lift bags

[ardhill]

Originally Posted by edward

Looking at a 35kg bag at the moment - seems like it might be adequate, and roll up small enough. Do I need a dump valve?

If the bag has a closed end, hen you need an OPV, which usually comes as a dump valve.

Also, do most spidgers pre-rig the bag witha bit of polyprop rope or similar to attach the object, or do they carry a big mesh bag, or both?

I have one with a few lengths of webbing and bolt snaps on the ends, and one with just a webbing loop, and a few separate pieces of rope for attching stuff to said loop. The one with the webbing and clips is used most of the time.

[stevechesh]

Originally Posted by edward

Steve, I was thinking of something just a tiny bit more sensible........ what are they, something like 2000kg lift?

Looking at a 35kg bag at the moment - seems like it might be adequate, and roll up small enough. Do I need a dump valve?

Also, do most spidgers pre-rig the bag witha bit of polyprop rope or similar to attach the object, or do they carry a big mesh bag, or both?

I think those bags are 2 tonne ones.....


Personally, i'd go for a 65kg open ended one, then it will cover most options, and they aren't much bigger than a 35kg one. I have some rope pre rigged to mine, but also carry postal sacks, courtesy of Royal Mail. I find them a lot easier than the mesh bags as there are no holes to catch on.....

I don't have dump valves on mine any more. i've seen them stick open and the goodies sink back down. That said, if you over inflate a non-valved bag, they can shoot to the top, flop over and dump the gas out of the bottom. I use a fairly long piece of rope on mine, so that the object hangs lower, which hopefully prevents the bag toppling over and spilling the air.....

[The complete goggler]

Originally Posted by stevechesh

You don't need little bags.......You need BIG bags

Those aren't lift bags are they Steve? They look more like emergency services vehicle uprighting baloons, there are no lifting straps or dump v/v's anywhere on them which is a give-away.

[nickb]

Originally Posted by drunkdiver

I had a beaver lift bag until sunday (35kg lift).

...

If anyone finds it please let me know as would like it back even if broken so I can get a replacement.

The guy on the pontoon mentioned this to us (Me, Warmwater Gary & Sussex Submarine) before we went in on the plane. I found it straight away and sent it up (nice & gently). It had a dump valve on it so I don't understand why it should have burst.

After swimming through the plane, I found 'another' yellow lift bag tied on to a set of weights. Oh dear, it had come straight back down. It had a tiny amount of gas in the top but was otherwise full of water. I decided against sending it up again as I didn't want it coming back down on our heads.

Anyway the pontoon guy sent a rope down and I think someone must have tied it on as we saw him recovering something later as we were going back up top.

If it was buggered, they may have binned it, but why not give them a call:

Shop: 01291 630046
Office: 01291 630850
email: info@ndac.co.uk

[String]

Originally Posted by drunkdiver

I had a beaver lift bag until sunday (35kg lift).

Sent up a big (15kg+) weight belt from the plane in the NDAC at the request of the pontoon guy. Was more than happy to do this as wanted to test the bag.

It flew off like a rocket, apparently launched itself out of the water like a rocket, settled fizzed a lot then sank again. Bugger. It was a sealed unit so my guess is that it couldnt let the expanding air out quick enough and popped.

If anyone finds it please let me know as would like it back even if broken so I can get a replacement.

Maybe I put too much gas in so it went up to quickly and not allowing the valve to release the air quick enough ??? Is this usual ?

What time was this ?

Noticed an unfurled but empty lift bag right next to the fuselage at about 12pm. It was a 35kg beaver bag with something on the bottom of it.
Didnt move it in case it was there for a purpose (drill or something).

Noticed the same bag was on the pontoon at about 4pm when we finished diving. I think it was recovered by the safety boat that was around that shot at that time.


Back to the main subject, i carry one of these 35kg beaver bags. I also use it as my "oh shit" bag as its yellow/green. In addition its handy for lifting the 56lb shot weight we sometimes use on wrecks amongst other things.

Mine had a habit of leaking air from the valve (it is beaver so guess im lucky it didnt rust too!). Problem was soved by glueing some more inner tube strips to the rubber bung part of the valve to create a better seal.

[drunkdiver]

Mine was a yellow 35kg beaver bag. The one tied to the weights. I didnt use it until 3pm ish so the first one must have been someone elses.

If it was full of water I guess its screwed. It did go up very very quickly. We then swam away just incase it came back down on us.

The guys at the NDAC know its mine so will speak to them when im next there.

Cheers.

[String]

Check you havent got a leaking dump valve like mine had as that is fixable.

Inflate it and soapy water job etc. Mine went up and promptly kept rejoining us on the bottom due to the rubber bung in the dump not quite fitting snugly enough so seeping air out.

[David Wallace]

Halcyon do a great range

180 lb closed with opv and dump at the top of the bag
85 lb closed with opv and dump at the top of the bag
60 lb open

Dump at the top is important if you want to control the lift

All halcyon lift bags come with a lifetime waranty on the seams!

see Silentplanet for info and dealer list


Regards

[edward]

Hello

Thanks for all your advice on this thread and elsewhere - went for an aqua-elevation one in the end - seemed a good product, and not desperately expensive. Should be with me in a couple of days. Off to rob the postie of a few bags now...

Cheers