Snap Bolt on Primary Reg

[RMur]

What size snap bolt are you using on your primary reg?

I have a difficult time and I wonder if I am just using too small a snap bolt.

Anyone using other than a std snap bolt? boat clip? other variation?

[IndyDiver]

I am using a 1/2" swivel snap bolt and that works for me just great. The instructor for my UTD Essentials class had a 3/8" snap. I could manage that barehanded or in reef gloves - I'm not sure how he did it with no issues in drysuit gloves.

One thing that helps me is to keep a backup light clipped to the right shoulder ring, that holds the ring nicely in place away from my body so itdoesn't flop around while I am trying to clip my reg to it.

[rox@ucf11]

I use the smallest bolt snap I see in most of the dive shops I go to sorry I dont know the size of it

[CompuDude]

Standard SS bolt snap, bigger or smaller (somewhat) depending on if you dive thin gloves or thick. Cold water divers tend to use a slightly larger bolt snap than warmer water, just due to dexterity issues. Use the smallest you can get away with, though, within reason.

I use the slightly larger size, if you can see if this pic:

[Gombessa]

No big deal either way. I used a larger bolt snap (1/2" I think) for quite a while when I was diving with thick wet gloves. Then I got a light and a backup, and man things were getting really crowded on that d-ring. Since I had moved to drygloves by then, I swapped everything out with smaller 3/8" snaps, which were just fine.

Use whichever snaps are most comfortable for you. The main factor is not the size of the snap, but rather the size of the thumbpress and the smoothness of the sliding gate.

[Rileybri]

I actually use the small yellow retainer plug that came with my Sea Cure moldable mouth piece. It works just fine and was free with the mouth piece....

[awap]

I zip-tie a tank o-ring (2-214) to the 2nd stage rather than use a bolt snap. I then uses a double ender to clip it off when I need to.

[RMur]

Thanks for the feedback - I am going to try a 1/2" (I think that is what it is - larger anyway) and see how that works. I want to keep the bolt as small as possible but clipping off in gloves is doable, but seems like it could be much easier.

On a side note - I wonder if the "sizes" of snap bolts refers to the width of the gate opening? That would make sense to me.

[BubblesMcCoy]

Originally Posted by RMur

What size snap bolt are you using on your primary reg?

Sorry if this turns out to be a dumb question, but are you clipping your primary reg as well as your octo? Is this pre/post dive?

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by BubblesMcCoy

Sorry if this turns out to be a dumb question, but are you clipping your primary reg as well as your octo? Is this pre/post dive?

This is used with a necklaced secondary reg configuration. Anytime the primary reg (usually long hose) is not in your mouth (or someone else's) it gets clipped off. OOA? Clip off primary. Shut down right post? Clip off primary. Switch to deco or stage gas? Clip off primary. Gearing up in boat/parking lot? Clip off primary. Etc.