Tips on how to spread my weight on a Zeagle Ranger?

[SPKelpDiver]

I just picked up a Zeagle Ranger a couple days ago. This friday I am going diving with it. It is my first time using a back inflate. I was wondering how I should distribute my weights so I can float comfortably at the surface. The zeagle has rear weight pouches to offset this affect. I am currently using 24lbs of lead with a aluminum tank. I appreciate the help.

 

[nereas]

If you divide your weight into thirds, and wear 1/3 on your weight belt, and the other 2/3 in the two weight pouches of the Zeagle, that should work pretty good for you.

Then if you need to ditch your weight, you can ditch progressively rather than all at once.

Plus with 1/3 on your belt, you will find it easier to mount your B/C as well, or else it would be really heavy with over 20 lbs on it, together with the tank.

Back in the day, when I also had a Zeagle B/C, this is what I did.

Since then, Deep Sea Supply has come out with weight plates that attached to backplates, so when the Zeagle finally wore out after 5 years, I adapted the backplate for single-tank diving as well by attaching 2 DSS weight plates to it instead.

I think you will enjoy the Zeagle. It is like a BPW except made of fabric.

 

[ryssyr]

I took those weight packs on the bottom of the two straps and moved them up to the top. I didnt like the turtle effect with all my weight down so low.

I dive with a drysuit and 24 lbs/steel tank.

Here is my setup:

10 lbs in each ditch-able pouch in front (total 20lbs in front ditch pockets)
2 lbs in each trim pocket around the top band of the BC.

I tried 5 lbs in each trim pocket but ended up with too much weight in the back and it made it hard to do a barrel roll underwater. With the setup above i get some weight up around the shoulders and it makes it easier to hold a hover position and I'm not so heads up. The large weight mass in the pockets makes it easy to get rolled back to horizontal and face down.

On the surface you might try to let most of your air out and keep just enough in to be buoyant. This will reduce drag when surface swimming and help offset the pitch forward tendency with this BC when the wing is fully inflated.

 

[seanmcfarland]

I used to dive a Ranger, and still have an Escape I use in the pool for training. As with any back inflating BC or wing, when you are on the surface you will feel like you are being pushed face first in the water. The benefit is that they are more comfortable when inflated (no torso squeeze) and the seem to perform better underwater in keeping you trim in the water column. Two tips on the surface. 1-the more you inflate the BC, the more you will be pushed forward. 2-Just get used to laying back on the BC to stay up on the surface. The Ranger fits nice and low on your body, so leaning back is pretty easy and quite comfortable if you need to do it for a while. On the other hand, how much time do you really spend on the surface?

 

[diversteve]

Personally I'd start with 8 in back. I like the stability when I keep around 2/3's of my weight in front and 1/3 in back. I'm 6'4' though and have the 65' bladder on my Ranger.

 

[driftwood]

The water I dive in is a lot warmer, 72, so no where close to the 24 lbs you guys are packing. The configuration that I am very comfortable with is 2/3 in the front pockets and 1/3 on my tank band. No problems with being pitched forward and a barrel roll is easy.

 

[nereas]

The water I dive in is a lot warmer, 72, so no where close to the 24 lbs you guys are packing. The configuration that I am very comfortable with is 2/3 in the front pockets and 1/3 on my tank band. No problems with being pitched forward and a barrel roll is easy.

You need perfect trim for a barrel roll !

 

[crpntr133]

I agree with the 2/3rds up front and 1/3 in back. This should get you in the ball park, adjust as needed.

 

[GrandpaScuba]

I've used a Ranger for years. The new ones come with both the rear trim pouches and the standard front pouches. If yours is one of those, I'd split about 40% of your weight between the rear trim pouches and about 60% split between the front pouches.

 

[Scubagolf]

I think about 1/3 of your weight in the trim pockets and 2/3 up front. With 24 lbs, that would be 4# in each trim pocket and 8 in each front pocket. You want to keep most of the weight up front so, if necessary, you can get to positive buoyancy quickly by jettisoning the front weights.