How much weight on a Dolphin for you ?

ebon.hawk · 31st March 2006, 07:03

After several weeks of being in dry dock I managed to get into the pool last night to blow the cobwebs off and to see how things worked out since I installed a 10l steel tank on the Dolphin.

Questions from last night....

How much weight are other Dolphin users using and what sort of suit ?

I had 8kg on the unit, was wearing a membrane drysuit and undersuit [ sweat-master 2000 whilst kitting up ! ] and still couldn't get down, even with using the pool ladder to pull myself down to the bottom of the pool.

I noticed on checking for bubbles a stream coming from the first stage feeding the bypass valve, I'm guessing this is probably a perished or perishing o-ring.

Can a standard o-ring from your local friendly neighbourhood dive shop do the job ?

The reports of me being in a bad mood last night are probably true as I was tempted to leave the Dolphin at the side of the road and return back to open circuit diving !

Andy

AMW · 31st March 2006, 07:56

I have a unit that started as a Dräger dolphin but it now has lots of extra bits

This including a steel box so with a steel back plate plus a dive rite wing as well as a neoprene dry suit I need 15Kg of lead, all attached to the box. It has 5lis and a 2li steel cylinder attached.
Andrew.

Scuba_Vixen · 31st March 2006, 13:39

I haven't much clue as to drysuit bouyancy numbers, but my mccr dolphin with ally tanks and original shell on a backplate adapter and transpac needs ~ 5kg to be perfect with a swimsuit (or not).

15Kg sounds like a lot, even for dry. .... especially with a big steel tank for ballast. How much gas are you using in the suit?

Darlene

ebon.hawk · 31st March 2006, 13:43

I was chatting to another Dolphin user last night, and I'm sure he mentioned he had something like 10kg on the unit, and 6kg on a weight belt.

That and the weight AMW said, that does seem to be an awful lot of lead.

Andy

**wedivebc** · 31st March 2006, 18:14

Quote: (Originally Posted by ebon.hawk)

I was chatting to another Dolphin user last night, and I'm sure he mentioned he had something like 10kg on the unit, and 6kg on a weight belt.

That and the weight AMW said, that does seem to be an awful lot of lead.

Andy

http://www.rebreatherworld.com/photo...oto/291/cat/24
I use 6kg with my drysuit and this rig, which has an aluminum shell from JDZ on this board, steel tanks and SS plate from www.tmishop.com. My unit is heaverier than a stock dolphin but it puts the weight exactly where I want it in the centre of my back not down low. Weight belts give me lower back problems.

AMW · 3rd April 2006, 14:34

Quote:

That and the weight AMW said, that does seem to be an awful lot of lead.

I checked the weight at the weekend and I have three blocks on the unit they are two 4.5Kg weights between the box and back plate (at the top). One 1.5Kg on the back of the box (middle). So that gives me 10.5Kg the box and back plate weigh just under 6Kg that gives me around 16.5Kg It has 5lis and a 2li steel cylinder attached . My weight is 69Kg and use a neoprene dry suit this level of weighting gives me very good buoyancy control.

Andrew.

gibbogeo · 3rd April 2006, 19:10

Quote: (Originally Posted by ebon.hawk)

How much weight are other Dolphin users using and what sort of suit ?

I have noticed that i use 4 kg more than the quantity i used with a 15l bottles and the same suit.

zèècalcoene · 4th April 2006, 22:13

Hi all,

just noted this thread..

My bare mCCR Dolphin weights 27,5 kgs (around 60lbs).. it contains 2 APD (Evolution) 2 ltr steel bottles.
I fitted a Dive rite wing and SS backplate..
I dive with a compressed neoprene drysuit..gosh I hate it when Darlene says.. swimsuit or nothing.. overhere we cannot imagine that situation
A 10ltr/300 bar carbon bottle as bailout..
I carry 11 kgs of extra wheight..

BUT these are just numbers!! For each of us so different..
Go and check Stuarts 'Guide to getting yr weighting correct for a Rebreather'.. BTW excellent article Stuart... this IS the only way to find out yr crrect weighting !!

Just my thoughts

Ivan

mothball · 6th April 2006, 00:38

Hey Hawk, like you, if I can ever my friggin Dolphin to work, I use about 22 lbs with a Bare drysuit and T-100 underwear. My Dolphin is set up with a 27cf nitrox tank on a stock shell and flanked by twin 13cf tanks. I will re-iterate, IF I can get the friggin thing to work. Mine just came out of the shop and NO WORKIE!!!

ebon.hawk · 6th April 2006, 20:21

Quote: (Originally Posted by mothball)

Hey Hawk, like you, if I can ever my friggin Dolphin to work, I use about 22 lbs with a Bare drysuit and T-100 underwear. My Dolphin is set up with a 27cf nitrox tank on a stock shell and flanked by twin 13cf tanks. I will re-iterate, IF I can get the friggin thing to work. Mine just came out of the shop and NO WORKIE!!!

I think the last time I actually DIVED my unit, was on the training course.

I should have been in the pool tonight testing it again with more weight and a replacement o-ring but just couldn't be asked :-(

31st March 2006, 07:03	#1 (permalink)
ebon.hawk New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hoofddorp, Nederlands Posts: 59	How much weight on a Dolphin for you ? After several weeks of being in dry dock I managed to get into the pool last night to blow the cobwebs off and to see how things worked out since I installed a 10l steel tank on the Dolphin. Questions from last night.... How much weight are other Dolphin users using and what sort of suit ? I had 8kg on the unit, was wearing a membrane drysuit and undersuit [ sweat-master 2000 whilst kitting up ! ] and still couldn't get down, even with using the pool ladder to pull myself down to the bottom of the pool. I noticed on checking for bubbles a stream coming from the first stage feeding the bypass valve, I'm guessing this is probably a perished or perishing o-ring. Can a standard o-ring from your local friendly neighbourhood dive shop do the job ? The reports of me being in a bad mood last night are probably true as I was tempted to leave the Dolphin at the side of the road and return back to open circuit diving ! Andy
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31st March 2006, 07:56	#2 (permalink)
AMW Technical caver Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cam ,Glos, England Posts: 169	Re: How much weight on a Dolphin for you ? I have a unit that started as a Dräger dolphin but it now has lots of extra bits This including a steel box so with a steel back plate plus a dive rite wing as well as a neoprene dry suit I need 15Kg of lead, all attached to the box. It has 5lis and a 2li steel cylinder attached. Andrew. __________________ AMW Blog (very poor effort :-) http://a-m-ward.blogspot.com/ http://amward.myblogsite.com/ Lot ,France cave diving sites and area resources. www.lot46.com Caving and cave diving photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/amward/ Last edited by AMW : 31st March 2006 at 13:51.
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31st March 2006, 13:39	#3 (permalink)
Scuba_Vixen e/mCCR Dolphin Pilot Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Join Date: May 2005 Location: St. Croix USVI Posts: 557	Re: How much weight on a Dolphin for you ? I haven't much clue as to drysuit bouyancy numbers, but my mccr dolphin with ally tanks and original shell on a backplate adapter and transpac needs ~ 5kg to be perfect with a swimsuit (or not). 15Kg sounds like a lot, even for dry. .... especially with a big steel tank for ballast. How much gas are you using in the suit? Darlene
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31st March 2006, 13:43	#4 (permalink)
ebon.hawk New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hoofddorp, Nederlands Posts: 59	Re: How much weight on a Dolphin for you ? I was chatting to another Dolphin user last night, and I'm sure he mentioned he had something like 10kg on the unit, and 6kg on a weight belt. That and the weight AMW said, that does seem to be an awful lot of lead. Andy
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31st March 2006, 18:14	#5 (permalink)
wedivebc FIGJAM Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Vancouver Island BC Canada Posts: 1,358	Re: How much weight on a Dolphin for you ? Quote: (Originally Posted by ebon.hawk) I was chatting to another Dolphin user last night, and I'm sure he mentioned he had something like 10kg on the unit, and 6kg on a weight belt. That and the weight AMW said, that does seem to be an awful lot of lead. Andy http://www.rebreatherworld.com/photo...oto/291/cat/24 I use 6kg with my drysuit and this rig, which has an aluminum shell from JDZ on this board, steel tanks and SS plate from www.tmishop.com. My unit is heaverier than a stock dolphin but it puts the weight exactly where I want it in the centre of my back not down low. Weight belts give me lower back problems. __________________ Cheers, Dave.... Man is the only animal burdened with the knowledge he will eventually die
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3rd April 2006, 14:34	#6 (permalink)
AMW Technical caver Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cam ,Glos, England Posts: 169	Re: How much weight on a Dolphin for you ? Quote: That and the weight AMW said, that does seem to be an awful lot of lead. I checked the weight at the weekend and I have three blocks on the unit they are two 4.5Kg weights between the box and back plate (at the top). One 1.5Kg on the back of the box (middle). So that gives me 10.5Kg the box and back plate weigh just under 6Kg that gives me around 16.5Kg It has 5lis and a 2li steel cylinder attached . My weight is 69Kg and use a neoprene dry suit this level of weighting gives me very good buoyancy control. Andrew. __________________ AMW Blog (very poor effort :-) http://a-m-ward.blogspot.com/ http://amward.myblogsite.com/ Lot ,France cave diving sites and area resources. www.lot46.com Caving and cave diving photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/amward/ Last edited by AMW : 4th April 2006 at 08:37.
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3rd April 2006, 19:10	#7 (permalink)
gibbogeo kiss addict Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: italy Posts: 308	Re: How much weight on a Dolphin for you ? Quote: (Originally Posted by ebon.hawk) How much weight are other Dolphin users using and what sort of suit ? I have noticed that i use 4 kg more than the quantity i used with a 15l bottles and the same suit.
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4th April 2006, 22:13	#8 (permalink)
zèècalcoene New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oostende, Belgium Posts: 14	Re: How much weight on a Dolphin for you ? Hi all, just noted this thread.. My bare mCCR Dolphin weights 27,5 kgs (around 60lbs).. it contains 2 APD (Evolution) 2 ltr steel bottles. I fitted a Dive rite wing and SS backplate.. I dive with a compressed neoprene drysuit..gosh I hate it when Darlene says.. swimsuit or nothing.. overhere we cannot imagine that situation A 10ltr/300 bar carbon bottle as bailout.. I carry 11 kgs of extra wheight.. BUT these are just numbers!! For each of us so different.. Go and check Stuarts 'Guide to getting yr weighting correct for a Rebreather'.. BTW excellent article Stuart... this IS the only way to find out yr crrect weighting !! Just my thoughts Ivan
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6th April 2006, 00:38	#9 (permalink)
mothball New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Louisiana, USA Posts: 62	Re: How much weight on a Dolphin for you ? Hey Hawk, like you, if I can ever my friggin Dolphin to work, I use about 22 lbs with a Bare drysuit and T-100 underwear. My Dolphin is set up with a 27cf nitrox tank on a stock shell and flanked by twin 13cf tanks. I will re-iterate, IF I can get the friggin thing to work. Mine just came out of the shop and NO WORKIE!!! __________________ Do NOT die STUPID Ignorance WILL get you killed I refuse to tip-toe through life only to arrive safely at Death
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6th April 2006, 20:21	#10 (permalink)
ebon.hawk New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hoofddorp, Nederlands Posts: 59	Re: How much weight on a Dolphin for you ? Quote: (Originally Posted by mothball) Hey Hawk, like you, if I can ever my friggin Dolphin to work, I use about 22 lbs with a Bare drysuit and T-100 underwear. My Dolphin is set up with a 27cf nitrox tank on a stock shell and flanked by twin 13cf tanks. I will re-iterate, IF I can get the friggin thing to work. Mine just came out of the shop and NO WORKIE!!! I think the last time I actually DIVED my unit, was on the training course. I should have been in the pool tonight testing it again with more weight and a replacement o-ring but just couldn't be asked :-(
(Offline)

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