Zeagle Ranger Limited BCD

[scubatoys]

If you buy your Zeagle from an authorized dealer... they'll stand behind it for life - no matter what service - or lack of service - was done. I just had a customer that bought a ranger from us 8 years ago - and he's always diving cold water - and kept 8 pound weights in the pockets most all the time... We'll one of the seams started coming out after all that weight for all that time... We sent it back to Zeagle - they sewed it back up - good as new.

Really the only thing that you service on a BC - is take off the valves and make sure there is no sand in them... hit with a little silicone - then replace a couple o rings and a shrader valve in the inflator... Then make sure the thing holds air... Really no where as complex as reg rebuilds - so the manufacturers really don't tie the service to warranty thing as much.

Problem with regs for service... If you've got one that hasn't been opened in 4 years - it can get all corroded together - and it's a bear to get it apart... then all the internal parts are also all shot and need replacing... While once a year - they'll come apart easily - get cleaned up - lubed - seats and o-rings replaced... and re-assembled. Makes life easier for everyone.

 

[domino22]

I have a SeaPro AT-PAC BCD which employed a full plastic backpack (weight integrated with lead and marbles) and back inflate BC with 60 lbs of lift. Lots of Steel Rings on the shoulders, and on the Bottom. I purchased this new in late 1995 from my LDS. I dove cold water: California Cannel Islands in my 7 mm and warm water: Sea of Cortez Roatan and Florida Keys with polartec. I love diving with it. I dove over 70 times. I have AOW Expert rating. I have not done a lot of diving in the recent years.
I am planning to go to Cozumel in April and I need a BCD I can use in warm water and cold water diving.

My LDS the same one who sold me the AT-PAC in late 1995 suggested I buy a Zeagel Ranger Ltd and change out the 45 lb lift to a 60 lb lift.

1. I like the weight integration and Tank stabilization of my AT-PAC. I DO NOT want to wear a Weight Belt.
2. Lead shot needed for my AT-PAC and Flying is a luggage “weight nightmare”. I want to use solid weights at the dive location.
3. My At-Pac is usable and I thought it would be good Keep and use for Cold water in Southern California when I am not flying and the Zeagle for times I Fly. My LDS tells them I will be happier just using the Zeagle.

I am looking for the Best BCD for me. I am female and I need quite a bit of lead even in Warm water. I do UW photography and I will soon be nitrox Certified. I plan to do more diving both Warm and Cold water now that my husband also dives.

I am look for feedback especially from user of the Zeagle BCD and other back inflate BCD's.

Thanks for the help!

Hey if you buy one pm I bought a lot of extra stuff for the lT and I have a basic ranger.

 

[domino22]

Hey if you buy one pm I bought a lot of extra stuff for the lT and I have a basic ranger.

that was the ltd if you buy it sorry

 

[HaoleDiver]

Is it easy, or even possible, to access the wing pouches (that zip on) on a LTD? I was watching some divers with them this past weekend, and they seem to somewhat inaccessible.

 

[Mark Vlahos]

Is it easy, or even possible, to access the wing pouches (that zip on) on a LTD? I was watching some divers with them this past weekend, and they seem to somewhat inaccessible.

Hi,

I have a Ranger LTD and I like it a lot.

I dive with a pony bottle on my right side. It is in the elastic sleeve zipped to the front (divers side) of the bladder. I have a pouch zipped to the left side with 3 or 4 pounds of lead in it. Putting an equal amount of lead on the opposite side from the pony helps with trim. I am able to open the velcro at the bottom of the pouch if I need to dump the lead; it is awkward but not impossible. I would probably not put anything in the pocket that I planned on using during the dive.

Mark Vlahos

 

[Sean326]

I've been diving with a ranger LTD since last summer and love it, I've never had a problem with the weights either putting the yellow pouches in or putting on the BC with weights installed. I also use the zip in pony bottle up north and the zip in spare air in the tropics.

It's an amazingly versatile BC, I had it Ice diving one weekend in Feb and in Turks and Caicos the following weekend. You can also slap a backplate on it and it is a very nice and stable platform for diving doubles.

I probably will get an escape at some time to save some space in my bags.