Weight Distribution

[Green750one]

I have a new bcd (Buddy Ranger) that can use integrated weights.

There a 4 pockets - 2 main quick release on the front and 2 stabilising ones on the back.

I need 8Kg of weight (normally)

I'm wondering the best way to how to distribute this?
I kind of thought 3kg in each front pocket and 1kg in each back.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Philip

PS. I'll be dumping the emergency air cylinder!

[Tony Dwyer]

I have a new bcd (Buddy Ranger) that can use integrated weights.

There a 4 pockets - 2 main quick release on the front and 2 stabilising ones on the back.

I need 8Kg of weight (normally)

I'm wondering the best way to how to distribute this?
I kind of thought 3kg in each front pocket and 1kg in each back.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Philip

PS. I'll be dumping the emergency air cylinder!

I suggest that you try it in a pool first. Take along a selection of weights so that you can move them around easily.
From the weight mentioned I assume that you will be setting it up for open water use. Remember to have all the kit you normally use, especially the wet/dry suit. :)

You need to be aiming at a stable horizontal attitude under water.

[JimW]

I'm wondering the best way to how to distribute this?
I kind of thought 3kg in each front pocket and 1kg in each back.



Hi Philip
Good question!:D

I would suggest that would be a sensible starting point.

What actually need to do is get in the water and experiment with different levels of distribution so that for all stages of the dive:

surface, descent, bottom, ascent, and surface swim home,

you are comfortable and not pulled forward or backwards (0r even to one side :rolleyes: ).

Once you have found the ideal distribution for you and your normal cylinder configuration you should then check what your surface orientation is like when you have ditched the main front weights? This should give you an indication of how well (or otherwise) you would be supported on the surface in an emergency situation.

Have fun

Jim:cool:

[Nick Kay]

I have a new bcd (Buddy Ranger) that can use integrated weights.
I need 8Kg of weight (normally)

Hi Philip

As its a new BCD, don't forget to go out and do a weight check with full kit and (say) 50B in your cylinder. Its amazing how changing one bit of kit can affect your weight requirements...

Some BCDs are more "inherently buoyant" (with no air) than others

[Green750one]

Thanks for the advice everyone - I realise I need to test which opens up another question.

Swimming pools.

Obviously I trained in a pool initially, but with fairly crappy school equipment. I'm not sure I really fancy putting my own kit into that environment. Is there any truth in the thought that chlorine will cause everything to rot?

[PeteM]

Obviously I trained in a pool initially, but with fairly crappy school equipment. I'm not sure I really fancy putting my own kit into that environment. Is there any truth in the thought that chlorine will cause everything to rot?

Yes it is true, but if you clean everything thoroughly in clean water the effect of one dip is negligable. It only when you are teaching that things get ruined (check out the instructors faded stab jackets)

[John Williams]

Yes it is true, but if you clean everything thoroughly in clean water the effect of one dip is negligable. It only when you are teaching that things get ruined (check out the instructors faded stab jackets)

That's only because the instructors want to look old and gnarled...so they strap their BCDs to the roofrack - exposed to snow, sleet, salt, sun, sand etc (and even take them through the car wash and then spray them with dilute bleach from those little spray guns that - I am told - you can find in "garden centres"...whatever they are!).

How else do we gain that "experienced" look?

Only thing is - sometimes those old and gnarled instructors forget that they don't need to be wearing the thing through all that "experiencing up"....don't they JimW?

(you didn't thing he got to look that way just by not using Oil of Olay did you?)


John
;) :p :rolleyes: :eek:

[JimW]

....don't they JimW?

(you didn't thing he got to look that way just by not using Oil of Olay did you?)


John
;) :p :rolleyes: :eek:

Used to be Castrol GTX actually but now reduced to using ASDA's own 20/40 !!:eek: :eek:

Jim:rolleyes:

PS holding on to the roofrack plays havoc with the fingernails too!:(

[John Williams]

[QUOTE=JimW]Used to be Castrol GTX actually but now reduced to using ASDA's own 20/40 !!:eek: :eek:

Jim:rolleyes:
QUOTE]

Please visit the following site and send Jim something for the summer...you know "he's worth it"!

http://www.lorealparis.co.uk/minisites/menexpert/swf/index.asp?action_id=&url_sendTemoignage=../sendTemoignage.asp

Support the "STOP JIM AGING CAMPAIGN" by visiting the site today and sending him a contribution
(if we send him enough he may end up looking like George Dawes ...the baby on the drums who kept score for Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer!)

John

[John Williams]

[QUOTE=JimW]Used to be Castrol GTX actually but now reduced to using ASDA's own 20/40 !!:eek: :eek:

Jim:rolleyes:
QUOTE]

Please visit the following site and send Jim something for the summer...you know "he's worth it"!

http://www.lorealparis.co.uk/minisites/menexpert/swf/index.asp?action_id=&url_sendTemoignage=../sendTemoignage.asp

Support the "STOP JIM AGING CAMPAIGN" by visiting the site today and sending him a contribution
(if we send him enough he may end up looking like George Dawes ...the baby on the drums who kept score for Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer!)

John

PS ....I'm skint...please send your donation by PayPal to john.williams@bsac.com ....I'm worth it too!:D

[Badders (Dave)]

Yes it is true, but if you clean everything thoroughly in clean water the effect of one dip is negligible. It only when you are teaching that things get ruined (check out the instructors faded stab jackets)

How do

Our club have a pool session every week. We got a really good pool (for a newbie like me) 4m deep, I've been told after diving in the sea I wont find the pool so fascinating anymore:(

Sorry I'm wittering, on with my question!
Pete's statement about Chlorine worried me. If I continue to go into the pool every week, am I going to wear out my lovely, Expensive!!! kit prematurely?

I noticed that people have kit that they refer to as
"Open water kit"
I presumed that this was just better quality stuff.
So do I neeed to have a second set or stay out of the pool?

Cheers
Badders

[Mike Halligan]

I noticed that people have kit that they refer to as
"Open water kit" I presumed that this was just better quality stuff.
So do I neeed to have a second set or stay out of the pool?


Dave,

At the very least take your kit directly to the showers and rinse it thoroughly before even de-kitting.
Then, as soon as you get it home, rinse it well once more.

Then again, you could just let it fade to a shabby colour matching that of your instructor's kit and blag it.:eek:

Mike:cool:

[PeteM]

I noticed that people have kit that they refer to as
"Open water kit"
I presumed that this was just better quality stuff.
So do I neeed to have a second set or stay out of the pool?

Chlorine is a bleach, it will remove colour and will do some damage to rubber seals, O rings, diaphrams etc. The amount of damage is related to the length and concentration of exposure.

So to prevent damage avoid going in the pool and if you have to make sure you wash throughly.

Back in the real world - don't worry about it. Yes you will speed up the fading and potentially need kit servicing more frequently but so will salt, sun and many other things. You can avoid them all but it makes the kit useless as it will sit in a cupboard.

I have pool kit and open water kit. Pool kit is single cylinder and stab jacket and is used in pools and lakes for teaching. Open water twinset wings, long hose etc. and occasionally gets taken in the pool for twinset familiarisation lessons. Pool kit is called pool kit because that is were it gets used most frequently, same with open water. Both are equally capable of being used anywhere

[Badders (Dave)]

Thanks Pete, thanks Mike

So, I can look like an old sweat sooner then, mmmm. Rather than just old and sweaty.:D

Seriously thanks, I'll make sure its washed properly and as my recent training regime is now finished I'll restrict pool sessions a bit. I'll be diving in open water as of this week, if what I've been told is correct I won't find the old pool as much fun then.

Cheers

Badders