Sidemounting bailouts

Drmike

Hi Guys,

After diving with Cedric and seeing his sidemounted tanks I thought they looked more comfortable and cleaner than normal slung tanks. I have decided to try it out and have ordered a kit from Jakub.

Im looking for any advice or suggestions. Does anyone scooter with sidemounts?
Anyone fitted this to a MK15 series? When scootering do you still have tanks on both sides- how is it? Any changes in the way the tanks are rigged or passed off? Any changes in the way you gear up or jump in? If only one tank - any balance/trim issues side mounting?

How are they for penetration? I understand you unclip the back and swing them forward? Any tips on staging etc - neck or clip first? Is a bolt snap not the best clip to use? If not why?

I presume as the tanks are further back the trim is slightly more feet down?

Any tips on how to rig the tanks/harness? How high should the tanks be?

When passing off to an OOA diver they will likely take the reg 1st and start breathing from it - is the elastic loop going to mean they have to spit out the reg again (to remove the hoop from the tank neck) before being able to take the tank?

I have a trip in a week or so wreck diving in the Philippines where I hope to be able to try this out (assuming the parts arrive on time)


Cheers
Mike

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wizbang

JDZ will be able to give you a good run down, he is using the system exlusively whether it be for OC or CCR. Mike and I have also started down the same track and made the Bungie system.

My newbie understanding would be the the OOA diver would not have to spit it back out as we loop the bungie over the top off the completed/reg'ed tank.

Sorry I don't have any photos to post to make my ramblings clearer.

I am lagging behind because I don't want to try the system on the bigger dives (same kit as normal is best) but I only seem to be doing bigger dives. Woe is me.

ScubaDadMiami

While the pics are not great, and they do not have the regulators on the tanks, I posted with some pics of what it looks like. Run a search to see.

I am about to start diving this setup. Will post more once I get wet with it.

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Mike

To add a bit of detail, the bungy goes over 1st stage, plus tank valve, and all the hoses run down under the bungy. The second stage does not come bach up through the bungy, and is under innertube etc attached to the tank as per normal. Therefore if someone else wanted it in a hurry they could just drag the 2nd stage out from the innertube and start breathing from it, you'd be free to slip the backmount bungy off the 1st stage and tank valve without needing to remove reg from mouth.

The first thing I learnt was to use stiffer bungy than I thought required, my first attempt hung down to much (with a 5l ali).

I just have a pair of Tobins fixed harness Drings pointing backwards on my waist harness, right next to (touching) the backplate. I clip off to this point first (piston dog clip attacehd to tank), taking the weight of the tank, then slip the bungy over the valve and 1st stage.

Haven't tried this attachment with heavy tanks - suspect I may end up adding an attachment point at the bottom corners of the backplate.

Mike

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decoweenie

Mike,

Thanks for the good explanation. This answers the question I had a few months ago on another thread if you have to "insert" the 2nd stage + hose thru the bungie loop.

This makes perfect sense to me now as well. Cheers!

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Chris

I would love some pics guys, Wiz? JDZ?
I am playing round at the moment and getting it together, but keen to see how you boys are doing it down south

Cheers
Chriso

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Beanie

Not true sidemounting but...

I have been playing with using bungee to hold the top of the stage in, I use the normal bolt snap at the bottom (well half way) and just have a loop of bungee that comes from my back plate to keep the top of the stage in.
this works pretty well I need to tweak it a bit but i think that the idea is sound.
It certantly keeps the stage in trim.

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Mikel-Deko

Hi folks
When i was diving OC, i used to use a bungee clipped to my backplate and around the neck of the stage to my chest.

When i went to SCR dolphin i modifyed it with the same backplate and i used the same system.

Know, with the Inspo, i'm still playing around with the stages but i will tried the same system this weekend and will see.

I've uploaded a couple of images in the Misc Images.
The bungee is white.

Kind regards

Mikel-Deko

gathan

How is this achieved with a KISS CCR/armadillo combo? Would the use of a STA be enough to keep the wing in place if diving OC or does one have to get both armadillo versions?

Andre

Philippe GERIN

Good choice. It's a great piece of kit well made, high quality.
Take mines for what it's worth: little experience and none with scooter.
I use piston clips to clip to the butt plate. No clip at the tank neck. Higth of the camband/clip on the tank is critical: better in the middle of the tank, if too low on the tank it's makes more difficult to clip/unclip.
They're are kept in place with the bungee. Do not hesitate to have these bungees snug/tight otherwise the tank necks will hang down when in horizontal position. Use the little quick link/rope system as describe in the Armadillo manual so it's easy to retrieve the tank necks/bungees. Cliping/uncliping you have to reach the tank bottom/butt plate with the same handside hand (right hand for right side tank...) but for the neck I found it easier to use the opposite hand side (left hand reached under right armpit to the tank neck and undo the bugee loop) .
I found no trim issue with drysuit. didn't tried with wetsuit yet.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT jump in forward (stride in) from a boat, especially if high) with the tanks on: tank butt will hit the water and will be pushed up to your armpit very hard !!! trust me, I tried, I'll never do it again. Now from these boats, I jump and hit the water on my side or roll back or do a "butt first entry".
no experience here.
Put your suit on, reach comfortably with your hand down to the opposite armpit: this is where the tank valve is. I found that the position of the tank on the picture on the cover of the Armadillo manual (the guy with the red drysuit) is good for me.
No keep the hose under the bungees. The bungees take the reg first stage and the valve and the hose stay under the bungees so you can pull the bungees out and the hoses/tanks are free to be passed off.
Note: I regularly dive with OC buddies (rec dives), so I decided to keep the bailout (right handside tank) second stage on a clip on my right chest D-ring as rec OC divers do with their octopus. So they know it's there for them if needed.
Hope this helps. Again, I have a limited experience on this set up.
Best
Philippe