sidemount config question

[wingman]

Have put together a sidemount rig and dove it a couple of times with my wreck canister mounted on the waist belt as i would do backmount. my dive buddy mounts his light on the butt plate and i am thinking about switching from my wreck canister to a slim line and mounting on the butt plate as well. I guess most people configure sidemount in a what works for me context but i was wondering how other sidemounters mount their primary lights. Just looking for some ideas and reasoning here. Thanks. Bill

I had a Wreck 1 HID that was my primary primary light (???), then got a Slimline HID for a primary primary, so my Wreck 1 became my backup primary (stayed in the trailer lest my Slimline flooded or whatever). I mounted my Slimline on my waist when sidemounting, but since it had to be a little forward of the norm to not interfere with the tank on that side, and since I'm sort of slim, it was too far forward, and the canister ended up dragging in the dirt.

I put two bolt snaps on the Wreck 1 with large hose clamps and butt-mount it when sidemounting. The cord comes over my right shoulder when kitting up, and under my right arm when diving. Works.

Russell

[Tegg]

I butt mounted my light for quite awhile when using the wreck 1. I simply used a 8" ruber band and attached it to my crotch strap. This was so it could easily be removed if needed and so it could move down inbetween my legs if needed. Only needed to move it down once when backing out of a spot.

I have since got a slimline and I now mount the canister switch end down under my wing to 2" webbing. This is a good spot, as it is out of the way and is not going to catch on anything.

The wreck 1 canister would not be something I would mount where you describe, then again, not everyone actually dives their rig in a sidemount tunnel.

[rchrds]

i am thinking about switching from my wreck canister to a slim line and mounting on the butt plate as well. Just looking for some ideas and reasoning here. Thanks. Bill

For the longest time I butt-mounted my SM light- (the equivalent size of a wreck cannister) and it worked great- I frequently have to take off my light and push it ahead with my tanks, and this is an extremely easy place from which to recover the cannister. (I use a piece of 550 cord double wrapped with clips on either end, so the cannister is loose and flops a bit, and clips onto the small corner d rings of the back of the newer transpac.
The only downside to this location is that when you are clipping multiple reels or backups scooters, the cannister always seems to get in the way of rapidly stowing or recovering stuff attached to the ass d-ring. It's not really a problem, just annoying, and invariably something gets clipped above the cannister, which creates a huge bit of drag. I personally did not like wearing the larger cannister on the waist belt- I found there was no good place behind the tank due to the attachment points, and I dont like it in front of the tank because I cannot easily reach it, and it causes the right side stage bottle to sit too far from the body.

I recently built a bunch of smaller cannisters (slimline sized) and have been fiddling with mounting it on the right side above the tank. There is plenty of room due to the small size of the cannister, and I attach it with a new velcro system, which seems to be working out pretty well so far. The decrease in drag from a buttmounted light to the smaller cannister is so significant that it is noticeable. I did not expect this at all- but was pleasantly suprised.

I still switch back and forth depending on the duration of the dive, but have found that I am beginning to like the above the tank position for the small cannister.

jason

[MikeH]

I have a homemade canister that is a little slimmer than, but the same height as, the Helios 9. I mount it on the right waist. I used to have a much larger canister that I butt mounted.....but with the slim canister, it rests in front of my tank, and does not get in the way or hang too low.

Mike

[FW]

I do it differently, depending what cave I am in. For a cave with mostly small passages, or sumps, I don't carry a "main" light. I only use helmet lights.

For caves that have a lot of big passage, and only a little sidemount passage, I mount a HID canister on my side, like backmount.

FWIW, I can belt mount a big 14 ah canister, and rarely have a problem with it. I like the wreck canister better, but have never tried a slimline.

I tried butt mount, but I find butt mounted lights get in the way a lot more than side mounted lights.

not everyone actually dives their rig in a sidemount tunnel.

Good point. I don't do the really tight stuff, so this method might not be good if you do.

Russell

[Caver95]

butt mounting my slim line, I had to back out and it caught the ceiling, i got a little stuck for a moment, and since then it has been on my waist.

[mpoucher]

I tried butt mounting for a few dives when I first started sidemounting and didn't like having it riding on my legs while swimming and felt it was an entanglement hazard with the clips that I couldn't see back there. The cord also had to be longer which I didn't like for backmount.

Since then I've always mounted my light on the side so it rides on top of the right tank. The 14 amp hour pack threw the balance off, but a five pound weight on the left side fixed that. The slim line doesn't need a counter weight at all. I have an old Trans-Pac and the light slips on the belt and held with a quick release buckle just as in backmount. The light interferes slightly with clipping the tanks in, but hasn't caused any major problem.

I switch back and forth from side to backmount a lot, soI like keeping my sidemount and backmount gear and configuration as close to the same as possible. It means less changing around and/or forgetting critical pieces.

[Webmaster]

Since then I've always mounted my light on the side so it rides on top of the right tank.

That's where I've been letting my slimline size cannister ride. It fits perfectly in the space right above the tank, and under the mounting clip. Seems to keep it out of the way pretty well, I don't believe I've ever had a problem with the location.