Q & A and Help with Buying/Config'ing/Rigging and the Benefits of a Pony Set-up?

[MATTBIN]

Plus new BCD, but not a bad idea.
Matt

[Driftwood]

</span>

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Quote: from MATTBIN on 5:06 pm on Nov. 5, 2002
Inverted plus standard length works - just, but only just.

<span =''>You must be shorter in the body that me.... I can't invert my pony - guess I'll just have to get a 2m hose, donate the primary and have the pony necklaced...

Tough eh? All this DIR being used by a naughty stroke :washmouth:

[Ben Harris]

The more info I get the more confused I get!!

I reckon a metal clamp is the way forward but what about these options. Do I need an octopus on my 12l main tank first stage!! If you have a pony would you ever need it?? I can cut costs by then putting my octopus on the pony. Also it saves confusion in my config by not having three regs bouncing about.
Do I need an SPG on a pony rig. I can use my primary spg to check contents pre dive. Is this being stupid. At the moment I use an octopus on a necklace. Am I best to put my pony reg on the necklace and if in an emergency use my pony and donate the main reg.

Im probably being tight and I dont really want to skimp for the sake of it. But im trying to keep unnecisary costs down. I want to buy decent gear straight out but not loads of it!!!! Is an apeks reg a better choice than a cheap end mares reg for cold water diving?

Help??

[Gavin Yates]

Ben - a pony is a back up source of air for you NOT a replacement for an octo.

Also - how are you gonna fit an octo to your pony withour a first stage?

I put octo on necklace and the pony in clipped on some breakable elastic thread on my right shoulder.

This means a buddy can take primary, octo, or pony and I've got gas all around.

Get a small SPG for your pony it'll only cost you
-odd and avoids you having to connect and repurge and believe me it's very comforting to know you've got 3l of 200 bar underwater.

Finally, the cheap Mares regs aren't that cheap and a small cold-water kit makes them pretty bullet-proof. Mines never squeaked even at 30plus m and 3-4 degrees.

Hope that helps

[Ben Harris]

Cheers Gav,

[Davey Willo]

I have my pony regulator necklaced around my neck and my primary regulator is on a longer hose for donation to a buddy if required. I'm not saying that this is the right way but it's the way I'm rigged, I've already tested with buddy's practising OOA scenarios and it works quite well.

As soon as an OOA is required it's the end of the dive anyway and so I don't see a problem with this scenario and hey my buddy should never run out of air anyway right?? gas management and all that.... ;)

[John Gulliver]

You can get an SPG (Beaver) on a short hose for £30 from Divers Warehouse. You won't be able to read it while breathing off your pony if your pony is back mounted, of course, &nbsp;but I have a slate prepared for this eventuality. I have written &quot;Pony ? bar&quot; with an indellible marker pen. If I ever need to use my pony, I'll point to these words and my buddy will then hopefully look at my SPG and write the reading on the slate. You'll need an octopus hose on your pony reg if you invert your pony. A standard reg hose is too short. I have my pony reg on a surgical tubing necklace just under my chin, where I can get it instantly without needing to search. That also means less clutter on my chest as I also have an octopus reg. I reckon my buddy would take my primary reg or octopus reg – it would be difficult &nbsp;for him/her to use my pony reg with the necklace round my neck, but not impossible. I've just ordered a 3 L x 300 bar pony, by the way. That should shut the people up that keep trying to convince me a pony is too small to be any good in an emergency :sofa:

[Hobby]

Just reminded me of something there John,regarding people who want a &quot;longer hose&quot; ahem...As you're aware it can cost a bit to get hoses made up(unless you find an industrial outfit to knock you Aeroquips or similar up).Poseidon particularly bad for this.Now to the point,Sherwood supply one of their regs with a long hose as standard,I'm not sure which one it is orthe fittings but I would imagine it's cheaper tha havoing one custom made.Just a thought,Hobby.

[Ben Harris]

Northern Diver do 1.5m hose for £35.

Sounds a lot for a bit of rubber!!!
How about a bit of YDIR (Yorkshire Do It Right)
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Use a Hose Pipe. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; :burp: :outtahere:

[andy2tanx]

cheapest long hoses ive seen are from beaver sports in huddersfield.

as for the pony set up, i always thought the pony should be yours only, not for giving to another diver. &nbsp;if they are out of air and youre not then give him your octo. &nbsp;leave the pony for your self to get out of the situation, although if your buddy is ooa then that is the end of the dive anyway!!