Sidemount questions

[pwl4476]

I'm not a side mounter in the strictest sense of the words. I'm a CCR diver that side mounts bailout as best I can (learned through trial and error). I just bought a couple of Faber HP 100's that I'll use for bailout. I'm replacing the old valves with OMS modular ones so that I can get the handles and 1st stages pointed in the right directions. They'll replace 2 aluminum 80s that I'm currently using.

Which brings me to my question: I've been trying to keep the first stage on the bailout between the tank valve and my body, when side mounted. Is that what side mounters are doing, or are you positioning the 1st stage in another place? Please give me some insight into your positioning of the first stage/valve handle. Also how are you handling the hose management and storage of the 2nd stage? What is working best for restraining the hoses and where are you positioning the 2nd stage?

Thanks for your advice,

Paul

[Kelly Jessop]

I sidemount not for bailout since it is my primary gas,but I sidemount not just for the configuration,but due to the caves I dive,and I always have the first stage point up toward me.

[DogDiver]

same as with Kelly, you should check into Blue Steel K valves. They come in both left and right hand configurations...cheeper than a split up manifold Ken

[J_glenn06]

Im not sidemount, but i do have my deco bottel first stage looking at me same as kelly. Should work fine for bailout as well.

[pwl4476]

Thanks Kelly and Dog. I'll definitely check into the Blue Steel valves.

But I'm not getting it. Doesn't pointing the 1st stage up require you to point the valve handle away from the side of the body (or into the side of the body) rather than perpendicular to and pointed outward from the chest (in the same direction as nipples)?

Paul

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Yes, and that helps them from getting entangled, knocked apart, etc.

[pwl4476]

Yes, and that helps them from getting entangled, knocked apart, etc.

So then are you all pointing the valve handles in toward the side of the body or away from the side of the body?

Paul

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Mine are pointed away, dunno what others are doing. My shoulders are wider than the knobs of the valves, so its not making any more profile, nor is it poking into my sides.

[Kelly Jessop]

I point the valves away. The best valves are the manufacturer (name eludes me) that point up,but for the most of us left and right valves facing outward is the norm. I guess in the world of failures,a sheared valve stem will at least be open and providing gas; a dinged 1st stage may be spewing gas in an uncontrolled manner.

[chimie007]

I have few different sets. For the ones that were manifolds (so plugged valve), I keep the knob up and use the plugged side for the bungee. I have one set of the right/left Blue Steel (nice little valves). I keep the knob down since the other side is flat and I need the knob to bungee them. In either case, I keep the 1st stage inward.

[FW]

I have the first stages pointing up, and the valve knobs towards my body. It keeps the reg, and the knobs from hitting the cave, and possibly shearing them off.

[MedCop]

My valve handles point slightly out / up with my 1st stage pointing up / slightly towards my chest. Basically I have my tanks at a slight angle just enought they don't dig into my body and enought they don't drag / bang.

[NorthWoodsDiver]

Mine are positioned just like figure #24 on page 11 of this link:

http://www.golemgear.com/images/document/Armadillomanual.pdf

[billyf]

I sidemount LP46, 85, 108 as bailout/dil (left side goes to BOV, right side goes to ADV), both onboard tanks are O2. The 1st stages are pointed up and the handle points out (slightly up).

Being that your sidemounting bailout the possibility of shearing off the handle is quite less than having a free flowing second stage.

To me it is easier and more natural to reach up and shut off the valve with the handle pointed out. Also with the handle pointing out it seems easier to pull/push the tank to adjust trim.

I have tubes on the tanks to hold the hose’s and bungee around the neck to holds the second stage, just like a stage but without the handle strap.
I have a few of the Dive Rite wide hose retainers and they have been working well on the 85’s and 46’s. The 1in elastic seem to die in about 18 months and at $5 each it get pricy. The rubber bands are cheap but are easy to break if you use those keep several on hand to replace the ones that break.

[pwl4476]

I really appreciate all the insight that you all have given to me on the positioning of your tank valves and 1st stages. Thanks very much.

Can you all give me a bit more to think about as to how you manage your hoses and keep your 2nd stage from flopping around ande/or getting loose?

Thanks,

Paul

[FW]

I really appreciate all the insight that you all have given to me on the positioning of your tank valves and 1st stages. Thanks very much.

Can you all give me a bit more to think about as to how you manage your hoses and keep your 2nd stage from flopping around ande/or getting loose?

Thanks,

Paul
I use elastic "necklaces", with a "breakaway" link, in case I have to pass one to another diver.

[MedCop]

I run a necklace on my left tank and a 5ft hose on my right tank (dive with mixed team.) The 5ft hose is looped and tucked against the tank held in placed with rubber bands.

[Ogof]

I use elastic "necklaces", with a "breakaway" link, in case I have to pass one to another diver.

Forrest, can you give us more detail on the breakaway links you use? I've experimented with fastex buckles, elastic tape, o-rings, even pig castrating rings (wow - I'd hate to be a boy piglet) but not found anything yet which I think would provide a fail-safe 'fuse' for when a diver snatches a reg from your mouth.

thanks.

[chimie007]

Forrest, can you give us more detail on the breakaway links you use? I've experimented with fastex buckles, elastic tape, o-rings, even pig castrating rings (wow - I'd hate to be a boy piglet) but not found anything yet which I think would provide a fail-safe 'fuse' for when a diver snatches a reg from your mouth.

thanks.

I'm not Forrest (for good or bad ;) ) but I use "breakaway" links also. They don't really break.... They are bungee loops around the mouthpiece. I have them on both 2nd stage. One on a necklace and the other attached to a boltsnap so I can clip that reg to a D-ring when not in use. A moderate pull is enough to make the reg slip away from the loop.

When I dive with BM folks, I tell them to grab what I'm breathing unless I have time to give them something. If they happen to be on the short hose, we will swap to the 7' hose I carry for them.

[FW]

I have o-rings on some regs, and elastic around the mouthpiece, like chimie007 on most. Anything that will give way when someone snatches the reg out of your mouth will do. FWIW, that has never happened to me. The few times I have had to donate a reg, I saw it coming, and had it out before they got to me.

[Ogof]

Thanks for that guys - sounds a workable system. For sumps and solo stuff, I prefer to have metal d rings on my cyklons clipped into the necklace so that I can always find them no matter what. Now that I'm back diving in clearer water (with partners on occasion), I'd prefer to have a method whereby I can donate without having to unclip if the need arises. It's also interesting to know that no-one has actually grabbed a reg from you unexpectedly, Forrest.

[FW]

It's also interesting to know that no-one has actually grabbed a reg from you unexpectedly, Forrest.
I suspect it is because I have learned that if my buddy rushes at me, I assume they will need a reg, and get my backup into my mouth before they get to me.

[Serota]

I would love to see a picture of this so I can shamelessly copy it!



They are bungee loops around the mouthpiece. I have them on both 2nd stage. One on a necklace and the other attached to a boltsnap so I can clip that reg to a D-ring when not in use. A moderate pull is enough to make the reg slip away from the loop.

[chimie007]

I would love to see a picture of this so I can shamelessly copy it!

Will you be at the social next weekend ? If not, I can probably post some pics.

[Serota]

Yep, I'll be there. Thanks.

[JeremyWitt]

My current necklace for my left 2nd stage is homemade from bungee... I currently clip my long hose into my necklace. Clipping/unclipping still feels a little clumsy to me; is there any reason that one can't just make a double-mouthpiece necklace, maybe a bit looser than a normal single-loop necklace, and secure both 2nd stages the same way?

Switching 2nd stages would be the the same operation for either side, as opposed to clipping and unclipping a 2nd stage depending on which side you're switching to, and donating the long hose would just be a matter of ripping it from the necklace. :smt102

[tflaris]

I'm not a side mounter in the strictest sense of the words. I'm a CCR diver that side mounts bailout as best I can (learned through trial and error). I just bought a couple of Faber HP 100's that I'll use for bailout. I'm replacing the old valves with OMS modular ones so that I can get the handles and 1st stages pointed in the right directions. They'll replace 2 aluminum 80s that I'm currently using.

Which brings me to my question: I've been trying to keep the first stage on the bailout between the tank valve and my body, when side mounted. Is that what side mounters are doing, or are you positioning the 1st stage in another place? Please give me some insight into your positioning of the first stage/valve handle. Also how are you handling the hose management and storage of the 2nd stage? What is working best for restraining the hoses and where are you positioning the 2nd stage?

Thanks for your advice,

Paul

I used the armadillo instruction manual as a guide for my CCR diving. I use left and right valves and position them at 5 and 7 o'clock in relationship to the valve. See link below. Scroll to the bottom of the link for a few good illustrations.

Hope this helps.


http://www.advanceddivermagazine.com/armadillo.html

[NorthWoodsDiver]

This is what I decided to try out, after 3 dives I'm pretty happy with them.

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt336/Tkersting18/Picture047.jpg

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt336/Tkersting18/Picture048.jpg

it's nothing more than a few inches of 5/32" bungee with a double fishermans knot.

[chimie007]

This is what I decided to try out, after 3 dives I'm pretty happy with them.

it's nothing more than a few inches of 5/32" bungee with a double fishermans knot.

Same here ! Works fine. Just make sure it's tight enough. I have found myself with the piece left in the trunk of my car a few times early on.

[Kelly Jessop]

This is what I decided to try out, after 3 dives I'm pretty happy with them.


it's nothing more than a few inches of 5/32" bungee with a double fishermans knot.


Works very good,and have used something like this for a long time.

FWIW not a big fan of the swivel between the 2nd stage and hose. I've had this fail and extrude an o-ring. Try the 90 degree elbow http://www.piranhadivemfg.com/products.html

[Diverlee]

It's what I use also. I have the bungie just loose enough that if I can't get the clip off or in an emergency I can just pull the reg out.