Twin 72’s vs HP133
- Thread starter Eric Sedletzky
- Start date
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OP
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
The problem with side mounting is that we clip off three game bags plus a rolled up lift bag plus a wound up rope bundle so there’s not a lot of room, plus we’re working with a gauntlet rake in one hand and a bag in the other so it seems like having the tanks at your sides would just totally get in the way. I could also see them hitting everything below you and on the sides when we need to squeeze into rock channels to clear them out. We are working right down on the sea floor, it’s a high contact operation.
OP
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
Holy crap! I didn’t even know such a thing existed.
johndiver999
Contributor
yeah I've had one for years.. Way lighter than double 70's...
OP
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
I’ve heard of the legendary huge tank that Beuchat once made that was the beast of beasts, but I have never seen one in person, it’s just folklore. I think it was a 190 and filled to something like 4200 psi? My memory might be off.
I thought currently a 133 was about it.
Learn something every day.
But I already have the 72’s and the solid bar manifold has already been rebuilt and I have the bands, and the plans for the plate it will go on and the wing, so I’m going to run it. If it’s miserable then I’ll look into the 149. That has to be a damn big tank! Both height and width.
johndiver999
Contributor
it is pretty much exactly like a LP 120 or sometimes they call it121? Just a tad longer and heavier than the 133. I just bought two of those, the 149 gets very little use. I used to get 3 dives on it in 90-110 feet of water with a little top off after two dives. It is the same 8 inch diameter.
@Eric Sedletzky,
Have you considered a LP121/125 to use with your urchin diving? I recently sold mine, an OMS (Faber) LP121/125, which I purchased new ca. 1997, and never dove again after the initial dive. I dove it using a BP/W (conventional doubles back plate with a STA) and absolutely hated it.
However, it is only ~1" longer than a HP120 (which you comfortably dive), holds a lot of gas when gently over-filled (e.g., 142 cu ft = 3,000 * 125/2,640 when over-filled to 3,000 psig), and is neutrally buoyant when empty and not terribly heavy. (See SCUBA Cylinder Specifications – Huron Scuba, Snorkel & Adventure Travel Inc. PADI 5 star IDC in Ann Arbor, MI, for example.)
I wonder if this cylinder (or similar) would work better for you than double 72's for your walk-in urchin diving--especially when mated to your Freedom Plate. Maybe put a Y-valve (or H-valve) on it and use two complete regulators (which is what I used during my one dive with my OMS).
It is an 8" cylinder, though. So, there's that! And mine wasn't HDG (though I had intended to use mine in fresh water, only).
ETA: I do, though, find the thought of diving double 72's using a solid-bar, single outlet, J-valve manifold (and a double-hose regulator) extremely enticing!!
rx7diver
Have you considered a LP121/125 to use with your urchin diving? I recently sold mine, an OMS (Faber) LP121/125, which I purchased new ca. 1997, and never dove again after the initial dive. I dove it using a BP/W (conventional doubles back plate with a STA) and absolutely hated it.
However, it is only ~1" longer than a HP120 (which you comfortably dive), holds a lot of gas when gently over-filled (e.g., 142 cu ft = 3,000 * 125/2,640 when over-filled to 3,000 psig), and is neutrally buoyant when empty and not terribly heavy. (See SCUBA Cylinder Specifications – Huron Scuba, Snorkel & Adventure Travel Inc. PADI 5 star IDC in Ann Arbor, MI, for example.)
I wonder if this cylinder (or similar) would work better for you than double 72's for your walk-in urchin diving--especially when mated to your Freedom Plate. Maybe put a Y-valve (or H-valve) on it and use two complete regulators (which is what I used during my one dive with my OMS).
It is an 8" cylinder, though. So, there's that! And mine wasn't HDG (though I had intended to use mine in fresh water, only).
ETA: I do, though, find the thought of diving double 72's using a solid-bar, single outlet, J-valve manifold (and a double-hose regulator) extremely enticing!!
rx7diver
Still Kicking
Contributor
The shop where i got certified had a Beauchat/Heisler 190 on display. More of a curiosity than something you would actually take in the water. I mean, 62lb negative - seriously?
OP
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
Can you imagine a set if doubles with those??
A one way trip to the ocean floor!!
What engineer ever thought a scuba cylinder that negative was a good idea?
OP
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
I have an HP 120 now which I could beg for a light cave fill. IDK what it becomes at 4 grand?
I’ve been giving it some thought about how to deal with the weight of the twin 72’s. I had a set 23 years ago but I forget what hiking them around was like, and I was younger and stronger then too so things were easier.
I’ve considered getting the rig in the water first and letting it float, then put everything else on and go out and put the rig on in the water.
The killer at that particular beach is all the slimy rocks that are just beyond the sand in about 3’ of water (depending on tide). People think the sand goes way out underwater but it doesn’t. They get about knee deep to thigh deep then start tripping and slipping on slimy boulders and it’s easy to fall over and get banged up, or worse, break something!
What I do now is don everything on the beach including fins then waddle sideways/backwards into the water as far as I can knee or thigh deep then flop in and belly crawl/swim out. Coming in I can sometimes get fins off in waist deep water but my fin straps are very tight and hard to reach so I normally just crawl out on all fours. I don’t know how that will work with twin 72’s. I guess I’ll find out. The other thing I could do is ditch the rig out there in chest deep water and go back to get it after fins and weightbelt are off on the beach, but it would have to be a really flat day.
I think I’ll just have to start doing more strength training to be able to do this safely, which wouldn’t be a bad thing anyway.
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