Steel Pony (yes another pony question)

[skdvr]

In all my searches for a pony bottle I have come across steel pony bottles sold by XS scuba you can look at them here. I like the size of the 40 but I think that the weight would be to much. So I am curious if anyone has dove them before and what you thought about them...

Phil

[crpntr133]

Yep the weight is usually the issue with a steel pony. Not saying that you are going to kill yourself of anything like that.

[ScaredSilly]

Yikes -6 neg. That is more than my LP 85s. I guess it would be fine if you want to take some lead off but otherwise ... I would leave it at the mouth of a cave for the return (Not that I do cave diving).

[jo8243]

With that much neg. buoyancy I'd think you might have some trim problems.

[jo8243]

What kind of diving are you going to do with your pony?

[crpntr133]

Not only trim but..if you are set up to donate the pony then theoretically you are carrying 6lbs extra (the pony). With a AL you are only carrying the a couple. I bet I lost somebody on this one.

[in_cavediver]

I use a Faber 45 as an O2 bottle. Its heavy, more so than a full 80 underwater. I like it because of the transfill for gas. At 2400 psi, I still get a lot of O2. It is quite noticible. I'd say go with the AL equivalent for a pony.

And for the record, many of my deco dives where I carry it, I do leave it at the mouth of a cave.

[jo8243]

Originally Posted by crpntr133

Not only trim but..if you are set up to donate the pony then theoretically you are carrying 6lbs extra (the pony). With a AL you are only carrying the a couple. I bet I lost somebody on this one.

"Why am I suddenly going upwards??"

[skdvr]

Originally Posted by jo8243

What kind of diving are you going to do with your pony?

Just deeper rec diving, some with some pretty nasty vis. No deco or cave (not for a few more years)

Originally Posted by crpntr133

Not only trim but..if you are set up to donate the pony then theoretically you are carrying 6lbs extra (the pony). With a AL you are only carrying the a couple. I bet I lost somebody on this one.

I follow you. I am either going to be very heavy if I am weighted properly to hand off the pony which hopefully will not happen very if ever and if I am weighted correctly with the pony hanging on me and just taking weight off my belt than if I do have to hand it off, I will be to lite.

I think that I am going to stick with AL 40. I just wanted to see if anyone had any experience with them...

Phil

[crpntr133]

You shouldn't take the weight off your belt for the pony. In an emergency and the pony is donated, your going up and probably fast. If the pony is being donated then that means that your buddy needs you with him and not at the surface in worse condition than him.
Or lets put it another way for those that don't think they will ever donate their pony. On a dive your pony gets tangled in (fill in the blank). The only way out of it is to remove the pony. So your buddy takes the pony from you and you go bye, bye.
When diving a pony switch a few lbs to the other side if needed. Don't take the weight off.