Zeagle Ranger

[Walter]

I had an air-trapping problem when I first started using my Ranger - Couldn't get down because I couldn't get all the air out. Even came out of the dive with a bladder half-filled with water from over venting.

On the next dive, my dive buddy suggested I lean back a little, and drop my right shoulder - wow!

Yes, and you can also move so the lower dump valves are in the highest position, but frankly most divers are not experienced enough to do either and will simply add more weight.

I did not mean to imply that I ran outside and tested your theory - for the record, though, we do have a test tank right outside the building, so I could have - had I wanted to.
What I meant was that I have used the Ranger BC many times (as well as all our other BCs) and have never duplicated your complaint.

Perhaps you should get in the tank with another diver and specifically look for it? Do it with a new diver fresh out of their OW class in the Ranger for the first time.

The Ranger is a fine BC, but it's still a BC. How's that?

Except when engaged in vintage dives, we all wear BCs. Was there a point I missed?

 

[Frenchy2005]

is the doughnut style like the ones found on the halcyon eclipse?

 

[outlawaggie]

I own one and have dove it a lot. It's a well built BC but it has some disadvantages if you intend to travel with it. It is heavy,around 9 lbs, it has way too much lift for many of us (45lbs) and it takes up a lot of room in a suitcase if you are traveling by air. If I were buying again, I would consider the Escape. It's basically the same BC but built with lighter material and has a smaller bladder (35lb if I remember correctly). It's less expensive as well.

Go to ScubaToys. You can get the best of both worlds. The offer the Brigade, a custom BC consisiting of the Ranger Harness and the Escape Bladder. Therefore you get a heavy duty BC that is still easy to pack and travel with. It sells for $399 same as the Escape. By the way I have both an Escape and a Brigade.

 

[ae3753]

Yes, re donut style wing, Halcyon has the Pioneer and Eclipse. DiveRite has the Travel and Venture. OxyCheq has the Standard Single and Signature Series. There are more out there, but those are just the ones that come to mind for me.

 

[herman]

Go to ScubaToys. You can get the best of both worlds. The offer the Brigade, a custom BC consisiting of the Ranger Harness and the Escape Bladder. Therefore you get a heavy duty BC that is still easy to pack and travel with. It sells for $399 same as the Escape. By the way I have both an Escape and a Brigade.

I went with both of them's little brother the Scout. It's better for what I use it for, a light weight BC air travel but I wish it came with an even smaller bladder,say in the 15LB range. There is a real need for a super small, low lift bladder BC. As best as I know, no-one offers one. Scott, you listening? And no I don't want a BP/wing.

 

[drdiver1952]

I've dove the Ranger since 1995 using it in both classes and for recreational use. The air dumping comments have a degree of accuracy but really is not a major issue if you raise the hose high enough and are truly vertical in the water. Like a lot of diving gear, there is a small learning curve in doing this. Dropping the right shoulder helps too. I have never found that there was enough air trapped to keep you afloat.
Making a judgement call based on one student who is learning how to use the gear is pretty weak IMHO.

If you focus on one possibly negative thing about the Ranger, you miss its many positive aspects. Nice secure well tested weight release system, very comfortable for a variety of physiques, many options available as far as pouches, adjustments, etc.and capable of supporting doubles as well as stout D rings for hanging tanks, tools, etc, very rugged construction and I believe it is still true that they are MADE IN AMERICA! (please correct me on this if I am wrong). I have a Zeagle Express for tropic trips and it is also excellent and much lighter. I don't believe they make them anymore, having replaced it with the Scout and other models.

Have not tried a Brigade, but have heard good things about it.

Jest my two bits worth,

Dennis

 

[GDI]

Scott, you're likely to see the same information posted by me most everytime someone asks for opinions on the Ranger. I use a Scubapro Classic Sport because it is streamlined, and doesn't trap air.

A dear friend of mine asked for assistance in weighting. She was using a Ranger. I had no experience with Rangers, but had heard good things about them. I got her properly weighted with no air in her BC. She inflated her BC to rest on the surface while I geared up. Once we were together, she dumped air and couldn't sink. I examined her BC and discovered the damned thing wouldn't dump all the air because of its design. I had to squeeze the top of the bladder to get the air out. She was then able to descend. After that, I loaned her a Classic Sport until she sold the Ranger and bought a BC that worked.

Hey Walter that is your opinion and you are entitled to it. Scott asked a question and you answered.
I do dive a Zeagle and use no weights whats so ever> Even in Salt water with a wetsuit. I have never had the problems of descending that you refer to. What I amy suggest is that your student might not of had the correct size BC for her. Zeagle especially the Ranger ( I dive a TECH and their BP and Wings systems, heck I am the Zeagle poster boy) Anyway the Ranger can be sized by mixing and matching the harness to the diver right out of the dive shop. If the BC rides high it would not dump that well as any would that ride high. I could out fit a diver in a Zeagle with a far better custom fitting BC then I can in any other rec style jacket BCD. They are Made in America, Zephyhills , Florida. MY Opinion

 

[Chad Carney]

Walter wrote: "Correct. If I'd been using it, I would have needed an observer to spot the problem, although I might have found it myself by removing the BC in the water. Since I was able move around her and observe from all angles, I was able to quickly spot the problem and temporarily correct it."


Walter,

I'm new to this board, but not to diving. I've watched you slam the Ranger BC, and then try to put Scott through the ringer with your supposed scientific technicalities. Scott's a great guy and in his position at Zeagle he is knowledgeable in areas only a professional manufacturer can be. But he doesn't have your obvious instructing experience, with YMCA since 86. He didn't recruit me to argue for him either, he didn't need it.
I found you all on my own.

I started diving with back mount weight integrated (BMWI) BCs when they first appeared in 1972. Furthermore I do have instructing experience... in spades!
Teaching NASDS, SSI & SDI/TDI for more than half a decade before you even began as a novice diver. And the store I managed specialized in BMWI BCs, so all that time I've trained thousands of beginners to advanced instructors in them. Also jacket style BCs.

I've never had any problem with air trapping in any Zeagle BC, and I'm a stickler for getting the lead out. (Or any BMWI BC by Seaquest, Seapro, SAS, Dive Rite or Durapro.) Neither have any of these other divers that posted here, once they mastered the basic mechanics of buoyancy control.

For almost 25 years Zeagle is credited with putting BMWI BCs on the map. Scubapro, Seaquest and others tried them back then too, but quit on a great idea, probably because of the same rhetoric you've been spewing out here.

The Ranger hit the market in the early nineties, if my dates are right, and the world took notice. Soon the cloning began. Now every manufacturer has one or two models similar to it or other Zeagle models. Scuba Diving Magazine has never found the Ranger or any Zeagle BC to trap air. But you seem to want to find fault that just isn't there...maybe for some other reason.

Could this be why?

You wrote: "Of course, most divers probably just add lead and blissfully dive unaware they are dragging extra air down with them."

Do you feel the need to show everyone that you're so much better at diving than they are?

I don't care if you like a classic jacket better, I didn't. But I respect your right to do so and even say it’s the best thing on the planet... in your opinion. The comments you’ve been writing here don’t belong on a public forum...in my opinion.

I don't know the rules here very well, so I hope I'm not stepping out of bounds.
Please go diving, be happy and lighten up on Zeagle!

Chad Carney
SDI/TDI Instructor 250
Zeagle Systems FL Sales Rep.
www.mobilescuba.com
cubera@ij.net

 

[GDI]

Interesting that you were able to read my post then go out and try to duplicate the problem and have others try to duplicate the problem then post your reply in 1 hour and 8 minutes. You must have a test dive team on standby.

Walter
I suggest again that her BCD was not a correct fit. I have heard of several of the issues that people come up with for and against Zeagle products. Some are valid as they would be for any dive equipment. I know the Zeagle staff will work to correct those isssues. I have on many occassions attempted to similate the things that some people talk about on Zeagle products. Scott can tell you that I am down at the factory almost weekly talking to him and other staff members. If I see a problem I come in with a suggested solution I am only one person and they look at many peoples comments, they call it market research. What you are referring to I have attempted to duplicate using many different sized BCD's and different models and different harness configuartions. I can do this because I have access to the entire Zeagle line. I have tested their product vs their competition. I have found that if a customer has had a problem with the Zeagle product it is usually due to incorrect sizing and a uneducated staff member of the LDS who made the sale. I was not always so convinced that Zeagle was a great product but I will now put their best against any others. The Ranger, the Tech and the other models are a very versitile, muti functional BCD. You need to dive one to appreciate it.

 

[wrongkey]

Good to see you over here, Chad; it's always a pleasure to read your stuff over on the spearboard. Hope you stick around.