Weight placement

[pepperbelly]

I have a Zeagle Ranger BCD, and I have been putting my weights in the pockets.
Today I bought some soft weights and the seller threw in a weight belt with pockets.
I have read on here about splitting the weights so if something happens I wouldn't have to dump all of my weights- just dump enough to become positively buoyant.

I need to decide how much to put where- how much on the belt and how much in the pockets.
I also need to spend some time working on my trim. My BCD has 2 tank bands and I could put some weights on them, but again- how much?

With my 5/4 Everflex wetsuit I use 20#.

I am really looking forward to putting soft weights in my pockets too instead of the hard weights.

 

[tbone1004]

are you sure you aren't overweighted? 20lbs seems excessive with that suit, even in salt water with an al80, by a good 8lbs or so.

If you're happy with them in weight pockets, leave them in weight pockets, try the hard weights on a belt and see if you like it. Some people do, others don't. I prefer weight belts to pockets, but I very rarely have to wear any lead

 

[Gary_Ward]

Great BCD, I also dive with the same one. I concur with Tbone, you might want to think about starting the process of dropping your weight. I weigh in at 240lbs and only dive with 8.

But back to the point in question: Your weight positioning will be largely dependent on how you dive and your position in the water. I would guess that with 20lbs in pockets or a weight belt you're going to be pretty hips/feet down when you're diving an therefore you need to start really focusing on trim.

To start of with - the next time you're out diving and you come back to the surface, do a weight check at the surface (with about a 1/3 to 1/2 full tank). If when you're holding a normal breath and a fully deflated BCD (and not kicking) you float at about eye level, you have the right weight. If you sink or can not float at eye level, you have too much. Reduce weight and try again!

Once you have the right weight start the process of distributing it between trim pockets and weight pockets/belts. On my ranger I have a fairly even split, but know some guys who put more in their trim (be careful this makes the BCD topple over when on the deck). What you are looking for is to be able to hold a fairly neutral, flat position in the water without the need to fin to keep your feet up.

I also found with the Ranger that it helps if you raise the trim weight pouches so they are on the top tank band as opposed to the bottom one. Again this helps to raise the weight, lifting your hips and lowering your shoulders. There is no quick and easy solution, but it comes via trial and error. Key to it though is getting the right weight sorted first!

 

[pepperbelly]

I am still getting used to this BCD. I bought it used and it didn't come with trim pockets.
I am not sure I am getting all of the air out of the wings. There are 2 straps, one on each side, that seem to be foe keeping the wings from snagging when stored. I have been leaving them fastened because ai don't think about them. That might be trapping some air.
The filler/exhust hose seems to almost kink and it's hard to get it fully extended.
I need to spend a dive just checking trim.
The weight I used did seem a little too much but my 5/4 wetsuit is new and it seemed really floaty.
I am still a littly cautious about weight. I had a problem in Cozumel. It was my first time in the ocean and on the ascent I could not stop. I went straight to the surface. I added a little more weight on the rest of the dives and had no problem. Ever since that I may have a tendancy to overweight.

 

[diversteve]

I am still getting used to this BCD. I bought it used and it didn't come with trim pockets.

One remedy for that is: Rear Weight System 16lb

I use about a 60/40 split - if I can get single weights closer to 70/30. All that padding/pockets/lumbar pad is floaty so I'm at about 12lbs. in mine - maybe 10lbs. at the end of a week of diving. I'm also 6'4 - 275ish.

20lbs seems like a lot. Have someone look at, possibly photograph you while diving, that much weight might be pushing your feet down.

I am not sure I am getting all of the air out of the wings. There are 2 straps, one on each side, that seem to be foe keeping the wings from snagging when stored. I have been leaving them fastened because ai don't think about them. That might be trapping some air.

I suppose it's possible but I never unclip mine.

The filler/exhust hose seems to almost kink and it's hard to get it fully extended.

There's a cable inside it to activate the shoulder dump on the left side (the inflator mechanism itself is also a dump) and it could be the wrong length. They're sized right from the factory but who knows what the owner b4 you did. I'm pretty sure there's at least two hose lengths available also.

If you ever replace it, consider a BX inflator if you don't already have one, it allows you to unscrew the inflator and screw on a garden hose to flush the bladder. Works well...

BC manual if you don't have one:
http://www.zeagle.com/~/media/zeagle/files/bc_manual.ashx?la=en

 

[spectrum]

Personally put it all on the belt except for weight that needs to be higher up for trim. I dislike dealing with a heavy BC.

 

[tbzep]

I was issued the 911 which is a higher capacity version of the Ranger. It can be difficult at times to get all the air out of the bladder until you get used to it. The back pad also holds air until you get a few feet down and get it squeezed out. You can get a little more air out with the dump valve (pulling the hose) than with the button, and as a bonus it's quicker. Mine is hard to open, but a few practice yanks will get you used to it. If you're already down and prone or a little head down, don't forget the dump valves at the bottom of the wing. The 911 already has a screw off inflator, so I'm sure the Ranger does too. It's handy for flushing out the bladder after a dive in not so clean water. I also keep my wings clipped. They stick way out there if left free and make you want to go face down at the surface, at least on the larger winged 911. (Edit: I see several things were already mentioned in the previous post by Steve. I should pay more attention.)

 

[pepperbelly]

Thanks everyone.
Steve, I will check the length of the cable.
It is very possible that I am simply overlooking something simple. Newer divers who started out with a BCD have an advantage over older divers like me. I started diving in the early '70s when all we had was a backpack- plastic, and a Mae West collar, weight belt and a single reg, maybe a SPG.I stopped diving in the mid '80s and only recently started again. The learning curve isn't too steep, but it is there for the new to me equipment.
I did a refresher course last summer and this summer I did my NAUI AOW and a separate Nitrox course. I really need to get the trim and buoyancy nailed down before next year when I take the Rescue course- if I do decide to.

 

[diversteve]

Don't pull the hose to activate the shoulder dump, pull the inflator itself. The cable is inside the hose but is hooked on a small pin inside the bottom of the actual inflator so pulling on the hose either doesn't work or is less effective.

 

[tbzep]

Don't pull the hose to activate the shoulder dump, pull the inflator itself. The cable is inside the hose but is hooked on a small pin inside the bottom of the actual inflator so pulling on the hose either doesn't work or is less effective.

Yes, I should have been more specific. You don't just grab anywhere along the corrugated hose. It bunches up and you have less total stretch/cable pull. What I was referring to is that the valve itself on mine has been sticky from day one and takes a hard yank to open.