Scuba Forum > Technical Diving
 
#3720
 New Rebreather Side Mounted bailout cylinders
tstormdiver - 4/19/2015 7:03 PM
Replies: 4
I think I’m in love! [3 I bought 2 new Faber steel HP 71’s. They have dimensions nearly the same as an AL 63. Boosted a little (yes, I know that is a controversial practice) the volume is the same as an AL 80. I tried them out today with 500 psi in each. With the AL 80’s, I needed 10 lbs of weight up on my shoulders to trim myself out level. With the 71’s, I was immediately able to drop 6 lbs & trimmed out well overall & when I would stop swimming, I would ever so slowly start nosing down, so may be able to get rid of more weight, yet. The length of the cylinders are heavenly. I am only 5’6" & the AL 80’s would bang against my legs when frog kicking. Now I have complete freedom to kick without bumping the cylinders continuously. I think I have found Nirvana!
#1269
NORTHEAST - 4/19/2015 7:10 PM
Very nice. Something I’m learning more and more as an entry level tec diver. The re configuring never ends. There is Always room to improve and customize to fit your needs.
#21082
LatitudeAdjustment - 4/20/2015 7:14 AM
I have a pair of old 60 something steels that I rescued that are perfect for beach dives. Like you said, less weight on your back and 6 pounds less lead on your hips :)
#3720
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tstormdiver - 4/20/2015 7:23 AM
Actually the 6 lbs was near my shoulders to counter balance me with the 80’s. With the 80’s I was massively knees down, so had to pull my upper body down. I went fro 10 lbs on my shoulders to 4 lbs & am only ever so slightly nose heavy. Being I have not had a chance to check out the trim & buoyancy with full cylinders, I want to keep it a little nose heavy to help make up the difference, if needed.
#3720
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tstormdiver - 9/01/2015 11:09 AM
Tried the cylinders in 2 ways. 1 was at 500 psi. they were beautiful! Lots of freedom. So I later filled them & then dove them,..... Well.... Not so good. They were enormously heavy so I had to keep my wing quite full & the weight of them pulled down so hard against my hips that I could barely move to frog kick. What a disappointment. Well back to the Al 80’s I’ve been using & now I have to figure out what to do with a pair of Faber MP71’s....