Which PST: E8 119, 130, E7 120?

[docmartin]

i am looking to get some tanks. i will buy a couple but will first dive them as singles for a while before considering to double them up. i am torn between 3 models of PSTs: E8 119 or 130, E7 120.
it appears that a lot of people prefer the 130s over the 119s in part because they trim better. this seems to be a function of their greater length. i am 5'11". anyone here of comparable height who's had problems with the 119s being too short to trim well? i am concerned that if i had to position them very low i may not be able to reach the valve anymore. unfortunately, i am not very flexible.
if the 119s are too short but one prefers less (out of the water) weight over the extra air of the 130s the 120s could be the solution. however, these are very long (4" longer that the 119s and 2" longer than standard al80s). anyone in my height range who's tried the 120s and found them too long?
i will try to dive these tanks before buying but any comments beforehand would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MechDiver]

I'm the same height you are, but height has little to do with trim and doubles. There are other factors. The only way you'll find out what does/doesn't work for you is to dive the tanks.
I use PST LP-95s for doubles and Faber 80s for singles. Have trim issues with neither. I would not buy the E8-119s as I don't consider them cost effective.
IMO you need to by tanks for how they perform in the water, not on land. The small extra weight of the 130s is more than offset by other factors.

MD

 

[Mo2vation]

if the 119s are too short but one prefers less (out of the water) weight over the extra air of the 130s the 120s could be the solution. however, these are very long (4" longer that the 119s and 2" longer than standard al80s). anyone in my height range who's tried the 120s and found them too long?
i will try to dive these tanks before buying but any comments beforehand would be greatly appreciated.

I often complain (more whining than anything else... ) about my 130 being a waterheater and just a pig to schlep around, but at the end of the day, I haven't regretted getting it for a second.

I'm 5'8" (on a good day) 173 (on a really good day...) and I haven't noticed any issues - except on my first dive when I did a face plant (until I did a CG drill and got it dialed in). I love the huge gas supply, love the way it fits and have no regrets.

K

 

[IndigoBlue]

I'm the same height you are, but height has little to do with trim and doubles. There are other factors. The only way you'll find out what does/doesn't work for you is to dive the tanks.
I use PST LP-95s for doubles and Faber 80s for singles. Have trim issues with neither. I would not buy the E8-119s as I don't consider them cost effective.
IMO you need to by tanks for how they perform in the water, not on land. The small extra weight of the 130s is more than offset by other factors.

MD

I am about the same height as you are, and I agree with Mech, supra.

I would also caution against trying to use your doubles for singles as well.

In choosing a single tank, I would pick the tank that most suits your needs in a single tank. Much also depends on your regular buddy, and the type of diving he/she likes to do as well, and also his/her RMV-SCR breathing rate compared to yours.

My regular buddy likes scenic, beautiful shallow single dives, with no repetitive diving. Her RMV-SCR is 0.73 very similar to my own 0.75 . So for us, for example, a pair of LP steel 72s would be perfect, or a pair of HP steel 80s as well. If she were a he, then we could do 100s or larger. But she is not comfortable in 100s. So what good would it do for me to dive a 100 or a 120 if she in uncomfortable in anything larger than a 72?

A 72 is what I got her, and an HP 80 is what I use. When I dive without her, with someone else, I will use both tanks myself.

In choosing doubles, I would pick them together and link them in a manifold of your liking with compatible bands, and keep them linked together all the time. I would choose the size depending on your particular gas needs, the depths you plan to dive to, and your reserve requirements such as rule of thirds. Generally speaking, you can never have too much backgas along with you on a technical dive. So the biggest doubles you can comfortably handle is usually the right answer. Mine sit with TMX 24/40 in them waiting for 150 ft or shallower applications. I do not split them up and use them as singles. Too much of a pain. It is painful enough once a year having them vis-ed and O2 cleaned, then put back together again with their manifold and bands.

For single tanks, the smallest that you can get away with will normally be the most fun to use. Of course, if you are always diving off a boat, and never off a beach or shore, then size really does NOT matter. But it sure matters on a beach.

 

[IndigoBlue]

I often complain (more whining than anything else... ) about my 130 being a waterheater and just a pig to schlep around, but at the end of the day, I haven't regretted getting it for a second.

I'm 5'8" (on a good day) 173 (on a really good day...) and I haven't noticed any issues - except on my first dive when I did a face plant (until I did a CG drill and got it dialed in). I love the huge gas supply, love the way it fits and have no regrets.

K

That is really a big tank for a relatively shorter person.

I know you can stay down with it for a long time. And off a boat size won't matter.

I am 5'10 and 200 lbs (on a good day) and I take pride in being able to use my 40 cu ft stage tanks as back tanks, getting 30 mins of dive time out of one of them on shallower shore dives. And my wife absolutely loves it when we both use the 40s because they are really light for her too.

 

[Mo2vation]

That is really a big tank for a relatively shorter person. I know you can stay down with it for a long time. And off a boat size won't matter.

"...relatively shorter person..." ??!!?? Why I oughta...

OK - all better.

For me, it's all about the BT. With an SAC (across all conditions) in the mid-high .40's to low .50's, I'm perfectly OK being the guy with the emergency supply.

This can does have a swing with all that gas, but I've been able to remove a couple more off the belt (down to 8#.) When I dive with people with the 80's I can get down to about 6# as I consistently come up with 1500 - 2000 still in the thing.

When Arnaud and I go out (he has the 119) we're pretty close. But with everyone else, I'm getting 2 dives off this pig.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

For doubles, I would suggest the 130's. I am the same height as you (on a good day), and I dont like the E8-119's because they are too short for me when I am suiting up. The 130's are a little taller, give you more gas, and are a nice set of doubles. I have never had any trim issues with the LP-95's, or PST 104's or OMS 112's, or HP-120's. So, I would go with the cylinder that YOU feel comfortable with. Can you try them out before you buy???

 

[scubafanatic]

i am looking to get some tanks. i will buy a couple but will first dive them as singles for a while before considering to double them up. i am torn between 3 models of PSTs: E8 119 or 130, E7 120.
it appears that a lot of people prefer the 130s over the 119s in part because they trim better. this seems to be a function of their greater length. i am 5'11". anyone here of comparable height who's had problems with the 119s being too short to trim well? i am concerned that if i had to position them very low i may not be able to reach the valve anymore. unfortunately, i am not very flexible.
if the 119s are too short but one prefers less (out of the water) weight over the extra air of the 130s the 120s could be the solution. however, these are very long (4" longer that the 119s and 2" longer than standard al80s). anyone in my height range who's tried the 120s and found them too long?
i will try to dive these tanks before buying but any comments beforehand would be greatly appreciated.

....well, among my tank 'collection I own an E7-120 and an E8-130 and like both tanks. In Oct 2003 did 8 dives with Liquid Blue in Cozumel and we all dove E7-120's and everyone seemed to do just fine 'fit' wise. I'm 5'8" and am comfortable in both tanks.

Given you're 5'11", I suspect the E8-119 might be a bit shorter than you'll be happy with, but again, there's no substitute for actually diving the tanks to avoid an expensive mistake.

Unfortunately both the E7-120 and E8-130 are sold out until late 04/2004...the E8-119 is still available.

I wanted to order another E8-130 but since they're sold out for a while, I just ordered an OMS LP 112 instead.......same height/diamater as an E8-130 and a little lighter.

Doubles are an entirely different matter......personally an E8-130 twinset is probably too heavy.....I'd do either an E7-120 or E8-119 twinset to shave off some weight...and with the proper bands you could build a relatively narrow E7-120 twinset ,which would be a lot more compact for tight spaces than the 8" diameter tanks.

My best guess, given your height and the fact you eventually may want doubles is get an E7-120 'single' , then when funds/training/desire permit buy/build an E7-120 twinset.

Karl

 

[Warren_L]

My thinking on this is similar to Karl. I'm aout 5'8" (5'8 1/2" on a good day) and I have 2 E7-120s. They are a little bit taller than the old AL80s I used prior, but no problems. Had a good look at Mo2vation's E8-130 a while back and it didn't seem as big as I would have imagined. But it is a pig on land.

I went with the E7-120s because they are about 6 lbs lighter than the E8-130s. Schlepping around the E7s doubled up won't be quite as difficult.

 

[grouchyturtle]

What I think Martin means is he'll buy the tanks together, but doesn't have the cash right now to buy 3 tanks, plus a manifold and a doubles wing right now.

That's the same plan I have. Eventually I double the tanks, and just dive doubles 90% of the time. I'm thinking I'll get maybe an AL40 for a pony, then after I double the steels it will become my shore diving tank. I'm trying to figure out what size to get too. I'm a midget, smaller than you guys. About 5'5" and 130-140 (depending on diet, gym, bike, etc. at that particular moment in time).

Any suggestions?