Twin 72’s vs HP133

[BoltSnap]

Crazy surf, I just don’t go in but totally a judgment call. I’m not crawling in or out.

The original question; pair up a few 72’s, they will likely balance better than a giant single and be less cumbersome as you deal with the surf and rocks and more importantly they will just look cooler! Those giant singles look like RV propane tanks.

Don't worry, @Eric Sedletzky can handle these twin 20L's.

 

[lexvil]

Don't worry, @Eric Sedletzky can handle these twin 20L's.

No, because 1. WTF is 20 l except a bunch of puppies or kittens? And 2. He has the 72’s and the rest of the hardware.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Crazy surf, I just don’t go in but totally a judgment call. I’m not crawling in or out.

The original question; pair up a few 72’s, they will likely balance better than a giant single and be less cumbersome as you deal with the surf and rocks and more importantly they will just look cooler! Those giant singles look like RV propane tanks.

You’ve never done the Monastery crawl?
There have been so many people there rag dolled in the surf, a few people killed too. One lady died then was revived only to die 8 years later from complications from the first incident.
I don’t do big surf, why??? The diving isn’t going to be that good anyway if it’s pounding on the shore. We don’t go if there is surf bigger than knee or thigh slappers. We have too many new divers plus we have nothing to prove. If you want to play in big surf, go surfing instead.

I described the shoreline structure at Stillwater Cove. It’s course sand at the shoreline and the sand extends out into about 3’ of water knee slapper waves will be breaking which is pretty benign, but then it goes into mini boulders with some larger boulders mixed in. Those boulders are smooth with a layer of algae and slime on them. You don’t step on top of one and expect not to slip off, then your foot goes down and wedges up in between two boulders and you hurt your feet and you fall over. This is where the ankle and knee injuries occur. Dive booties are not mountaineering boots. You can’t see the rocks because of the agitated foamy water. When the tide is at medium height and the rocks are around two to three feet deep is when it’s hazardous because there isn’t enough water to cushion a fall. So trying to walk out and navigate the hazards when you are stuffed into 7mm suit, weight belt, rig, and look like a Christmas tree with all the urchin bags, rake, lift bag, etc. and now me in 72 doubles, is a challenge.
This is why I pick an end of the beach where I found the sand to extend out a ways and I have everything on. I side/back step out and stay low feet apart, I work my way out to waist deep if I can and flop in and go. No trying to fiddle with my fins in the water I can’t do it. Coming in I either crawl out or depending on the tide and surf, if I find a smooth spot that I can stand I remove fins in the water and walk out. If I’m using the white Go fins you gave me then I can easily remove those and walk out, but with the XL Jets stuffed onto by booties held on with thick rubber tie down bungees no way, unless I use my gauntlet rake end hook to do it which actually works because I can reach it and get leverage to undo the strap
Like I said, after hip surgery I’ve had to adapt and figure out ways around limited flexibility and no rotation on my left hip, it’s very difficult to reach my left foot. I’ve stretched and stretched for years trying to free it up but there is too much scar tissue and it’s as good as it’s going to get.

 

[lexvil]

You’ve never done the Monastery crawl?
There have been so many people there rag dolled in the surf, a few people killed too. One lady died then was revived only to die 8 years later from complications from the first incident.
I don’t do big surf, why??? The diving isn’t going to be that good anyway if it’s pounding on the shore. We don’t go if there is surf bigger than knee or thigh slappers. We have too many new divers plus we have nothing to prove. If you want to play in big surf, go surfing instead.

I described the shoreline structure at Stillwater Cove. It’s course sand at the shoreline and the sand extends out into about 3’ of water knee slapper waves will be breaking which is pretty benign, but then it goes into mini boulders with some larger boulders mixed in. Those boulders are smooth with a layer of algae and slime on them. You don’t step on top of one and expect not to slip off, then your foot goes down and wedges up in between two boulders and you hurt your feet and you fall over. This is where the ankle and knee injuries occur. Dive booties are not mountaineering boots. You can’t see the rocks because of the agitated foamy water. When the tide is at medium height and the rocks are around two to three feet deep is when it’s hazardous because there isn’t enough water to cushion a fall. So trying to walk out and navigate the hazards when you are stuffed into 7mm suit, weight belt, rig, and look like a Christmas tree with all the urchin bags, rake, lift bag, etc. and now me in 72 doubles, is a challenge.
This is why I pick an end of the beach where I found the sand to extend out a ways and I have everything on. I side/back step out and stay low feet apart, I work my way out to waist deep if I can and flop in and go. No trying to fiddle with my fins in the water I can’t do it. Coming in I either crawl out or depending on the tide and surf, if I find a smooth spot that I can stand I remove fins in the water and walk out. If I’m using the white Go fins you gave me then I can easily remove those and walk out, but with the XL Jets stuffed onto by booties held on with thick rubber tie down bungees no way, unless I use my gauntlet rake end hook to do it which actually works because I can reach it and get leverage to undo the strap
Like I said, after hip surgery I’ve had to adapt and figure out ways around limited flexibility and no rotation on my left hip, it’s very difficult to reach my left foot. I’ve stretched and stretched for years trying to free it up but there is too much scar tissue and it’s as good as it’s going to get.

I have not done the crawl but I also now totally avoid that area because of the large grain sand and the steepness of the break line and the long soft sand walk before and after the dive is a no thanks for nowadays. I don’t even like the ramp at lobos because it’s slippery and the tide is low you get to deal with those slippery boulders at the ends all the while with kelp trying to tie you up. If I were diving your area I would use the neoprene drysuit for the added flexibility and hope to find that deeper Sandy area for getting fins on and off without injury.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I have not done the crawl but I also now totally avoid that area because of the large grain sand and the steepness of the break line and the long soft sand walk before and after the dive is a no thanks for nowadays. I don’t even like the ramp at lobos because it’s slippery and the tide is low you get to deal with those slippery boulders at the ends all the while with kelp trying to tie you up. If I were diving your area I would use the neoprene drysuit for the added flexibility and hope to find that deeper Sandy area for getting fins on and off without injury.

Russian gulch in Mendocino county would be a good one for you. Very easy flat short walk from where you park to the beach just under the HWY 1 bridge.
Very easy slope into the almost perfectly still water in a very calm and secluded cove.
It’s a long surface swim out but there is nice structure along the right side going out. I have not dived it for several years now but I would imagine it’s probably completely purpled out and everything eaten just like everywhere up here.
That was always one of my favorite places to dive.
It’s great to kayak out of. The campground is really nice too.

Russian Gulch State Park

California State Parks

www.parks.ca.gov

 

[ZephyrNYC]

Steel 72 doubles are very light and comfortable to dive and walk around in. When I get back in the country, I am happy to throw some different sets on the scale to compare to other tanks if you would like. I have several hp133s and way too many 72s.

Did you end up doing it?

 

[Tracy]

Did you end up doing it?

I didn't, but I still can. I don't have a shortage of doubles.

 

[halocline]

I wonder whatever happened with this, in particular did Eric make a freedom plate for doubles. That’s something I’d like to see!

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I wonder whatever happened with this, in particular did Eric make a freedom plate for doubles. That’s something I’d like to see!

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Well, I figured I'd come back here and report on how it went with the double 72's.

We finally were able to get out on 5/25/2025 and dive again after being closed out for six months!!! The ocean would just not lay down, but it finally did and it was beautiful! A little windy but not too bad and it actually let up as the day went on which is rare. No swell to speak of and high tide at noon of 4.5' made it nice. Water was pretty cold, I had 48 degrees on my bottom timer. I dived the twin 72's on their maiden run. I have to be honest, I'm not thrilled with them. I got about an hour and a half. They end up butt light. To get in I was looking for help from some shore support guys but nobody was paying attention so I hoisted them up by myself and put them on. Not too bad.
Getting in the water not too bad. Walked in fully geared up and dove in at about waist deep. They are awkward to me, kind of have a mind of their own when moving around hustling filling bags they have their own inertia. You twist and turn changing directions and they keep going. I think it's just too much, I didn't care for it. To get out I was pretty cold. My hands were junk and my lips were blue. Body and feet were ok. I took off the rig in chest deep water and got myself out first. Dumped my weightbelt and fins on the beach then went back in and put the twins on and hiked them out of the water. Even with weight training and getting ready to use these, I think I'm getting too old to mess with it. Hiking around weight like that isn't doing my implant any favors.
The second dive I used my 120 and was a lot happier.

I came home and the first thing I did was drain the remaining air out of the doubles and tore them down. I'm back to having two loaner 72's.

The manifold and bands are for sale. I have them listed in tank/valves/manifolds section of the classifieds if anybody is interested.

J

For Sale Post in thread 'For sale: Vintage single center post solid bar manifold w/bands'

Monday at 5:24 PM

Great price! LOL, I knew you would probably find a single big tank way lighter and simpler than old double steels.

• johndiver999

•