Tuning in the trim

[smokn']

Question: how do I get my trim better with an AL80? I’m nicely horizontal in the water with steel 100’s and 120’s, but I’m slightly feet down head up with the AL80’s I use in the Caribbean. I have a BP/W and don’t use any other weight, so there’s nothing to reposition. I swapped my fins for more buoyant ones. I slide the AL80 up so high it’s almost in the back of my head. Is there anything other than carrying weight I don’t need that might help this issue?

 

[Diver0001]

You can try to redistribute 1 or 2kg of weight from your weightbelt. The place to attach that would be either in pockets left and right of the cam band or if it needs to be up higher then you can use a separate cam band to attach a weight to any point on the tank that you need it.

Also, I would recommend doing a buoyancy check. Sometimes a feet-down position can be caused by actually having more weight than you need. I would start with this before deciding how to redistribute the weights.

R..

 

[Mr. Manfrenjensenden]

You can try to redistribute 1 or 2kg of weight from your weightbelt. The place to attach that would be either in pockets left and right of the cam band or if it needs to be up higher then you can use a separate cam band to attach a weight to any point on the tank that you need it.

Also, I would recommend doing a buoyancy check. Sometimes a feet-down position can be caused by actually having more weight than you need. I would start with this before deciding how to redistribute the weights.

R..

Smokn’ isn’t using any weight, which sounds like it limits the options.

 

[tbone1004]

move the 80 to where the cam bands are in the same spot as they are with the steel tanks. AL80's float from the butt, so their CoB is actually pretty much at the valve. It's a bit counter intuitive and you still need it relatively high up to be able to reach the valve, but no need to put it in any other spot than where the steels are. We teach that when you have the rig seated, if you pull up on the shoulder straps, the apex should be right at the valve outlet. I have no problem trimming in that configuration with no wetsuit in jetfins, so with neutrally buoyant fins it should be even easier

Which wing are you using?

 

[Insta-Gator]

As the AL 80 starts to empty, the bottom will become more buoyant. Move the tank down. During the dive the leverage of the floaty bottom will pull your feet up.

 

[MichaelMc]

What kind of a plate? Steel 5-6 lb. or aluminum 2 lb.?

Getting an aluminum as a second plate would let you move around the liberated 4 lb. of ballast for better trim. Allowing you to leave the tank where it is most accessible or it’s buoyancy swing least affects your trim.

You can swap the wing, the more expensive part of the BP/W, between the plates as part of your travel prep. Get webbing and D rings for the second plate, swapping those gets old very quickly.

 

[wKkaY]

When you stop and put yourself into a flat motionless hover, do you tip forward or backward?

 

[dmaziuk]

Getting an aluminum as a second plate would let you move around the liberated 4 lb. of ballast for better trim.

+1. That, or a soft plate: cheap and takes a couple of pounds off your luggage weight.

 

[tbone1004]

@wKkaY and @dmaziuk aluminum plates aren't totally neutral, they are only about 3lbs less negative than a normal steel backplate. That said, I don't know many/any people that have trim problems in that configuration without a weight belt that isn't solved with proper body positioning. Most all the time being legs that aren't at 90's, and thighs that aren't parallel to the upper body. Sagging knees and extended legs will cause that problem in a hurry and no amount of trim weight will fix that, and certainly not 2-4lbs

 

[smokn']

Great advice everyone, thanks! I had no idea AL80 were butt light. I’m oddly negatively buoyant, no weight is still almost too much weight. At least in fresh water, I’ve dove 5 mm with hood and sunk like a rock. I’ve even used an AL100 with a 7mm and been ok without weight.

move the 80 to where the cam bands are in the same spot as they are with the steel tanks. AL80's float from the butt, so their CoB is actually pretty much at the valve. It's a bit counter intuitive and you still need it relatively high up to be able to reach the valve, but no need to put it in any other spot than where the steels are. We teach that when you have the rig seated, if you pull up on the shoulder straps, the apex should be right at the valve outlet. I have no problem trimming in that configuration with no wetsuit in jetfins, so with neutrally buoyant fins it should be even easier

Which wing are you using?

Oxycheq 35 lb

What kind of a plate? Steel 5-6 lb. or aluminum 2 lb.?

Getting an aluminum as a second plate would let you move around the liberated 4 lb. of ballast for better trim. Allowing you to leave the tank where it is most accessible or it’s buoyancy swing least affects your trim.

You can swap the wing, the more expensive part of the BP/W, between the plates as part of your travel prep. Get webbing and D rings for the second plate, swapping those gets old very quickly.

I have an aluminum plate.

When you stop and put yourself into a flat motionless hover, do you tip forward or backward?

I tip backwards.