Trim problem -- anything I can do with a Zeagle ranger BC?

[minamin13]

I just bought new high-pressure 80 steel tanks (PST is the manufacturer). When I use them, my feet want to float up and it's incredibly annoying and air consuming. (This is opposite of what happened with aluminum 80 tanks -- my head kept popping up). My boyfriend also tried my tank a couple of times, and he encountered the same problem -- so it's not a "female" issue as far as I can see it. I'm fairly fit with below average fat composition for women. However I do have some fat deposits on my thighs and butt. I was wondering if anyone else out there has encountered the same problem, and what they've done to counter it.

This is what I've tried so far:
(1) Moved the tank as close to my feet as possible. However, there is only so far I can move the tank down before one of my tank straps doesn't hold the cylindrical portion of the tank. I own a Zeagle Ranger BCD -- is there a way that I can move the tank straps down on the jacket?
(2) Trim weights. I hated this configuration. Whenever I wanted to go vertical in the water, I kept rotating onto my back.
(3) Ankle weights. I put some 3 lb ankle weights on my ankles. That was overkill. But I want to avoid the use of ankle weights because it looks stupid. Besides they make kicking perceptibly more tiring on long surface swims.

Some other things I will try:
(1) Use of lighter ankle weights.
(2) More negatively buoyant fins. I own Apollos right now, but I was just given some cheap Scubapro jet fins.
(3) If I'm desperate, I may want to customize my wetsuit for some weight pockets on my hips.
(4) Move my tank straps on my BCD closer to my feet.
(5) Wear my BCD lower over my hips.

Any other suggestions?

 

[seawolf7]

Might want to try a more fitting BC. It doesnt seem to have anything to do with your new tanks though since even with the AL you encountered some difficulty with maintaining a desired streamline position.

Thats my take on it. Try the Zena, its the most fitting bc ive seen around so far.

 

[deeper thoughts]

My wife had the zeagle and switched to the seaquest diva and loves it

 

[wreckchick]

Well, if she's regearing BP/W!!!

The Jets will probably help you out a lot. Make sure you don't have any weight in your trim pockets. Check and make sure you can still reach your valve with the tank lowered. Straighten you legs some and see if you can get more weight further on the feet side of the CG.

Rachel

 

[PerroneFord]

While you didn't give your height, the HP80 is a very short tank, and will put your center of gravity quite high.

Sounds to me like you might have purchased a tank ill suited to your body.

 

[Chad Carney]

minamin13,

Your Zeagle Ranger is designed to have the tank crown about an inch above the top tank band. (I'm a sales rep for Zeagle gear in Florida.)

Please don't be offended, but I don't think gear is the problem. I have been teaching divers with PST 80 & 100 tanks and Zeagle BCs since the late eighties, and have not found the gear to be problematic with adults. Some very tiny divers find steel 80s tend to roll them more than closer to neutrally buoyant tanks like alum 50s or 63s.

Without knowing many of your details, my guess is that your trim problem is being aggravated by excess weight.

You might have been somewhat overweighted with an alum. tank. You said "your head kept popping up."

Your new tank is approx. 7 pounds more negative than a standard aluminum 80. (It's also 6" shorter.) Tank stats - http://www.techdivinglimited.com/pub/tanks.html

Have you tried removing that much weight? Or more? I'd recommend making a buoyancy test dive in a pool.

Chad

 

[stevetim]

I think there is a strap you can put on the bottom of the tank that holds weights.
This is an option if your feet ride up badly. It's better than the bulky trim weight pockets but will still make you roll on your back, me thinks.

 

[halocline]

The fins will help. I would tend to agree with Chad that it sounds like you're overweighted. When I first went from a jacket BC to a BP/W, my feet tended to head for the surface when wearing a full suit. Over the course of a few dives as I got used to the different trim characeristics, the problem disappeared. It also took me a few dives to get weighted correctly, as the different trim gave me a different perception of weighting.

Another possibility, and I'm sure you don't want to hear this, is a new wetsuit with less neoprene on your legs and more on your torso. You might approximate the effect by adding a core warmer to your suit for a few dives and see what that does.

 

[minamin13]

Thanks for all of the suggestions, esp. the one about the DUI weight harness. I will look into that if all fails.

I lowered one of the tank straps on my BCD by 2.5 inches. I will try lowering my tank by 2.5 inches next time I go dive to see how my trim is effected. The Zeagle Ranger is very modular .

I sincerely doubt that I'm underweighted, as I dropped 6 lbs from aluminum to steel. I currently wear 12 lbs of lead with a 7mm wet suit (actually 5 mm on the legs) and a 7 mm hooded vest. And I actually have a difficult time descending. Please, no lectures on relaxing, and exhaling. I'm a divemaster.

I just bought fat and cushy booties because my last ones caused blisters when I hiked a mile to get to a freediving site. Perhaps that is the cause of my floaty feet?

 

[Chad Carney]

minamin13,

I hesitated to mention overweighting because I saw you're a DM. (Sorry... but it did get you to post more details.)

12 lbs does sound in the fairly normal range for your specs. Men have an advantage in this capacity being longer waisted, and with generally less buoyancy aft of their waist lines.

Your idea of moving the cylinder down a slot may work out fine. It may also make it easier for you to sit and "take the load off" while waiting to get in the water. The HP80s definitely shift the ballast forward, and are so short it's sometimes tough to even get some double band BCs attached.

I liked the suggestion of adding a vest for more chest level buoyancy and warmth. I know I'd be wearing my hooded vest in the Pacific!

You probably already know that drawing the last bit of air from the deflator/inflator valve is the surest way to have zero buoyancy in the wing.

Keep us posted on how it works out.

Chad