Dolphin BCD Problems

Kit · 24th May 2007, 18:42

All,

I purchased, and got certified on my Dolphin, and do like it, but that dratted BCD just doesn't provide enough lift for me to carry any more than 24lbs. This allows me to wear a 3mil wetsuit (no hood), in fresh water (mind you, I am a pretty big fellow - 245lbs). Obviously, this will be problematic if I attempt to use this unit in salt water with anything beyond a bathing suit. Is there a replacement BCD, or a less-than-astronomically priced solution?

Please note that I am looking for useful, practical suggestions, not flames, "You should have bought a KISS", or similar silliness. Thanks!

narked at 90 · 24th May 2007, 19:31

Quote: (Originally Posted by Kit)

All,

I purchased, and got certified on my Dolphin, and do like it, but that dratted BCD just doesn't provide enough lift for me to carry any more than 24lbs. This allows me to wear a 3mil wetsuit (no hood), in fresh water (mind you, I am a pretty big fellow - 245lbs). Obviously, this will be problematic if I attempt to use this unit in salt water with anything beyond a bathing suit. Is there a replacement BCD, or a less-than-astronomically priced solution?

Please note that I am looking for useful, practical suggestions, not flames, "You should have bought a KISS", or similar silliness. Thanks!

many have found the same problem as you and i did before the end of my coarse, many change the wing for a back plate and wing and get shot of the bcd/wing thing, it's a real shame that dreager when with the wing they did as it seems it never have enothe lift there a number of ways you can convert to a back plate and most can be found in the gallerys,
some depend on how handy you are with tools others are bolt and build for a price, im sure some one will be a long with more info.
kind regards john routley
www.narkedat90.co.uk

Andy Barker APS · 24th May 2007, 19:34

HI,
you can get kits to convert to back plate & BC have a look at
V4tec & tecme both of these do specials for Dolphin.
Andy

**jkromelow** · 24th May 2007, 19:39

Get rid of the built in BC and use a backplate adapter. This will allow you to use any wing and get enough lift. This one is for sale. PM me if interested.

jar_uk1 · 24th May 2007, 22:57

I had the same lift problem so put the backplate from v4tec, It is quick and easy to convert and the quality of the parts is excellent.

http://www.johnralston.com/Site/Drager.html

I like it, and it is much more comfortable, I have a wing with 70lb lift, probably too much, but it is the wing I had when I got the unit, so I used it

John R

pete611 · 25th May 2007, 01:12

I'M with you Butty i got the same problem and i dive in sal water i need more lift..

**Freef** · 27th May 2007, 17:22

Have you done a weight check with the unit?

I dive mine on +4kg in the trim pockets over my single cylinder weight.

You may be diving overweighted, as any BC should support you if you are properly weighted.

That said, the original one is crap and it should have a better one fitted!

grandizer52 · 27th May 2007, 17:57

HEa Tex...should have bought a los angeles class submarine..more lift, food showers
just kidding.
I put a zeagle with a backplate and crotch strap on my dolphin, for onething, when you remove the BC you have more room to work in that shell cause the flaps are falling closed all the time, and it's only 2 bolts and come right off...I tossed that BC after the 4th dive when i was going the class
laytah
steve

Maui Nobubbles · 12th June 2007, 22:14

Yes the BC is junk I agree - but checking your weights would be a good thing to look at.

I dive the Dolphin standard BC with a full 3mm suit in saltwater and I weight 305 lbs. I have 3 lbs of shot in each trim (6lbs) and about 9-10 lbs of shot in the dump pouches for about 13 lbs of weight . This is with a standard 29 CF steel bottle. I've used as much as 16 lbs of weight, but I was diving overweighted.

DivnSapper · 13th June 2007, 09:10

I have to echo the previous responses. I have the V4Tec Backplate / Adpator set and it is indeed TOP NOTCH... I was amazed at how well it fit into the Dolphin shell.

With the V4Tec set you can pretty much choose any wing you would like... I have an OMS wing... which obviously provides A LOT more lift.

The wing / backplate and BOV are two modifications that I couldn't live without.

Ryan

24th May 2007, 18:42	#1 (permalink)
Kit New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 30	Dolphin BCD Problems All, I purchased, and got certified on my Dolphin, and do like it, but that dratted BCD just doesn't provide enough lift for me to carry any more than 24lbs. This allows me to wear a 3mil wetsuit (no hood), in fresh water (mind you, I am a pretty big fellow - 245lbs). Obviously, this will be problematic if I attempt to use this unit in salt water with anything beyond a bathing suit. Is there a replacement BCD, or a less-than-astronomically priced solution? Please note that I am looking for useful, practical suggestions, not flames, "You should have bought a KISS", or similar silliness. Thanks!
(Offline)

24th May 2007, 19:31	#2 (permalink)
narked at 90 John Routley Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: middlands uk Posts: 1,029	Re: Dolphin BCD Problems Quote: (Originally Posted by Kit) All, I purchased, and got certified on my Dolphin, and do like it, but that dratted BCD just doesn't provide enough lift for me to carry any more than 24lbs. This allows me to wear a 3mil wetsuit (no hood), in fresh water (mind you, I am a pretty big fellow - 245lbs). Obviously, this will be problematic if I attempt to use this unit in salt water with anything beyond a bathing suit. Is there a replacement BCD, or a less-than-astronomically priced solution? Please note that I am looking for useful, practical suggestions, not flames, "You should have bought a KISS", or similar silliness. Thanks! many have found the same problem as you and i did before the end of my coarse, many change the wing for a back plate and wing and get shot of the bcd/wing thing, it's a real shame that dreager when with the wing they did as it seems it never have enothe lift there a number of ways you can convert to a back plate and most can be found in the gallerys, some depend on how handy you are with tools others are bolt and build for a price, im sure some one will be a long with more info. kind regards john routley www.narkedat90.co.uk __________________ CHECK OUT OUR INTERWEBS FOR CUSTOM REBREATHER UPGRADES *WWW.NARKEDAT90.CO.UK* *WWW.GRPSERVICES.COM*
(Offline)

24th May 2007, 19:34	#3 (permalink)
Andy Barker APS New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bury St Edmunds Suffolk UK Posts: 28	Re: Dolphin BCD Problems HI, you can get kits to convert to back plate & BC have a look at V4tec & tecme both of these do specials for Dolphin. Andy
(Offline)

24th May 2007, 19:39	#4 (permalink)
jkromelow PreNarked Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA, USA Posts: 59	Re: Dolphin BCD Problems Get rid of the built in BC and use a backplate adapter. This will allow you to use any wing and get enough lift. This one is for sale. PM me if interested. __________________ Justin Kromelow TDI Instructor PADI MSDT
(Offline)

24th May 2007, 22:57	#5 (permalink)
jar_uk1 New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, UK Posts: 66	Re: Dolphin BCD Problems I had the same lift problem so put the backplate from v4tec, It is quick and easy to convert and the quality of the parts is excellent. http://www.johnralston.com/Site/Drager.html I like it, and it is much more comfortable, I have a wing with 70lb lift, probably too much, but it is the wing I had when I got the unit, so I used it John R
(Offline)

25th May 2007, 01:12	#6 (permalink)
pete611 RBD one dive at a time... Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 223	Re: Dolphin BCD Problems I'M with you Butty i got the same problem and i dive in sal water i need more lift.. __________________ Warm Water Only For Me Please.. ><))))°> ><))))°> WARNING: the rebreather is not broken is a Dolphin!!!
(Offline)

27th May 2007, 17:22	#7 (permalink)
Freef Custom Title Disallowed! Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Land of the Freef, UK. Posts: 1,353	Really silly question... Have you done a weight check with the unit? I dive mine on +4kg in the trim pockets over my single cylinder weight. You may be diving overweighted, as any BC should support you if you are properly weighted. That said, the original one is crap and it should have a better one fitted! __________________ David. Currently owner of two differently sized ankles.
(Offline)

27th May 2007, 17:57	#8 (permalink)
grandizer52 Sport Kiss & Shearwater Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Sport Kiss Classic Kiss MK 15.X Other CCR Home Build Join Date: May 2006 Location: pearl city hawaii EARTH moving to Iscandar Posts: 254	Re: Dolphin BCD Problems HEa Tex...should have bought a los angeles class submarine..more lift, food showers just kidding. I put a zeagle with a backplate and crotch strap on my dolphin, for onething, when you remove the BC you have more room to work in that shell cause the flaps are falling closed all the time, and it's only 2 bolts and come right off...I tossed that BC after the 4th dive when i was going the class laytah steve
(Online)

12th June 2007, 22:14	#9 (permalink)
Maui Nobubbles New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kihei, Maui Hawaii Posts: 69	Re: Dolphin BCD Problems Yes the BC is junk I agree - but checking your weights would be a good thing to look at. I dive the Dolphin standard BC with a full 3mm suit in saltwater and I weight 305 lbs. I have 3 lbs of shot in each trim (6lbs) and about 9-10 lbs of shot in the dump pouches for about 13 lbs of weight . This is with a standard 29 CF steel bottle. I've used as much as 16 lbs of weight, but I was diving overweighted. __________________ Maui Nobubbles
(Offline)

13th June 2007, 09:10	#10 (permalink)
DivnSapper New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Qatar Posts: 86	Re: Dolphin BCD Problems I have to echo the previous responses. I have the V4Tec Backplate / Adpator set and it is indeed TOP NOTCH... I was amazed at how well it fit into the Dolphin shell. With the V4Tec set you can pretty much choose any wing you would like... I have an OMS wing... which obviously provides A LOT more lift. The wing / backplate and BOV are two modifications that I couldn't live without. Ryan
(Offline)

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