Sidemounting bailouts

lof

Drmike,

Download the Armadillo manual from here

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

the bottle rigging info applies to the ArmadilloCCR as well.
There are couple of pictures of my old setup on the bottom of the page.

No problem scootering. You will like it actually better since you will be more streamlined. I still carry tanks on both sides, since they are completely out of the way and do not interfere with the scooter or lights.

I often carry just one, with no issues on balance and trim (horseshoe wing )

I use #2 suicide clips, some people use carabiners. You can put additional stages on as usual (left chest D-ring to waist D-ring) because your bailout is out of the way.

Not with AL tanks. The valves, heavy part, are under your armpits.


No. The bungee is wrapped AROUND the tank valve, not over it and the reg. There is a rotational tension on the valve counterbalanced by the back clip. The pictures in the Armadillo manual should be pretty clear on how to offset the clip from the valve on each side. To pass the tank, you just unclip the back clip, let the tank rotate about 90 degrees and remove the valve from the bungee loop. Also, I always clip the back clip in first, then wrap the bungee around the valve. Much easier than trying to rotate the tank against the bungee.

__________________
Jakub
Golem Gear ShopKeeper
www.golemgear.com

Philippe GERIN

YES, YES, YES ! Now I understand why you need sided tanks.
Thanks! I stupidly missed that and was doing it all wrong!!!
Best
Philippe

Crazyduck

Might take a look at Duncan’s Site-
http://www.sump4.com/sidemount/
He covers the spectrum.

I have added a single one pound weight to the lower strap to keep the ass end of Al80’s from floating up.

Genesis valves have more of a tee shape to them and make it easier to wrap the elastic around the neck. I take the bungee under the tank neck and then pull it around and over. This way I can reach down and flick the elastic band and it releases the neck.

Some people also use 24” bike tubes over the bungee system- personal choice. This year I am playing around with tubes that I run through nylon tube webbing and then run a brass grommet through the middle to hold it all together. This makes it easy to attach to bolt hole patterns. Totally personal choice.

Some people who OC sidemount add weight to their shoulders to bring their chest down- personal choice. Diverite makes some nice weight pockets with Velcro.

Regards, Andrew




Jakub- nice write up sir.
I like the comment about attaching the bottom first, I learned that the hard way!

__________________
Howdy Senor- What’s Happening!
Rob Davie April 2005-

Presently in a state of transition from Open Circuit to Closed Circuit.

"You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by it." - Buddha.

Philippe GERIN

Compared to Armadillo manual page 12, figure 26.
Does this mean you pull the bungee around the FRONT side (VS backside) of the valve and over the knob? Then the regs are facing your body and not facing forward?
You've got a part# for these DR pockets?
Best
Philippe

mverick

diverite weight pockets. I've used the large ones. Not the small ones. Some people like em. I hated em...I like streamlined. And didn't want the bags on my belt. Rather have a 6lb weight belt. Seems more streamlined then 2 bags on both sides of your body.

Didn't like the Halcyon pockets either. They took up even more room.

http://www.diveriteexpress.com/bcs/weights.shtml

Crazyduck

Philippe,
It took me a while to find the manual…

Looking at the Armadillo manual- http://www.advanceddivermagazine.com...illomanual.pdf
Humm, that’s interesting; mine was a DIY project. So it was more trial and error- literally.

I wrap the bungee under the tank valve (back to front) up over (under the hoses) and the wrap the bungee overlapping the other side of the tank valve neck. Its easier when you see the tank valve.


Left tank regulator goes behind my neck and hangs on the right side. The right tank regulator is either connected to the right shoulder d-ring or a necklace. I often just where a single al80 on my left side for recreational stuff.

I have also made a bungee cord on the tank with a bolt snap. Tied it all together and slid it over the tank valve and then just clip it to the underarm connection. This is tough because it is harder to change the length on the bungee material.

Genesis Tank Valves site-
http://www.genesisscuba.com/manuals/...ers_Valves.pdf

Diverite Pockets-
http://www.diveriteexpress.com/bcs/weights.shtml
Item is the 4lb belt weight and you can use the ‘webbing locks’ to hold it in place.
http://www.diveriteexpress.com/hardw...ml#webbinglock

I am not thrilled about weight pockets but these are easy to move on and off and small not like the 16lb or 32lb setups.
Other options are to zip tie weights in place, or if you wanted to unthread your hardness (yuck) you could add two belt sliders (per shoulder) and a section of 2” webbing and run the weight through the webbing and attach it to your harness that way. I guess it comes down to personal choice.

Hope this helps.
Regards, Andrew

__________________
Howdy Senor- What’s Happening!
Rob Davie April 2005-

Presently in a state of transition from Open Circuit to Closed Circuit.

"You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by it." - Buddha.

Drmike

Thanks Jakub and everyone else for your advice.

Im looking forward to testing it out for myself on the upcoming trip.

__________________
Cave diving is a sport
Wreck diving is a sport
Diving in general is a sport

'Rebreather diving' is not a sport
its the delusional obsession with a highly dangerous and often inappropriate piece of equipment

gathan

Can you use the armadillo/CCR kit in OC mode or do you have to purchase the OC version as well?

JimG

I just got my rebreather/armadillo kit. It looks like the two grommets are supposed to align to holes in the bottom edge of the backplate and be throughbolted with the provided bolts. Neither of my backplates have holes that line up. Will I have to drill new holes? What have others done?

The armadillo plate has grommets on 7 1/4 inch centers, my steel backplate has holes near the bottom edge on 9 1/4 centers while the aluminum plate has holes near the bottom edge on 4 3/4 center. None of the plates have manufacturer markings but I'm pretty sure the aluminum one is from Oxycheq last year. The other was bought years ago at a local dive shop.

I have a drill and it is no big deal to make a couple of holes, but am I missing something here?

JimG
Tampa

Mike

Sounds like an interesing idea - I've just been looping the bungy over valve and reg, which seems to work fine with any old tank. Worth trying your approach.

Mike

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Mind ........ Loop