base. Sure, there are at least as many bp/wing divers who are NOT DIR as there are that are DIR, but many of the methods and gear configurations are the same with both groups... Which is somewhat a focus in DIR-F. At best, taking the class will help you to comprehend (not that you don't already, but who couldn't use more?) why they recommend a configuration that's set up like it is. I sincerely believe that you will find new and exciting ideas in that class, which would meld nicely into your current product line - and likely offer some new and improved products.

For example, in DIR-F, you would have the opportunity to dive many other plates, and the reason for "the bend" could be demonstrated nicely. Also in the class, you could see why having a chest strap would not only be pointless, but would actually be a disadvantage. It would also be demonstrated why a D-ring on the right hip is not such a hot idea, and why the bottom dump of the wing needs to be on the left side. Moreover, it would be demonstrated why using "stretchy" material on the wing isn't such a hot idea either.

Not that I haven't heard you say that you'll be happy to manufacture anything that we ask for... And certainly, I believe that most divers with experience in bp/wings would ask for some of these features, or, more accurately, the absense of the features that make your product unique from other bp/wings designed for single tanks.

I hope I haven't offended you... I like your ideas... I simply believe that if your rig and say, a Koplin plate with an Oxycheq wing were side-by-side demonstrated correctly, advantages would surface in the Koplin/Hoadley/Halcyon/FredT "bent" plate that do not exist in your flat plate, and do not exist in your "cheststrap" harness.

That said, my very bony significant other has complained before about diving a continuous webbing in a thin wetsuit in tropical water. Actually, it wasn't the water that was the problem.. It was supporting the rig prior to diving. She's tiny, and the true answer was to reduce the size of her tank (which was nearly the size of her)... But she may be interested in your shoulder pads that come on your harness anyway.

I wish you the best of luck in this endeavor. I would sincerely love to see you succeed.

Please consider the DIR-F course... I believe that your company would benefit tremendously... And you may see some opportunities in there to create products that are usable by the dive community that you otherwise would not consider.

 

[ShoalDiverSA]

SeaJay once bubbled...
... and why the bottom dump of the wing needs to be on the left side. ...

Seajay,

Please would you put me out of my misery as to why this is so? I am asking because my current (decidedly un-DIR) [EDIT] jacket [/EDIT] BC has it on the right.

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[ShoalDiverSA]

I have checked the Dive-Rite and Halcyon sites.

The Dive-Rite Travel Wing has the dump on the right, the rest have it on the left (or both sides). I can't see where the bottom dump is located on the Halcyon Eclipse Wing.

Is the location of the dump a major issue for single-tank diving?

Cheers,

Andrew