Stages (yet another stage question)

[MedCop]

I have read everypost in this section pertaining to stages with sidemount, adn I just want to make sure I got it.

Nomad system with stages...Wanting the stages to go on top of the side tanks. Using standard stage kits on an AL80.

Clip neck bolt snap of AL80 stage into chest D-ring?

Swing tank around under arm and clip rear bolt snap of AL80 stage into door handle on butt plate?

If I want them under the side tanks I just clip rear bolt snap of AL80 stage into waste D-ring?

[RN]

Swing tank around under arm and clip rear bolt snap of AL80 stage into door handle on butt plate?

Swing the tank over arm. It's not all that easy to do...at least for me. I tried it a few different ways - bungee on the shoulder, bungee on the bottom clip of the stage rig. It was just too difficult for me to do. My arm didn't want to bend that way. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but I tried several times and just couldn't do it without too much difficulty. If someone has a video of the process, I'd love to see it.

You got the rest of it right. Staging in front is just like staging in backmount except you might have the d-rings positioned a little different.

[atedeschi]

i have been messing around with my sidemont stage configuration and I have found that I could not easily connect the stage like a normal stage under my sidemount tank. The steel tank is just to much in the way. The stage over the tank works but i have it cliped to the bungiee and the back to the butt plate because it seemed realy tight connecting the neck to chest D-ring.

Quick question though, if you are connecting on top of your SM bottle and clipping in to the bungiee are you using the chokers? and does the top of you bottle kinda push wider, cause mine seems to fall to make my profile a little wider then just sitting on top of the SM bottle.

[Jay]

I don't use a Nomad, but with my transpac and the long steel hangers I clip the stage to the same spots as the SM tank, right above it. (shoulder ring and long ring off the harness plate near the hip)

[*Ag*]

I use a Nomad and clip stages above the SM tanks.

I clip the stage bolt snap on the outside of the d-ring, above the bungee bolt snap (I use the choker system to attach SM tanks), to make it easier to 'swing' the tank you can push the top of the SM tank down with one hand while clipping off the back end of the stage to the buttplate with the other. The movement with the arm when attaching the stage is the same as attaching the SM tank, arc like.
Another way which can work is to clip the stage tank on first, and then attach the SM tank... although this can add its own complications. Worth a try if you have issues doing it the other way though.

To keep the tanks nice and tight against the body rather then having a wider profile I adjusted the length of the stage straps to have a very little slack up the top.

[Webmaster]

I like the way they ride underneath, I tried clipping them in on top of my primaries, but had trouble getting my arm around all that. To clip in underneath I usually have to roll over a bit and flip the primary tank back so I can access the waist d-ring.

Also, I'm planning on replacing the loose d-ring with something that provides a more rigid point to clip into, but still lays flat enough to be comfortable.

[aainslie]

Horses for courses, as the English say.

If going into tight passages, put the tanks high (above yoru steel) on the way in and low (below) on the way out. Thus, the buoyancy is such that they always rest against the steel. If you aren't ever removing it then just leave it high.

If going through huge cave, just shove them on the bottom - it's easier.

If you're having problems with the bottom clip I find it helps to reach between the bottom clip, the steel and your body, grab the clip through that opening, then pull it in and attach it.

There may come a point where you want to carry 4. Then 2 above, 2 below works nicely.

At least, that's how I do it. But I don't use a Nomad so caveat emptor - even if this advice IS free.

[SLIM]

Depending on the stage and when it will be used or if it is going to be dropped off as a deco tanks, my lower attachment point, is longer and this gives me more room to put it on the door handles. I can fish it from the top or the bottom. I have also got a D-ring on the waist that helps depending on how many I have to carry. Then there is what kind of passage am I going through. Like Andrew said, you should be able to move it top or bottom depending on what the bouancy is of the tank as it is used. Then you do not hav eto worry about it floating up to high.

It takes some time to get used to it and to find the length that you will need for thelower snap. Most of my tanks have a longer leash section so that I can tuck it under if needed or have it fully extended. It depends on the dive itself.

SLIM

[atedeschi]

does anyone have pictures of how they connect there stages or pics of them with there stages.

[RN]

i have been messing around with my sidemont stage configuration and I have found that I could not easily connect the stage like a normal stage under my sidemount tank. The steel tank is just to much in the way.

I reach over with my right hand to clip and unclip the stage on my left. It's much easier than trying to do it with my right hand.



Another way which can work is to clip the stage tank on first, and then attach the SM tank... although this can add its own complications. Worth a try if you have issues doing it the other way though.

The problem with this is getting to the 2nd stage/putting it back when no longer needed. And if you need to have the SM tank off to do this, then what do you do when it's time to drop the stage?

[Webmaster]

Depending on the stage and when it will be used or if it is going to be dropped off as a deco tanks, my lower attachment point, is longer and this gives me more room to put it on the door handles. I can fish it from the top or the bottom. I have also got a D-ring on the waist that helps depending on how many I have to carry. Then there is what kind of passage am I going through. Like Andrew said, you should be able to move it top or bottom depending on what the bouancy is of the tank as it is used. Then you do not hav eto worry about it floating up to high.

It takes some time to get used to it and to find the length that you will need for thelower snap. Most of my tanks have a longer leash section so that I can tuck it under if needed or have it fully extended. It depends on the dive itself.

SLIM


Yeah, but it helps to have arms like a spider monkey. ;-)

Marbry

[*Ag*]

The problem with this is getting to the 2nd stage/putting it back when no longer needed. And if you need to have the SM tank off to do this, then what do you do when it's time to drop the stage?

Yeah you're right, I was thinking of this as an option for attaching the stages when on the surface...

I find that once I'm submerged and horizontal attaching the stages any which way is not a problem. So maybe that's a solution for those who find it hard to reach and get the stage tank 'over the top' of the SM tanks.

[EGIB]

I have been working on this for a while and have tried most of the suggestions:

Below SM tanks: works, but I just didn't like it and my light got in the way if I wanted a stage on the right side

Over the shoulder: tried to do this and couldn't get it to work at all

Above sm tank below armpit w/traditional stage set up (front attached to top D ring on nomad, back attached to buttplate door handle thingie):

With double enders on back: ride too high when below 2000 psi

Double enders in front: much better...when scootering the stages slide back and sit almost behind my shoulders. I shorten the leash on the bottom of the stage which pulls it closer to my body. This set up is what I have the most experience with.

Andrew's suggestion of stowing the tanks below when they have less gas in them is one solution, but I have a couple of my own ideas:

I plan to abandon the traditional stage set up (DIR style with the handle). I never use the handle and it just was not designed for my purposes. I am going to put a long (6+ inches, haven't worked the length out yet) leash on the top of my stage. somewhere in the middle of the tank (AL80) I will put a hose clamp and clip. I think the length on top will allow the tank to ride behind my shoulder, while the relatively high position of the hose clamp on the tank will keep the tank close to my body. I will keep posted on new developments.

I am posting a picture (most recent one I have of myself with a stage, only one stage sorry, but the thing I don't like is the stage rolls off the SM tanks to the side creating a slightly wider profile. This does not happen when the scooter is in motion, only when stopped. I am hoping my changes will fix that little problem.

Oh yes, by the way I never attach my stages "on the surface." Ever. I am always submerged and in my imitation of "perfect trim." I usually put my sidemount tanks on while kneeling or floating and then go down a few feet and throw on my deco bottle (I put this on top left D ring and waist d ring below my sm tank) and then put stages on and surface to do predive checks and chats. Some sites may make this impossible and one day I may have to improvise.