US Diver Tank Boots

[Chez7222]

Good day all,
I hage four Aqualung tank boots for my tanks but they're not snug. The rubber is not dry and still in very good condition. Is there a process to get these snug again or am I outta luck. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Chris Sanchez
US Army
North Florida

 

[Paladin]

Once they've stretched out, there isn't much that can be done. Put a stainless steel hose clamp around them to tighten them to the tanks. That's what I had to do for my oldest son's LP95s. Standard boots are too big for his PST tanks.

New boots are less than $10 each. Why not get new ones?

 

[simonbeans]

I have two suggestions: You could use some glue (not the best idea as you would have to re-glue each time you take them off), or use a piece of copper wire around the upper edge (the wire would be vintage) or even a cable tie. I appreciate your wanting to keep you gear as original as possible. New ones, just don't fit the original look you apparently would like to keep. Thanks for staying as vintage as possible, not many of us left.

 

[Paladin]

There is a company that makes vintage style tank boots for steel 72s. I have a pair on the twin 72s I recently acquired. My LDS got them for me. If you want, I can call the shop and find out where they got them.

Amazon sells a vinyl tank boot that is of the vintage style, as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Diameter-Round-Bottom-Tank-Vinyl/dp/B0062UU8AE

But, if you want to use your originals, a big hose clamp or, as Simonbeans suggests, a piece of wire tightened around the boots will do the trick.

 

[Chez7222]

All great suggestions, Thanks for the offer to contact your LDS Paladin but you and Simonbeans gave me a good idea. I will try to run some copper wire through black wire insulation i have a work so the wire doesn't cut into the boot. I have original Aqualung boots in yellow, white and three black for my steel 72s. All but one are in really good shape. I like to show a DA Mistral reg, 1968 yellow 72 with j-Valve and Kam Pak I just rebuilt but I can't figure out how to post a pic. Thanks for all the help Chris Sanchez, North FL

 

[Nemrod]

Who again makes the new "vintage correct" boots?

I have put a bead of silicone in some of mine. See, vintage technique is involved here as well as looks. I have found my way back to my entry point many times by relocating my boot that had fallen off on the outbound leg. Serves as a great bed crumb. Then of course, if you lose yours, then I find yours to replace mine that I lost, the next guys finds mine to replace his that he lost, see, there is vintage balance in the universe that way.

N