Tech kit - yet another request for advice

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (John Nortcliff @ Mar. 05 2004,19:27)]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]

Not sure, what are the benefits other than the price, it's British and they're just down the road from me?

They have three sets of slots in the back that are in the plate and the wing alowing setting up for singles and indipendent twins using just a couple of cam bands. They also have a reversed grouve in the back plate which helps keep a single cylinder streight on your back.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I have a buddy Pocket Reel, although I suspect some people would suggest an open reel.

Buddy pocket reels are not suited to dives deeper than 30m and even then i wouldent like to be sending up a blob on a fully enclosed reel. Get one like my one but be warned they break easily if bashed. Cut the silly long handle down to about 25mm or it will snap off first chance it gets. Also get a normal friction 50m+ reel as back up and for laying line on low viz dives.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Torches - scary prices for some of the high end stuff.  Any recommendations for reasonable choices?

There is a 35W Greenforce Arrow on EBAY at the moment at £77.00 worth going to £125.00 IMHO. If not look out for a 50W Halogen Custom Divers which you can pick up for about £250 in VGC second hand.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Mark Chase]

Previous pic CD TDB wing set for single and pony using cam band. Note CD tourch. Try and avoid the short squat canister I have and go for the long slim one. Its easier to mount and causes les ballance issues

Good for balancing the weight of the pony though

Hopfulley this pic is of cheep but good £39.00 reel


ATB

Mark Chase

[Mark Chase]

Good pic of slots on TDB rig

ATB

Mark Chase

[bang-on]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (John Nortcliff @ Mar. 05 2004,19:27)]Torches - scary prices for some of the high end stuff.  Any recommendations for reasonable choices?

<font color='#0000FF'>good umbilical £140 from:
www.aqua-vision.co.uk
made in the north of england.
peter loveday is chaps name.
cheers
barrie

[Lawrence Debono]

Mark, are those weights on the front straps of the wing set up?

Do you dive your doubles with the CD as well? How do you fancy that?

Just a thing on the reel - I know they are inexpensive and handy. You can hardly go wrong with those, but watch out for the loop where you have the string threaded out from. Pierre's (my Maltese buddy) came off. I told him to Lawrence proof it with a U bolt.

You folks mention MDE valves; I don't think we can get them here in Maple Leaf Country, but are they the same like Dive Rite?

Cheers

Lawrence D
[u]

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Lawrence D @ Mar. 06 2004,03:17)]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Mark, are those weights on the front straps of the wing set up?

Yes 4kg is all I use and I dont carey any ditchable weight as its not much use for deco diveing.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Do you dive your doubles with the CD as well? How do you fancy that?

98% of my diving is with a twin set but ocasionaly I have trimix in both sets and I have to se a single for a planned shallow dive or blow off a lot of expensive gas. I have use the rig with twin 12's twin 15s and up to 3 10ltr stages and it has always performed well.

I use a quick release for my twin set dives which I got as part of the set and now I have it I love it. I never saw the point before and I was going to take it off the set and sell it but its just so handy. (see pic below)

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Just a thing on the reel - I know they are inexpensive and handy. You can hardly go wrong with those, but watch out for the loop where you have the string threaded out from. Pierre's (my Maltese buddy) came off. I told him to Lawrence proof it with a U bolt.

I have had every thing else break so perhaps that s next. They are fragile but they are so great to use I havent been able to find a replcecment. I even tried the £125.00 custom divers ratchet reel but I prefer this one .

MDE manifolds are gas ballanced and built well but unfortunatly I dont know many others so cant comment on that.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Mark Chase]

OK try again with the pic

[Dominic]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I have a buddy Pocket Reel

I had one of these, didn't get on with it.

It was awkward to hold, but more importantly, the axis kept jamming up - it regularly needed oiling.

Replaced it with a spool in the end..

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (DougParker @ Mar. 05 2004,14:22)]I don't pay that for 5 sets to be serviced, but i don't always go through the front door.

He's in Plymouth, Doug will be using the back window...

[Doug Parker]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Adrian Kelland @ Mar. 06 2004,12:41)]
He's in Plymouth, Doug will be using the back window...

I'm not a Plymouthian though, so i can't be tarred with the same brush just because i live amongst them.

It's probably worse having a cockney accent but i've nearly lost it after 12 years of living here.