Zeagle Ranger LTD vs. Dive Rite Transpac

[HardhatDivr]

Im new to these forums but maybe I can add some real world experiences to the question/concerns of diving the Ranger LTD with doubles.

The Zeagle website lists the Ranger and the Range LTD as havving the same amount of lift. I dove with a Zeagle Ranger for the last few years. I dove the Ranger with a set of twin steel 95's/ dual iso manifold and dual poseidon odin's in the Vortex Springs area a few years ago, and with both tanks full, needed 0 weight added to the BC (prob goes without saying). Noticed that the setup tended to want to slide to one or another side of my back the entire time, something else I noticed is that when the tanks are running low, the BC does NOT have enough lift to maintain trim, and you could find yourself in the dangerous situation of not being able to surface.....I was almost faced with this problem, and ended up climbing the mud bank next to the dock in order to get out of the water.....

Hope this helps....

Bruce

 

[Scuba_Vixen]

Since the tanks become less negative as they empty, how in the name of Neptune could you be ok at the Start of the dive and then having too little lift at the End of the dive ......

Something's bass ackwards here ....

Darlene

There's also a difference between trim and bouyancy. Sounds like you were referring to the latter.

 

[TLada]

I would not dive a Zeagle Ranger with doubles. I love my Ranger and dive it tech single tank, down to about 200 ft. (Steel 120) Plenty of lift.
I use an OMS for any double diving. The Ranger is probably finest high end recreational rig you can get, and good enough for any single tank semi-tech dive. But there are more reliable rigs for double diving.

 

[GDI]

The Ranger can handle a set of doubles. Heck I did my cave class in a Ranger and a tech from Zeagle. The Ranger LTD can also be sandwiched between a BP for added stabilty and rigging when using doubles. The inner back pad lifts up to accomondate the BP. As a matter of fact The pic at the bottom of the page on my web site has me wearing aTech harness and a set of 120's plus my deco bottles. I have a BP on as well check it out:

http://www.genesisdiving.com/florida-scuba-trips/ocala_cave.shtml

Although I wear a BP and wings now occasionally I still use my Zeagle and find it very comfortable with doubles and stages bottles

 

[TLada]

I'm sure your doing it quite sucessfully - by the looks of your pix. Again, the Ranger is a fine rig - no doubt. I think diving 120's on a Ranger is pretty much pushing the limits of that rig. I have to say, I've never done it - that is, dive double on a Ranger. I've clocked alot of double time on the OMS or DiveRite and I feel double diving is specialty diving, and calls for a specialty rig. The Ranger can handle it, I guess, but I want to do more than cover the bases.
Q: does the Ranger now have redundant bladders?


Q: - - did you ever cross trails with Dan P at 40 fathom?

Terry

 

[peter_dorset]

I have a Ranger but yet used doubles. Excellent BC. For mounting of twinsets check out www.zeagle.com/clientuploads/datasheets/Ranger.pdf

This web page specifies whats needed to double up.

 

[5615mike]

Since the tanks become less negative as they empty, how in the name of Neptune could you be ok at the Start of the dive and then having too little lift at the End of the dive ......

Something's bass ackwards here ....

Darlene

There's also a difference between trim and bouyancy. Sounds like you were referring to the latter.

Get 'em Vix!!
Hope all is well with you these days in STX

 

[Sean326]

They told me that it would be nearly impossible to dive a Ranger with double tanks, and that if I did, I would likely either sink straight to the bottom, or experience very poor performance from the BCD.

FALSE

A ranger takes a backplate and doubles great.

plus you get weight integration, a couple of pockets and some "D" rings

I can't tell you how many times I see people with BP&W that then decide to add weight pockets, accessory pockets, strap and cummerbund pads etc. They preach about BP&W and then turn them into back inflate BC's.

I dive My LTD with doubles and a backplate and just take it (the backplate) off with a single.

It's been a great rig from Ice diving in Canada to this winters Caribbean trips. Practical, safe, comfortable and versatile.

 

[Sean326]

I noticed is that when the tanks are running low, the BC does NOT have enough lift to maintain trim, and you could find yourself in the dangerous situation of not being able to surface.....I was almost faced with this problem, and ended up climbing the mud bank next to the dock in order to get out of the water.....

Hope this helps....

Bruce

You can order bigger bladders the same as you would with a BP & W setup. They offer up to a dual 85#
(did you need more than 170# of lift?)

 

[Scuba_Vixen]

You can order bigger bladders the same as you would with a BP & W setup. They offer up to a dual 85#
(did you need more than 170# of lift?)

Dual bladders are for REDUNDANCY ONLY ... there's only room in the bag for one to be inflated at a time. NEVER EVER try to inflate both for increased lift, that's NOT how you use them.

As far as using a Zeagle for advanced rec doubles diving, I see no great problem with it at all if you do it properly.

Darlene