self inflating dsmb

[daveb0000]

been using one for a year or so now and i'm one of the crack it open and let it go brigade,

the advice of opening it a little and letting it build up a head of steam is great advice, cause it gives you a few seconds to untangle the line if it goes around the handle or where ever, and that small bottle has loads of air in it to fill the bag up, if in doubt just try it top side and see.

as for water ingress into the bottle after a bit of use when i'm sorting the kit out i will fill the bottle up and discharge it to blow any water out, and sometimes it will blow out mist.

so yes get it on the old crimbo list mate

[Allan Carr]

Great bit of kit. I bought one last year after using a conventional self sealing DSMB for years. I deploy mine like Mark - a short blast to make sure all lines are clear and then open it gently so that it is still inflating at the surface. No sign of water entry in the cylinder yet.

[Janos]

Just to echo the above, and also to say that if you do it up tightly with the strap, then even if the bottle goes off accidentally it won't inflate - the gas just goes straight out of the dump valve.

Janos

[Woz]

[MUTTER MODE ON]
Bloody handbag strap, bloody silly bottle mount (could be more compact), bloody blob's too big. AP have taken a great idea, bodged it together with bits from the AP parts bin and produced a product that could be soooooo much better.
[MUTTER MODE OFF]

[edward]

With regard to the water in the bottle problem - this happened to me a few times. If you dis-assemble the post on the blob itself (undo the outer knurled ring) there is a metal post with a band of rubber type material around it on the back - this is the non-return valve. The rubber band bit can get dislodged and uncover the exit hole, and this lets water back into the cylinder. just slide the band back and problem solved. Might be worth checking every few dives.

To dry the cylinder out, you can dis-assemble the valve from the cylinder by unscrewing the pressure relief 'button' and sliding it out (careful, don't loose the spring). Then grip the cylinder (I used a 'boa constrictor' wrench to grip it), put a big adjustable spanner on the flats where the pressure relief button was on the valve, and do a 'hulk twist' to undo. You can then rinse, dry and re-assemble. Don't overtighten the valve back into the cylinder, as it is only aluminium and you could strip the thread quite easily.

***** warning - only do this if you are happy with this type of thing - if not take it to someone who knows what they are doing *******

[Daniel Taylor]

As everyone has said, these really do make life a lot simplier when firing the blob from the bottom and especially if firing mid water. That is of course assuming that you have remembered to fill the thing first - and I assure you that you will forget from time to time.

The biggest downside for me is that it makes the blob and reel too big to fit inside most leg pockets. This means that you'll end up with dangly bits. Now, if this doesn't bother you then no problem.
But, for those of us that try to avoid having anything hanging (relatively) lose, it can be an issue.

D

[Dr T]

one for sale here if you are still looking for one:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7201804013&rd=1&sspage name=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

[Chriz]

The down side to using them is,
that your reg may fall out cos most people have a big cheesy grin on their face when they fire em off!!



Chris

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Chriz

The down side to using them is,
that your reg may fall out cos most people have a big cheesy grin on their face when they fire em off!!



Chris

Yeah did that, and swiftly followed by the....

realisation I've not tied it on, followed by the....

furtive look around just to make sure no-one saw it, followed by the...

decyphur that signal, you know..
when the diver is holding their belly with one hand, pointing at you with the other, mask flooded, air exhaled in short ha ha ha ha bursts, and rolling around = the Clan Dundee! followed by the....

signal for f@@k off you fatherless fellows!


LOL, Paul

[denalex48]

so the chances of it going off whiles straped to you are slim so does it have to be refilled after every firing off ? how do you refill like the bottle on my buddy comando ? thanks