Quote: (Originally Posted by ScubaDadMiami)
When setting up sidemount bailout bottles, how long (if possible, in inches
) are you making your regulator hoses? I already have deco bottles and stage bottles configured from when I was diving on open circuit. However, I did not have them configured for sidemount but instead slung/clipped to my shoulder d-ring.
I am guessing that, because they will be riding somewhat farther back on my body in a sidemount configuration, the hoses will need to be a bit longer. Any good rule of thumb that you can suggest? By the way, I am likely to continue clipping them to the shoulder d-ring rather than hanging them on bungee coming from my backplate. I bought an Armadillo kit.
Once again, before any alarms go off here, I will discuss all of this with my instructor during training (currently scheduled for 01/15/06 if my buddy's Optima arrives in time). However, I do not want to be in the middle of my training while also waiting for the delivery of equipment and parts. (Well, at least, I would like to try to keep it to a minimum by having the vast majority of equipment selection and configuration done prior to starting my training.
)
Thanks again.
SDM
I sling all my bailout bottles.. My regs are usually on 40inch hoses so that I can usually wrap it aroung my neck (for left bottle) and breath like a conventional tank instead of having it pull from front, and this leaves enough for the right side bottle to be confortable as well..
I also have whips to plug in off board gases, these are 32 inches long.. this serves 3 purposes, one is that it allows easy connection to either counterlung (if necessary), enough to plug into someones loop if the just need some gas and dont want the bottle, and finally for me this length allows me to replace one of my onboard inspiration whips If I have a failure and dont have another spare.. On a trip I'd sacrifice the ability to plug in an offboard gas source (providing the margin of saftey is not effected for the dives I am planniing)