Undone Tank Band

[cool_hardware52]

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

I'm pleased the pads worked for you and your kids. Reducing the closing force of the buckle makes it practical for almost anybody to secure their own tank.


Tobin

 

[rjchandler]

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.
k.

The tag end is now on the outside and held in place by velcro and a slider. Before it was pinched against the tank. Easier to adjust. I prefer the old version.

 

[mossym]

To remove and replace a weight integrated BCD try hovering horizontally, undo your chest and stomach straps, loosen your shoulder straps, undo your cumberbund, and rollout under your BCD. Having the tank and the BCD on top of you will overcome your bodies buoyancy (with or without a wetsuit). Make your adjustments and then roll yourself back (face down), slip back into the BCD and reattach your straps, etc.

I first teach the standard pool technique of BCD removal to my students, then when they get better with their buoyancy and hovering (including the horizontal hover) I teach them the roll-out maneuver. They really feel better and more confident about their skills when they can do the removal and replacement while hovering.

yeah i like this a lot

 

[wpscortland]

I dive a zeagle which has two bands and I have never had a tank come loose. On occasion my pony bottle would loosen up, so I got one of those rubber strap boots and it hasn't moved since.
As for weight integration I keep 8 pounds in the BC and 8 on my belt that way I can take off my BC without any buoyancy trouble at all. In an emergency it would take longer to dump all my weight, but this also gives me the option of only dumping half of it too.

Thats my two cents

I'm a new diver preparing to buy my first BC and have been grappling with this issue of weights. With belt alone, I do not like that all the weight has to be dumped at once. With integrate only, taking the BC off for any reason could be dangerous. I like your idea, but does anyone know more about these harness weight systems?

 

[cool_hardware52]

I'm a new diver preparing to buy my first BC and have been grappling with this issue of weights. With belt alone, I do not like that all the weight has to be dumped at once. With integrate only, taking the BC off for any reason could be dangerous. I like your idea, but does anyone know more about these harness weight systems?

I know DUI sells their own weight harness. Search the web for DUI.

I might suggest how ever that you think about your ditch / non ditch weight requirements.

I could give you my 2 cents worth here, but you'd be better served to start a new thread regarding ditchable vs non ditchable weight and the conditions underwhich ditching.....or not would be adviseable.


Regards,


Tobin

 

[erichK]

The tag end is now on the outside and held in place by velcro and a slider. Before it was pinched against the tank. Easier to adjust. I prefer the old version.

The SP strap is the simplest solution. The newer version on my wife and daughter's SP Ladyhawks is simpler to adjust than the the one on old SP Classic. Both work better and more simply than any other system I've ever seen (or used). Cam bands with a good rubber pad, or likely the ingenious pads mentioned earlier do work, but IMHO, they're neither as simple or as positive. There are also more elaborate systems that may work even better...but diving's complex and gadgety enough as it is, so there's much to be said for the simple elegance of SP (unfortunately heavily-patented!) tried and true system.

I'll be using it with my "new" Knighthawk, and, because I've had a tank come loose 85' under on a night wall dive in current (with another band), I think I'll add the clever pads too 8-|

 

[Bubble Blower 479]

Hi Folks,

Seems the eternal problem, the loose tank strap.

Much good info here already.

Here's my take. It actually requires very little tension to retain the tank, but the tension must be greater than zero. Tanks get smaller when the pressure drops, and straps due get longer when wet as nylon absorbs water.

The real problem is that there is no "spring" in the system. The typical tank strap webbing is good for many 1000's of lbs, a human with a 3 inch long buckle is not going to stretch the webbing much.

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.

I have these pads on my tank band and they work as advertized. They do hold the tank firmly and I would recommend them to others. Thanks.

 

[Hoya97]

Hi,

Don't know how many people are still reading this thread, but will answer the two questions posed - How to put the tank back in the BC on another diver and How to do it yourself.

1. Get the attention of the diver with the problem. Tell him to wait, go behind him and grab the offending strap. Loosen the strap and, ballancing the butt of the tank on your thigh, pull the strap down over the cylinder. The strap and diver should move downward slightly. When the strap is in the right position, tighten it up and send the diver on your way. It's best if you're on a sandy part of the bottom, but it can be done in mid-water as well. The trick is to pull down on the strap, not shove up on the tank.

2) To do it yourself, you simply undo everything (chest and waist straps and cumberbund) and roll out of the BC. Keeping a firm grip on the jacket (it has your weights in it and will keep you down) rotate it so that the back is facing you and you have easy access to the cylinder. Wrap your legs around the cylinder and, not letting loose of the bc, loosen and pull the strap down over the cylinder. Once it's in the right position, tighten the strap and climb into the BC (either overhead - okay underwater - or like a normal jacket). Adjust the front straps and continue the dive.

To be honest, it takes a bit of practice (something that I get enough of, being an instructor) but once you master it, it's a cinch.

Someone said earlier that it's best if you wet the straps prior to putting them on the tank. This is especially true if you have a new BC. Simply put the puppy into a bathtub and let the tank straps get good and soaked. While still soaked, adjust the tank straps around the cylinder. I leave it there, but once the adjustments are made, I guess you could take it off. When dry, don't adjust the straps any more. They will always fit around the same sized cylinder.

When moving to a different sized cylinder, they rarely slip off as all the 'slack' has been removed. This is only necessary when the BC is new.

If anyone has additional questions, don't hesitate to PM me!

Best of luck and good diving!

Lee

 

[BrianM]

I got to try my technique out twice this weekend: I dove with a friend who is newly certified and even after checking his tank myself before we got in the water, it slipped out twice in the middle of the dive. I mentioned we should check the tank after we get wet, but in all the other things happening we didnt do it. About half way thru the dive his tank slipped out and when I tried to tell him to hold still, he immediatley spun around when he felt something going on behind him. I finally got it back in but since we were now in the middle of kelp and some surge I was unable to get it super tight. His BC was a very worn rental and the strap looked like it had been dragged behind a car...I also noticed the weight of the tank contributed to my difficulty getting it back in, I had lent him my E8-119 since he had said he wasn't to good with his air consumption. I pretty much called the dive at this point and tried to get us away from the kelp and over to a better area to head back and the dang thing slipped again!!! Man, stuff like this really makes me wonder about ever diving with or near rental crap again!!!

Brian

 

[Yeoh Chee Weng]

. . .I can't seem to do this unless I get them on the ground or against a wall for leverage/resistance.

I returned from a dive trip over the weekend and I had to help a buddy whose tank slipped down while we were hovering in mid-water. I supported the bottom of the tank on top of my right bent knee. Held onto the tank straps with both hands and jerked up my knee while simultaneously pulling down the straps. It wasn't difficult at all.

My couple of tank straps has rubberised grips (rubber material sewn onto the straps) so they are very unlikely to slip. BTW my BC is a Halcyon SS Backplate. Those without this set-up can use a short piece of inner bicycle tube and slip this onto the tank strap as an anti-slippage hold.