new steel tank

[rubberduck]

I recently purchased a new steel HP100 after doing my 1st 100 dives with AL80's. I removed 6 lbs for the 1st couple of dives and will probably remove 4lbs more on the next dive this weekend.

My problem is when I turn sideways (swim on my side). I feel the weight of the tank want to turn me around (upside down).

Anyone have similiar problems switchuing from aluminum to steel? I think I still may be overweighted.

[skdvr]

I had the same problem, but I switched from al 80's to HP 130. When the 130 is full it is heavy and I have to roll slowly. You just have to remember that the steel tank will be much more neg so when you start to rotate the tank is no longer trying to push you down, it is just trying to sink to the bottom. You just have to roll slow until you get use to it. It will be tough when it gets past your center of gravity though.

Just my .02

Phil

[cummings66]

I think any tank will eventually pull you around if it's heavy enough. To be honest I don't notice it with mine but then I don't go motionless on my side. I'm sure if I did I would roll, but if I'm moving forwards it's never an issue.

[Coaster]

Originally Posted by rubberduck

I recently purchased a new steel HP100 after doing my 1st 100 dives with AL80's. I removed 6 lbs for the 1st couple of dives and will probably remove 4lbs more on the next dive this weekend.

My problem is when I turn sideways (swim on my side). I feel the weight of the tank want to turn me around (upside down).

Anyone have similiar problems switchuing from aluminum to steel? I think I still may be overweighted.

I removed more weight than that and needed to adjust/tighten my BC straps (and my tank strap placement slightly). Are you diving a wetsuit?

[rubberduck]

Originally Posted by Coaster

I removed more weight than that and needed to adjust/tighten my BC straps (and my tank strap placement slightly). Are you diving a wetsuit?

Yes I'm diving wet with a 2 pic 7mil suit. I'm going to remove 4 more pounds this weekend and see hoe it goes.

[DougNR]

Originally Posted by rubberduck

My problem is when I turn sideways (swim on my side). I feel the weight of the tank want to turn me around (upside down).

Anyone have similiar problems switchuing from aluminum to steel? I think I still may be overweighted.

I have a question, but I don't want this to look like a BP/W rant...

Those of you agreeing with the rolling affect caused by the added weight of the steel cylinder, are you using jacket style BCD? Off the top of my head, added weight on the back combined with the majority of your buoyancy to the front could sure add to the problem. If you still need to shed a few pounds of lead that could make the flipping affect even worse.

I dive a Zeagle back inflate unit and have not experienced the issue when I use steel. I own Alum 80's but occasionally use a steel 100. This is probably about the weight of the tank and the buoyance of the wing having similar centers that ballance as opposed to offset weight vs buoyancy that tend to flip you on your back.

I enjoyed your post, it was interresting!

[BSea]

Are you diving any weight at all after you take off the extra 4? Are you using a weightbelt? If you can move any remaining weight more to your front, you might counteract the roll you are experiencing. I think DougNR may have hit it on the head if you are using a jacket BC. If you have to add air to your BC, and it's a jacket, it might actually be causing more of a roll because the air in the bladder might be on your sides as well as the back. And maybe the front as well since you seem to be overweighted. With a back mounted bladder, the air would tend to counteract the roll since none of it is in front or on the sides.

But I dive a BP/W also, so I don't experience the roll you describe.

[rubberduck]

Yes I have a jacket BC. After the 4lbs comes off I'll still have 24lbs on my weight belt. The weight that I dropped all came out of the BC.

[BSea]

Originally Posted by rubberduck

Yes I have a jacket BC. After the 4lbs comes off I'll still have 24lbs on my weight belt. The weight that I dropped all came out of the BC.

Do you put much air in your BC when you dive? That seems like a lot of weight even with a 7mm FJ. But everyone is different, and if you are diving salt water, then I could see where 24 lbs isn't out of the question. Especially with a jacket BC which is very bouyant to begin with.

I think if you play with the placement fo your weights, you'll be able to have a more stable setup. It will probably take a few more dives for you to get dialed in.

(Now for the traditional BP/W speal) Seriously, if you want to get rid of more of that lead, you should try a BP/W. I'll bet that 24 will drop to about 12 if you do. I'm not saying you should switch, just try it if you can. I think whatever makes someone comfortable in the water, works for them, and is what they like is what they should dive. I happen to like my BP/W, but I've got buddies that have more experienced than I have, and more training than I have, that won't give up their BC of choice.

[cummings66]

[quote=DougNR;25491]

Originally Posted by rubberduck

Those of you agreeing with the rolling affect caused by the added weight of the steel cylinder, are you using jacket style BCD?

I was not exactly agreeing with it, but I can see how it happens. Consider my typical stop where I'm at 20 feet not moving a muscle. If I lower my legs my trim goes feet down, if I raise them higher my trim will go feet up. I'm neutral in a certain position and any change from that position will change my trim. Trim also would affect face up or face down. You can balance a tank either way, but if you go sideways gravity MUST take affect. That's how the center of gravity works, it's top to bottom, side to side. You have a certain point where things balance and only there will you not move. Go outside of that range and you must then move.

What we're talking here is the same thing. In effect there IS weight above your back, if you swim on your side and stop trying to rest on your side logically you MUST rotate tank down, it is the heaviest thing there and you do have more weight there. It's not much, and it should be a slow effect that occurs, not a rapid flip.

I've never tried this, I have never found a need to become motionless on my side, but I will bet you if I did and I did not move a muscle then I would rotate. I bet most divers would.

I dive a BP/W by the way, any my trim is as close to perfect as I can make it. I can change my movement by moving my arms or legs while I'm motionless. When I say motionless I mean not even my eyelids twitch. That's how still I am. In that state I believe I would rotate slowly if I was on my side.