What to do with inflate/deflate BCD hose?

[Colliam7]

Pretty much every BCD has a velcro strap which is used to hook up that BCD inflate/deflate hose so a diver would be streamlined. However, whenever you need to deflate, you usually hold the hose upwards, right? So, you have to unhook it from velcro strap and lift the hose up then push a button. After this task do you velcro it back again? Seems like a velcro strap can quickly wear out from all the hooking and unhooking. Another option, I guess, never hook it up back... but the hose would dangle more.

Yes, the velcro would / does wear if you use this approach. And, with the 'standard' inflator hose lengths that most BCDs come with, leaving it to dangle isn't a good idea, either. I also don't have a velcro strap on my BP harnesses. I use a piece of slender bungee cord looped under a D-ring, and keep the inflator valve loosely secured near the D-ring. If needed, I can pull it out quickly, but that is seldom necessary.

If you go slightly head up and slightly left shoulder up, it should be easy to get the end high enough to allow air to escape.

I echo this suggestion, particularly with regard to rolling right to slightly elevate your left side. It works nicely. I don't have to do anything with the hose itself (e.g. pull it up to any extent).

And, as several have said, if you are properly weighted, you usually don't have to worry about dramatic purges of air. The butt dumps on most BCDs are very useful when you are in good horizontal trim - I would rather go slightly head down, pull the butt dump and release a small amount of air, than fiddle with my inflator hose. Getting used to rolling slightly and / or using the butt dumps is an acquired skill. But, with practice, you will find what works best for you and your rig.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I don't run the entire inflator assembly through the bungee on my bpw's. Only the lp hose. It keeps the inflator in tight yet allows the whole thing to slide up easily if I do need to raise the inflator to dump. On std bc's that have d rings on the shoulder you may be able to do the same thing or just add a bungee loop with a couple zip ties to do the same thing.

Hmm... Another design defect in bc's just identified. The velcro strap mini billboard that usually has the makers name on it. Can't put a logo on a bungee. Even though it would be more practical and more reliable. As well as more user friendly.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[rongoodman]

Or use one of these. The bungee provides plenty of stretch to lift the hose on the surface, and as other posters have said, you'll probably be using your rear dump under water anyway.

 

[rhwestfall]

Or use one of these. The bungee provides plenty of stretch to lift the hose on the surface, and as other posters have said, you'll probably be using your rear dump under water anyway.

or make your own. There was a thread somewhere here where NetDoc made one with bungee and a slider....


....also, pull to dump is a nice option.

 

[skearse]

It generally isn't necessary to release the Velcro, to get the end of the inflator high enough to vent gas. If you go slightly head up and slightly left shoulder up, it should be easy to get the end high enough to allow air to escape.

I don't use my inflator exhaust. I dump from my hip ...

Plans A and B for me...not necessarily in that order.

 

[g1138]

Bp/W talk aside, I don't think you'll be able to modify a bungee loop on your stock BC to make it work like a Bp/W.
Keep the shoulder velcro closure velcroed and just hold your inflator hose up. If need be, your BC will flex naturally when you lift your inflator hose up high. Undoing the velcro is a good recipe for having your inflator hose float behind your back, out of easy reach.

And yes, you were prematurely wearing down the velcro by doing that.

Alternatively your can use your other dumps to vent air. If you're inverted or slightly butt up, you can use your butt dump. If you're horizontal, tilt up and to your left or right and use your inflator pull dump or your right shoulder dump.
For the right shoulder dump, I always found it easier to control my vent by reaching over my shoulder and grabbing the line to pull, rather than the bobble in front of you.

 

[GrandpaScuba]

Pretty much every BCD has a velcro strap which is used to hook up that BCD inflate/deflate hose so a diver would be streamlined. However, whenever you need to deflate, you usually hold the hose upwards, right? So, you have to unhook it from velcro strap and lift the hose up then push a button. After this task do you velcro it back again? Seems like a velcro strap can quickly wear out from all the hooking and unhooking. Another option, I guess, never hook it up back... but the hose would dangle more.

Thus, I am at odds, do I have to go through this unhook, deflate, hook back routine every time I need to deflate my BCD? Or, just leave it hanging?

You should put it through the velcro. Both the corrigated hose and the supply hose. Do not unhook the velcro when you raise the hose. This should be unnecessary. The velcro should be on your shoulder approximately level with where the hose attaches to the BC bladder. Many BC's have a way to remove the velcro and relocate it higher or lower. Adjust the velcro position to be at or near the apex of your shoulder. If you need to raise the hose higher, lean backwards a little bit. If you have a back-mounted BC, you should learn to lean back when emptying the bladder, anyway. With a back-mounted bladder, this puts presure on the bladder to help push the air out.

The purpose of the velcro is not streamlining. It is to make sure the inflater hose can be found at a predictable place and not be floating behind your head or trapped between your shoulder and your tank, etc.