Zeagle Ranger

[mach2plus]

Who did you leave a mesage with? Jim Wittsruck or I normally get the "I have an idea!!" calls - yet neither of us have a voice mail from you...

Also, IF we can do something like this, you will have to go through a dive shop to order it, as we do not sell factory direct. Keep in mind that we are in the busiest part of our year, so making custom parts will either A) not be cheap - or B) not be quick. Not trying to disuade you - just telling you upfront. We can do anything, if you have enough time and/or money!!

Hi Scott. Thanks for the reply. I called this morning at about 1115 and spoke with Heather, who told me that I needed to speak with Veronica, who was at a meeting, so I was put thru to Veronica's voice mail. I also sent an email to your info@zeagle.com today. Unaware till now that these are a custom item...would have thought that someone else would have come up with the idea before, as it seems fairly straightforward. Thanks for getting back with me -- much appreciated. Mach

 

[Sharky1948]

I've got a few hundred dives on mine and like it. BUT, here are the things that I personally (i.e., just my experience) find annoying:

1. It's heavier and more than I need for Carribean diving. If I had it to do over again, I'd go with the backplate and wings up here, and a lighter BCD for travel.

2. Even with the weights out, it's very heavy when wet. It traps water in the pockets. So, changing tanks requires some "ummpf."

3. The lower dump valve is not very effective. It's very trim dependent.

4. The pockets and lower d-rings are inconvenient for me to get to. Others don't seem to have that issue though.

Finally, AND THIS IS ONE TO PAY ATTENTION TO, one of the guys in my Rescue class has a Ranger. In one of the training scenarios, in his haste to get in the water, he failed to turn on his air. He couldn't inflate his BCD (which BTW, is a good reason to inflate it on the boat/shore). When he tried to dump his weights, he gripped the toggle AND the velcro so tightly that he couldn't release them. It resulted in a real rescue (good, realistic, but unwelcomed training). To counter this issue, if I'm using the integrated weight pockets, I adjust the velcro so that the toggle is not totally surrounded by the tabs. I haven't have an inadvertent release and it makes it much more difficult to screw up in an emergency.


Just my opinion...

 

[ScottZeagle]

Thanks for your input Mike.
I would agree that it is more than a normal person would need for Carribean diving. A couple of years ago, we changed the bottom of the bladders to allow water to exit faster, which should help with the weight of hoisting it onto a boat. We also added an extra dump valve to the lower bladder, to make dumping air easier - if needed.

As far as the guy who didn't turn on his air...

Sounds to me like he may have paniced a bit. A few quick breaths into the inflator would have put some air into his bladder and made everything a little easier to deal with, imho.

I have never heard of anyone having a hard pulling the ripcord, but it is good info to have - thanks!!

Scott

 

[Sharky1948]

Thanks for your input Mike.
I would agree that it is more than a normal person would need for Carribean diving. A couple of years ago, we changed the bottom of the bladders to allow water to exit faster, which should help with the weight of hoisting it onto a boat. We also added an extra dump valve to the lower bladder, to make dumping air easier - if needed.

As far as the guy who didn't turn on his air...

Sounds to me like he may have paniced a bit. A few quick breaths into the inflator would have put some air into his bladder and made everything a little easier to deal with, imho.

I have never heard of anyone having a hard pulling the ripcord, but it is good info to have - thanks!!

Scott

Scott,
Regarding the guy who didn't turn on his air...yes, probably paniced. But, remember he had no air. I.e., he couldn't give a few quick breaths into the inflator. IMHO the instructions could show a picture with the toggle secured sufficiently not to inadvertently dump the weights, but easier to release. (This is the only incident that I've heard about; but, it doesn't hurt to give ourselves every advantage we can._

Regarding the mods to the Zeagle Ranger, any chance of a retrofit? Cost?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[cap_bert]

I have had one for about a year and love it. It is a rugged, well built, and versitile bc. It is a little big if you are travelling with it, but not as bad a some. The ability to mix and match different size parts is nice if you are an in between size. (ie, med cumberbund, and small shoulder straps). zeagle has a good rep and i have had goodluck with the service. I hope this helps with your search.

 

[mach2plus]

I've got a few hundred dives on mine and like it. BUT, here are the things that I personally (i.e., just my experience) find annoying:

1. It's heavier and more than I need for Carribean diving. If I had it to do over again, I'd go with the backplate and wings up here, and a lighter BCD for travel.

2. Even with the weights out, it's very heavy when wet. It traps water in the pockets. So, changing tanks requires some "ummpf."

3. The lower dump valve is not very effective. It's very trim dependent.

4. The pockets and lower d-rings are inconvenient for me to get to. Others don't seem to have that issue though.

Finally, AND THIS IS ONE TO PAY ATTENTION TO, one of the guys in my Rescue class has a Ranger. In one of the training scenarios, in his haste to get in the water, he failed to turn on his air. He couldn't inflate his BCD (which BTW, is a good reason to inflate it on the boat/shore). When he tried to dump his weights, he gripped the toggle AND the velcro so tightly that he couldn't release them. It resulted in a real rescue (good, realistic, but unwelcomed training). To counter this issue, if I'm using the integrated weight pockets, I adjust the velcro so that the toggle is not totally surrounded by the tabs. I haven't have an inadvertent release and it makes it much more difficult to screw up in an emergency.


Just my opinion...

Hi Mike. Scott Z. is probably shaking his head in disbelief (after making such an awesome product!) at what you just described... The velcro "issue" was one of the first things that I took note of in my ranger "preflight," so I adjust them all as needed, much as you seem to be doing. As an old-head aviator, I have no problem whatsoever (other than my back!) with something being possibly "overbuilt," which is why I love my ranger.
Hard to believe, but my extremely experienced dive bud also failed to turn his air on during a recent dive. I happened to catch it in a predive check (which he used to find very annoying...). Getting lackadasical in this hobby can prove fatal, as your bud almost discovered... I follow a checklist prior to every dive, and many recent experiences have reinforced the common sense in doing so. Mach

 

[Sharky1948]

Mach,
Just to be clear, I do like my Ranger and appreciate the ruggedness. I was just pointing out the things that I wish I could change (some of which have been since I purchased mine.)

BTW, I am also (now non-active) pilot, and I do go through a mental checklist prior to dives (and prior to leaving for long dive trips, lest this old brain leave something essential behind.) And, yes, for flying I used a written checklist. I agree the "pre-flight" is essential, even when I'm doing recreational dives.

Final note, the contributing error in the rescue class (always more than one isn't there) was the fact that the other rescuer entered the water early, leaving his buddy (with the problem) behind.

Safe diving,
Mike

 

[ScottZeagle]

Scott,
Regarding the guy who didn't turn on his air...yes, probably paniced. But, remember he had no air. I.e., he couldn't give a few quick breaths into the inflator.

Mike -

You guys do realize that the bladder can be orally inflated, right??? By simply pushing in the "deflate button" on the inflator and blowing into the mouthpiece, he could have added air to the bladder. That being said, a diver has to "keep his head" while the situation is handled.

I personally rushed getting ready to roll on a spearfishing drop in the Florida Middlegrounds last summer, and in my haste forgot to turn on the air. The type of diving we do out there, you roll when the boat hits neutral and drop straight down. It took me a few seconds to realize what I had done, but I kicked back up and orally inflated the BC until I could get the tank turned on and continue the dive. I have down quite a few of those dives, and just this ONE time I was rushing to get ready and skipped a very important step in the process, which led to a problem. Keeping cool in those types of situations is key.

I will look further into the retrofit and see what we can do.

Scott

 

[Ironhed]

damn scott you are lucky, I am sometimes reluctant to dropping in negative because of that reason. glad you kept your head many a diver has went to the pearly gates for that same mistake.

 

[ScottZeagle]

All I am trying to point out is that things can happen to anyone - regardless of the number of dives you have, what your job is, etc. Keeping your cool during times of trouble is KEY to getting through it and turning it into a learning experience.

Ironhead - I know that you have read those SpearBoard trip reports from Dan and the Headhunter crew...those guys are on another level as far as diving goes. When I am forunate enough to go on trips with them, I dive like they do....

...but I would never advise other people to dive like that!!!