Advice required on using Halcyon DSMB

[ianfirmin]

I won the raffle at Capers last Sunday, a Halcyon DSMB and spool. I normally use an open bottom DSMB and a reel with a smaller open bottom DSMB and a spool as a backup in my pocket. I use the exhaust from my DV to inflate these DSMB's.

The Halcyon DSMB has a little spigot and should (?) be inflated from a hose. I tried the Halcyon today (attached to the reel and not the spool) and it was a mess. Trying to hold the reel and stick a hose on the DSMB seemed to require 3 hands. Is there a proper way to do this?

[GLOC]

Have a quick search on here and you will find some links including some video clips demonstrating what you need to know.

2 hands is all you need, plus some practice

[Buoyant Babe]

Originally Posted by ianfirmin

I won the raffle at Capers last Sunday, a Halcyon DSMB and spool. I normally use an open bottom DSMB and a reel with a smaller open bottom DSMB and a spool as a backup in my pocket. I use the exhaust from my DV to inflate these DSMB's.

The Halcyon DSMB has a little spigot and should (?) be inflated from a hose. I tried the Halcyon today (attached to the reel and not the spool) and it was a mess. Trying to hold the reel and stick a hose on the DSMB seemed to require 3 hands. Is there a proper way to do this?

Practice Ian, just practice. I have both Frog SMBs, which I understand are very similar to the Halcyon ones. I orally inflate the small one. The ginormous one I use my drysuit hose on and it took me a couple of goes to get it right. I'm nearly there with it, I'm determined to persevere

[yazzyfooty]

Originally Posted by ianfirmin

I won the raffle at Capers last Sunday, a Halcyon DSMB and spool. I normally use an open bottom DSMB and a reel with a smaller open bottom DSMB and a spool as a backup in my pocket. I use the exhaust from my DV to inflate these DSMB's.

The Halcyon DSMB has a little spigot and should (?) be inflated from a hose. I tried the Halcyon today (attached to the reel and not the spool) and it was a mess. Trying to hold the reel and stick a hose on the DSMB seemed to require 3 hands. Is there a proper way to do this?

I thought I recognised you!! I was one of the women in the Halycon T shirt that was giving out the raffle tickets. Did oyu make yourself a new torch?

Remove your reg, ensure spool is attached to dsmb , spool and dsmb will be in same hand while you then orally inflate it, replace reg into own mouth, look above you and hold line and dsmb away from your body and and let the dsmb go.

[Gram43]

Sounds like a lot of fiddle, you need on of these, piece of cake:-

search diving niknaks web site for an air inflation nozzle

Graham

[yazzyfooty]

Originally Posted by Gram43

Sounds like a lot of fiddle, you need on of these, piece of cake:-

search diving niknaks web site for an air inflation nozzle

Graham

Graham
If I could do it I assure you it aint and cant be a lot of fiddle. It was my first time using spool and oral inflating and I could probably done with a bigger puff of air in there but it worked.

[ianfirmin]

Originally Posted by yazzyfooty

I thought I recognised you!! I was one of the women in the Halycon T shirt that was giving out the raffle tickets.

Remove your reg, ensure spool is attached to dsmb , spool and dsmb will be in same hand while you then orally inflate it, replace reg into own mouth, look above you and hold line and dsmb away from your body and and let the dsmb go.

The Halcyon one has a closed bottom. The only way to inflate it is with a hose... (unless you want to take ages blowing into a little spigot).

My normal procedure is to hold the reel in the right hand (attached to DSMB) ensuring the line is clear and the reel spool ready to run but stopped with a thumb. The DSMB is in my left hand which is holding the bottom open. One quick puff out of the DV puts a bit of air into the top of the DSMB and holds it upright without effecting buoyancy. I then check all is clear above and put a couple of quick large breaths into the DSMB and let it go at the same time. My right thumb stops the reel overspinning.

The problem I was having was holding both the reel and the hose in the right hand. To get the hose onto the DSMB the reel gets too close as well and the line starts to billow about causing a potential snag. It would be easier with a spool as the line on a spool can be shorter but I would like the option of using a reel as well.

[pieater]

This probably isn't the approved way, but...

Connect DSMB to loop on spool. Hold spool in left hand and inflator of the DMSB in the left hand's fingers (OK it helps if you've got hands like shovels like me). Disconnect dry suit inflator. Plug in using right hand. Blast away. When tugging lots let go of inflator and cup the unravelling spool (still in left hand) with your now vacant right hand.

Controlling events from there should be fairly uneventful.

[ianfirmin]

Originally Posted by pieater

This probably isn't the approved way, but...

Connect DSMB to loop on spool. Hold spool in left hand and inflator of the DMSB in the left hand's fingers (OK it helps if you've got hands like shovels like me). Disconnect dry suit inflator. Plug in using right hand. Blast away. When tugging lots let go of inflator and cup the unravelling spool (still in left hand) with your now vacant right hand.

Controlling events from there should be fairly uneventful.

Yup, this seems fine. The problem is still using an inflator with a reel

[pieater]

Originally Posted by ianfirmin

The problem is still using an inflator with a reel

Sorry, not really following you there. What's the issue?