Trim Question...

[PolsVoice]

OK, I know that all you DIR guys are going to flip but I've gotta work with what I've got until I can afford a BP/W set up... and I'm in school so that will be a while.

I have a Dacor Talon Jacket BC and with my very thick wetsuit I need about 14-16 lbs of lead. I've tried to distribute this as evenly as I can in the weight pockets however I still can't manage to keep horizantal, my legs keep on drifting down. I was thinking that it might be a matter of just tuning the BC by itself to be horizontally bouyant and I could fix this with bottle position. I went down to 15ft (the bottom of the school dive pool) and took of the jacket to check the equipments trim in the water... and it was just fine. Flat as a pancake.

Sooo... now I'm thinking it's because since my torso carries 95% of my body fat, my legs must be negatively bouyant and thus killing my trim.

How can I fix this? I'm thinking about Duct taping some 3 lbs softweights high on the shoulder straps (now wouldn't that look goofy). I know that its a really ghetto-fabulous way of fixing the problems, but I can't afford to splurge for another BC.

any ideas?

TIA

-Pols

 

[DandyDon]

How can I fix this? I'm thinking about Duct taping some 3 lbs softweights high on the shoulder straps (now wouldn't that look goofy). I know that its a really ghetto-fabulous way of fixing the problems, but I can't afford to splurge for another BC.

any ideas?

Your Profile doesn't say how many dives you've logged, but you may find this straightening out with practice.

For now, use Nylon Cable Ties from the hardware store to tie hard weights to you tank straps. The duct tape won't hold too well, especially on soft weights.

 

[H2Andy]

have you tried lowering your BC on your tank? the valve may rub against your head,
but i found this helped my trim a great deal.

 

[PolsVoice]

Your Profile doesn't say how many dives you've logged, but you may find this straightening out with practice.

I'm a fairly new diver 30-40 dives. My trim is fine if I'm moving, a slight kick keeps my feet up and my body horizontal, yet what I'm going for is the truly neutral bouyant horizontal trim. I'll need this if I ever plan on doing some bottom scavaging at a nearby siltly lake where I need to hover a foot off the floor w/o moving.

I decided to fine tune my trim while doing the no-mask bouyancy check... and let me tell you, if I can't have visual reference for my bouyancy then my profile is something that would make both Duncan and YoMega proud. I'm working on that.

Thanks for the idea for attaching the weights. I'm going to try that and see how it works.

have you tried lowering your BC on your tank? the valve may rub against your head,
but i found this helped my trim a great deal.

I've messed with cylinder position and it helps a lot. I used to have it hanging extremely low, and while I've put it up as high as I can w/o it getting intrusive, my relaxed trim still tends to be in a more upright position (closer to a 45 degree angle)... Good enough for government work, but not good enough for me.

-Pols

 

[herman]

A couple of ideas.
You can attach a weight to the top of your tank valve using a bungie cord as a temp measure to see if and how much weight you need . Or you can use a standard weight belt and place it around the tank and attach weights to it. Aftermarket trim pockets can be bought and added to most BC's.

Don't be fooled into believing that a BP/wing is the cure for all trim problems. I had the oppertunity to dive one and frankly I was not impressed.

 

[Mo2vation]

OK, I know that all you DIR guys are going to flip but I've gotta work with what I've got until I can afford a BP/W set up... and I'm in school so that will be a while.

I'm a DIR guy - no flippage here. You do what you gotta do with what you have. Your desire to achive good trim is excellent, and us DIR guys don't have the market cornered on good trim - we focus on it and just talk about it more than most.

I have a Dacor Talon Jacket BC and with my very thick wetsuit I need about 14-16 lbs of lead. I've tried to distribute this as evenly as I can in the weight pockets however I still can't manage to keep horizantal, my legs keep on drifting down. I was thinking that it might be a matter of just tuning the BC by itself to be horizontally bouyant and I could fix this with bottle position. I went down to 15ft (the bottom of the school dive pool) and took of the jacket to check the equipments trim in the water... and it was just fine. Flat as a pancake.

Sooo... now I'm thinking it's because since my torso carries 95% of my body fat, my legs must be negatively bouyant and thus killing my trim.

Has anyone explained a C/G drill to you? The whole arch your back and bend your knees (its OK to do this on the floor in front of a mirror) so the tops of your feet point skyward? Next time you're in the water, get neutral, and move your heels towards your butt - you should tip forward (face plant) - move your heels away from your butt, your nose should point to the surface as you pivot like a see-saw on your center of gravity.

How can I fix this? I'm thinking about Duct taping some 3 lbs softweights high on the shoulder straps (now wouldn't that look goofy). I know that its a really ghetto-fabulous way of fixing the problems, but I can't afford to splurge for another BC.

I recommend going a C/G drill next time in the water (remembering to arch your back - not a cartoon-oh-crap-that-hurts-arch, but a more than you usually do arch) and try to get level using foot placement. Herman is right - there is no silver bullet (as in here Cinderella, wear this and everything is perfect...) A BP/W won't "fix it", but when integrated into a balanced rig, it helps.


EVERYONE -

Its killing me to see all of these disclaimers anytime someone asks a question about anything related to DIR (even stuff not related to DIR... like good in-water trim). This isn't targeted at you, buddy.

We don't bite. However, we don't compromise - so debate is cool, questions are encouraged, but coming in to pick a fight when you already know what we're about it just being a troll.

OK - I'm better now. Dude, anything you wanna know, fire away - we got your back.

K

 

[theskull]

All good suggestions above. 1 more. Ankle weights around the tank valve--maybe 1, maybe 2. Will help even out your trim.

It's already been said in a couple other ways, but as you get more experienced and more comfortable in the water you will learn to "hold" your body in the position you want as long as your weights are not off by a whole lot.

Happy diving,
theskull

 

[IndigoBlue]

Forget duct tape. That would be a hazard.

There are small weight pouches available that you can slip your B/C straps through, then secure in place with nylon ties. Whenever I use a nylon tie, I use two together, so that one backs up the other.

Your legs are probably pulling you vertical, since they consist of the longest bones in your body plus your largest muscles. Most people have very little fat on their legs, compared to their love handles and gut. A pair of counter weights on your shoulder straps should fix your trim. Only question is whether you will need 2s, 3s, 4s, or 5s mounted there.

 

[sirensmyst]

OK, I know that all you DIR guys are going to flip but I've gotta work with what I've got until I can afford a BP/W set up... and I'm in school so that will be a while.

I have a Dacor Talon Jacket BC and with my very thick wetsuit I need about 14-16 lbs of lead. I've tried to distribute this as evenly as I can in the weight pockets however I still can't manage to keep horizantal, my legs keep on drifting down. I was thinking that it might be a matter of just tuning the BC by itself to be horizontally bouyant and I could fix this with bottle position. I went down to 15ft (the bottom of the school dive pool) and took of the jacket to check the equipments trim in the water... and it was just fine. Flat as a pancake.

Sooo... now I'm thinking it's because since my torso carries 95% of my body fat, my legs must be negatively bouyant and thus killing my trim.

How can I fix this? I'm thinking about Duct taping some 3 lbs softweights high on the shoulder straps (now wouldn't that look goofy). I know that its a really ghetto-fabulous way of fixing the problems, but I can't afford to splurge for another BC.

any ideas?

TIA

-Pols

I teach bouyancy techniques....so maybe I can give you some ideas. First of all do you use an AL tank? you might consider a steel HP...
You can always strap on weights to the tank too instead of using the pocket wt system. That way they are a bit higher.
Consider getting positively bouyant fins....you will have to ask about that .....I use Cressi and some models are pos. Let me know how it goes. sirensmyst

 

[sirensmyst]

OK, I know that all you DIR guys are going to flip but I've gotta work with what I've got until I can afford a BP/W set up... and I'm in school so that will be a while.

I have a Dacor Talon Jacket BC and with my very thick wetsuit I need about 14-16 lbs of lead. I've tried to distribute this as evenly as I can in the weight pockets however I still can't manage to keep horizantal, my legs keep on drifting down. I was thinking that it might be a matter of just tuning the BC by itself to be horizontally bouyant and I could fix this with bottle position. I went down to 15ft (the bottom of the school dive pool) and took of the jacket to check the equipments trim in the water... and it was just fine. Flat as a pancake.

Sooo... now I'm thinking it's because since my torso carries 95% of my body fat, my legs must be negatively bouyant and thus killing my trim.

How can I fix this? I'm thinking about Duct taping some 3 lbs softweights high on the shoulder straps (now wouldn't that look goofy). I know that its a really ghetto-fabulous way of fixing the problems, but I can't afford to splurge for another BC.

any ideas?

TIA

-Pols

Don't permenently attach wts. not a good idea.