Undone Tank Band

[Paul Evans]

Hey cool_hardware52


I bet those pads are cheaper then a Mares Airlock

 

[cool_hardware52]

Hey cool_hardware52


I bet those pads are cheaper then a Mares Airlock

Just a tad


Tobin

 

[erichK]

I tried mine out this weekend. My Zeagle BC already has a gripper on the bottom strap, so I put this one on the top strap. It holds very nicely. I may try to unravel the bottom strap and replace the stock gripper because I think Tobin's tank grippers are grippier!

Thanks Tobin!

Andy

I'm glad to hear that these work well, as I once found myself 85 down a northern Vancouver Island night dive with a dangling tank. Will likely order a pair for the Mares BC involved. May also do so for wife and daghter's SP Ladyhawks, though only to make things easier as the ScubaPro system has never let a tank slip, even when they when mounted try. It's too bad that this (likely heavily-patented) system can't be licensed to other manufacturers!

 

[Iruka]

The most common problem I see with the Seaquest belt system is that some divers just don't know how to tighten it. A few people earlier here have explained the "rachetting" technique, which works fine. Working with rental gear, I have to say I prefer that system to the old Scubapro metal buckle....mostly because with rental gear, you're often switching out a BUNCH of BCDs & tanks, with tanks being of varying diameter. With the Seaquest type of belt, you can "automatically" adjust the size to fit the tank....while with the Scubapro system, it suffers from the "Goldilocks" syndrome....this one's too tight, this one's not tight enough, just sort of estimating how much to adjust it until you get it right. Not a problem unless you're doing a lot of tanks in a short period of time. I guess Scubapro has a new system now, but I haven't used it, so I don't know how it works. Another problem (avoidable) with the Seaquest system is when divers completely unthread the belt through the buckle....they, and sometimes guides as well, don't know how to "re-thread" it....and if you don't do it right, it won't work.

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

My tank did not come all the way out, but I knew something was wrong because I could "feel" it. Not in my hose but just how the tank felt on my back.

I asked my buddy and she confirmed it but was unable to secure it properly.

This brings up something I had not thought about before this happened. I took my BC off and fixed the strap myself.

However, my BC is weight integrated. When I removed it, I didn't have anything to keep me down! Luckily, I live in Hawaii and was just diving with a skin so I didn't have neoprene to complicate matters.

But my eyes are now open to a major downfall of the absence of a weight belt!

Don't ask about why the buddy wasn't able to perform the task - it doesn't matter in this discussion. That is another thing altogether.

Hi sea nfm,

I can tell you exactly why your buddy couldn't secure your tank.

First, a little work of explanation. One of my buddies uses "fat" Genesis tanks with a particular BC that has a strap that isn't quite long enough to secure them properly...the cam comes down near the end of the strap and the velcro safety band is...well....worn. The strap is fine for a standard aluminum or steel tank but not Genesis. About once a year I have to resecure his tank. Why doesn't he buy a new, longer, not worn strap is the stuff of another thead.

Here's the problem. Until you've done it a few times, resecuring a loose tank is a challange. You can't just swim up to it, slip it into the strap and secure the cam. You, the loose tank and your buddy are all essentially weigtless. When you try to slip the tank into the strap, the manoever causes the other diver and attached BC to move away. When you try to secure the cam, the same thing happens...YOU move opposite to the force and the diver with the loose tank move in the direction you are trying to rotate the cam.

The net result is that it is very hard to secure the bugger.

OK...this takes some practice with a buddy who is really stubborn and won't buy a new, larger, tank strap....lock you legs around your buddy like riding a horse. Slip the loose tank back into the strap. Now, lock your legs around the tank and rotate the cam closed. Yeah, it looks kinda goofy but it works. You have created resistence to stuff moving in the direction force is applied. When you get to the surface, poke your fingers into your stubborn buddies eyes a la The Three Stooges. If you buddy is like mine, he won't get it. :11:

BTW, when this first started to happen, my buddy would get upset that I couldn't secure his tank OR it took so long...he's got the problem and he's upset with me...it's good I learned how to save his butt.

Larry Stein

 

[BrianM]

I have only lost my tank once, and that was on a dive boat in mexico where the DM insisted on setting up everyones gear on the ride out. I was newly certified so I didn't make a fuss, but at 45 feet I felt something hitting the backs of my legs and luckily my buddy (who is also my gf and a very experienced diver) was able to get it secured properly. I set my equipment up myself the rest of that trip!!!

As for the weight integrated thing that was mentioned a few posts ago... I have a weight integrated BC and was considering the issue of taking of the BC underwater. I ended up buying a weight belt and putting 10 pounds on it. I wear 8 lbs in each WI BC pocket and the 10 on the belt and it works great for me. My gf even lost a fin as we were getting out of the water at Pt. Lobos and I had already taken off my BC. I was able to swim back out and dive down about 15 feet to retrieve her fin for her. I would have had to been completely suited up again if I didnt have the weightbelt, and if I ONLY had a weightbelt with all 26 lbs on it, I would have been too heavy to swim out and dive for the fin.
With my drysuit or my 7mil wetsuit, dropping the 16lbs in my BC will make me plenty buoyant in an emergency.

 

[Former FLL Now MSP Diver]

Tobin - the pads got a good workout this weekend as my daughter and I joined an bunch of the Florida Conch Divers for a trip to the Keys.

I installed them on her bc as she's had problems in the past ratcheting the cam straps really tight and has had tank slip incidents getting out of the water. There were no issues at all with the new pads on. I let her do her thing, then tried tugging to see if I could loosen the tank. Nope, wouldn't budge.

Thanks for the pads and the opportunity to test them. Let me know if you need a testimonial.

Marc

 

[cool_hardware52]

Tobin - the pads got a good workout this weekend as my daughter and I joined an bunch of the Florida Conch Divers for a trip to the Keys.

I installed them on her bc as she's had problems in the past ratcheting the cam straps really tight and has had tank slip incidents getting out of the water. There were no issues at all with the new pads on. I let her do her thing, then tried tugging to see if I could loosen the tank. Nope, wouldn't budge.

Thanks for the pads and the opportunity to test them. Let me know if you need a testimonial.

Marc

Glad to hear the pads worked, and I think I just got a testimonial!


Thanks,


Tobin

 

[mikswi]

I too tried the bands sold by cool_hardware for my wife. I ended the problem of her not being able to properly cinch down the straps. Every time she is able to apply enough pressure to get it done right.


Great product..........

 

[TwoTanks]

Hi Folks,

Seems the eternal problem, the loose tank strap.

Much good info here already.

/snip/

What our "Cam Strap Tension Pad" does is provide the missing spring.http://www.deepseasupply.com/page11.html

Our pad works by creating a "point load" . Previous attempts at strap covers or pads have been long, thin, often hard plastic or rubber pads that offered no thickness to be "squeezed".

Our pads do three things: Maintain tension on the strap, limit the total load on the buckle preventing breakage and greatly reduces the closing force required.

I know it's hard to believe but they do work great.

I'm willing to mail out a pair, free of charge, to the first 10 people to PM me with a name and ship to address.


Regards,



Tobin George

Tobin,

I finally got to try the pads on my son's BC. Both of my sons and my daughter (ages 11, 13 and 15) were able to tighten the straps rock solid on the first try.
This product is definately a winner for those who have trouble getting tension on their tank bands.
When I get BCs for the other kids I'll be sure to order some more pads.

Thanks,

Jim