Which smb?

Which would people here recommend a standard smb or auto inflate smb?

I suspect that the standard is the one to go for (cheaper - and Keep it
Simple). Any recommendations to look at?

whilst I am at it, can anyone recommend a very compact reel to go with the
smb?

thanks

On Thu, 27 May 2004 14:50:41 +0100, "kk" <ww@ww.com> wrote:

>Which would people here recommend a standard smb or auto inflate smb?
>
>I suspect that the standard is the one to go for (cheaper - and Keep it
>Simple). Any recommendations to look at?
>
>whilst I am at it, can anyone recommend a very compact reel to go with the
>smb?
>
>thanks
>
Oops, just saw you specifically requested a very compact reel.

As I mentioned before, winding a lot of line onto a very small reel
can become tedious.

The buddy pocket reel is one of the most compact on the market, but I
haven't used one so can't comment on its functionality or quality.

David

Thanks for the link and suggestions. will have a look

> Oops, just saw you specifically requested a very compact reel.
>
> As I mentioned before, winding a lot of line onto a very small reel
> can become tedious.

Can see your point. thinking about a smb/reel I can carry all the time even
through I dont think I will require it.

> The buddy pocket reel is one of the most compact on the market, but I
> haven't used one so can't comment on its functionality or quality.


Thanks again

kk wrote:
> Which would people here recommend a standard smb or auto inflate smb?

I like the buddy sealing ones. I have a standard version and the self
inflating version. I really, really like the self inflating one,
although often practise inflating it manually when I forget to fill the
little bottle.

> whilst I am at it, can anyone recommend a very compact reel to go with the
> smb?

I only like big ones - I find smart little reels too fiddly for XXL
hands in thick gloves. I've just invested in a spool to see how I fare
with one of them - very small and easily stowed.

I had a very nice Northern Diver one, cheap as chips and lasted me about
4 years. Then it came between my behind and the seat and now it is an
ex-reel. I've got an old McMahon (sp?) one which I use now, doesn't feel
quite as nice though - the handle flexes slightly.

Ben

--
Ben Panter, Edinburgh
My name (no spaces)@bigfoot which is a com.

"kk" <ww@ww.com> wrote in message
news:kjmtc.25873$FV7.18234@doctor.cableinet.net...
> Which would people here recommend a standard smb or auto inflate smb?
>
> I suspect that the standard is the one to go for (cheaper - and Keep it
> Simple). Any recommendations to look at?

Personally I have two SMBs - a Buddy Self Inflating (SMBCi)...

http://www.apvalves.com/SMBCi.html

and a Halcyon closed circuit SMB...

http://www.halcyon.net/mc/dam.shtml

And I love them both. I tend to use the self inflator as my primary SMB on
deeper dives and keep the Halcyon tucked away in my backplate pocket as a
backup. For shallower stuff, I just take the Halcyon...

> whilst I am at it, can anyone recommend a very compact reel to go with the
> smb?

Personally I love the Halcyon 'Defender' spools - they take a bit of getting
used to but once you've got the knack of them, you'll swear by them...

http://www.halcyon.net/guideline/index.shtml

I used to own a Buddy Pocket reel but the thing jammed on me a couple of
times so I soon dumped it. The beauty of the Halcyon spools is their
simplicity - because there's no moving parts, there's nothing to jam!

"rads" <radsxxunspamxx@davidradley.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:55tbb0hrj90klrcn7s41jq98befgngncar@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 27 May 2004 14:50:41 +0100, "kk" <ww@ww.com> wrote:
>
> >Which would people here recommend a standard smb or auto inflate smb?
> >
> >I suspect that the standard is the one to go for (cheaper - and Keep it
> >Simple). Any recommendations to look at?
> >
> >whilst I am at it, can anyone recommend a very compact reel to go with
the
> >smb?
> >
> >thanks
> >
> Oops, just saw you specifically requested a very compact reel.
>
> As I mentioned before, winding a lot of line onto a very small reel
> can become tedious.
>
> The buddy pocket reel is one of the most compact on the market, but I
> haven't used one so can't comment on its functionality or quality.
>
> David

The buddy pocket reel is that closed in thing isn't it? If it is it is
bloody horrible - get the bodaine mini reel instead. It rocks.

CAS
--
Temperature @ Stoney? Find it or share it @
http://stoneytemps.calumscott.me.uk/
"The measure of a man's wealth is the fewness of his wants" - Jack
Mullholand

On Thu, 27 May 2004 15:51:53 +0100, "Bardo" <me@privacy.net> wrote:

>and a Halcyon closed circuit SMB...
>
>http://www.halcyon.net/mc/dam.shtml

What are they like? I looked at one last weekend in Portland and did
not like the look of it for a couple of reasons

1 - there is no way I want to attach a blob to me as I am launching it
2 - disconnecting a wing/suit direct feed then reconnecting it
afterwards seems a bit of a faff compared to sticking a reg in a bag

But I have not used one so my miss givings may be miss placed
--
Pete

news 'at' melbourne 'dot' me 'dot' uk

kk wrote:
> Which would people here recommend a standard smb or auto inflate smb?
>
> I suspect that the standard is the one to go for (cheaper - and Keep it
> Simple). Any recommendations to look at?

I think the Buddy self inflator is a majority UKRS product.
Well I certainly wound a lot of them back up last weekend
on Daniel's Brighton trip.

I have a self inflator and reel that hang on my right side
that I can pull off and fire in seconds (eg: Saturday when
something snagged DannyB's at about 15m). I also carry a
simple Buddy self sealer (same thing but without the crack
bottle) with a spool stuffed in a pocket. Rebreather divers
who ascend without much in the way of bubbles like blobs
to keep the outboard props away.

Definitely get a self sealer at minimum what ever make you
go for so once you have filled it it can't tip over and
spill its gas. You don't always want to be pulling down on
the blob to keep it standing up or it tends to pull you
upright in the water.

> whilst I am at it, can anyone recommend a very compact reel
> to go with the smb?

No I wouldn't recomend a 'very compact' reel as when it jams
you just have to let go. On the reel front get one with a
closed loop handle so you can poke your fingers through and
trap it and still use the hand. If you have to hold the handle
you can't use the hand any more without the temptation to clip
it back onto yourself which can be bad news.

I have a smallish McMallon reel with a ratchet which jams more
often than a big one but is better than a tiny one. I tend to
view ratchets as DSMB reels and the friction reels as 'Ariadne'
wreck lines.

HTH
nigelH

In article <kjmtc.25873$FV7.18234@doctor.cableinet.net>, kk <ww@ww.com> wrote:
>Which would people here recommend a standard smb or auto inflate smb?
>
>I suspect that the standard is the one to go for (cheaper - and Keep it
>Simple). Any recommendations to look at?

AP Valves "Twist 'n' Go" ..

>whilst I am at it, can anyone recommend a very compact reel to go with the
>smb?

I have an APV mini reel, but it's only for emergencies. My main reel
is a beaver thing. I've had 2 mini-McMahons explode on me, but I hear
they now supply a nylock nut on them...

My main reel is smaller than a standard McMahon unit made my Oceanic,
but I think I've also seen them with a Beaver sticker on. It has 86m
of line.

Gordon

"Pete Melbourne" <psmvsl@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:mu1cb0t0vvkef4p42obdjeddo95j2ogf8c@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 27 May 2004 15:51:53 +0100, "Bardo" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>
> >and a Halcyon closed circuit SMB...
> >
> >http://www.halcyon.net/mc/dam.shtml
>
> What are they like? I looked at one last weekend in Portland and did
> not like the look of it for a couple of reasons
>
> 1 - there is no way I want to attach a blob to me as I am launching it

Hehe. Yes, I felt the same but the beauty of the Halcyon is that it uses a
non-locking mechamism that - in theory - should never stick. Basically you
disconnect your dry suit feed (you'll need a Si-Tech-style inflator) and
simply slide it onto the Halcyon inflator nozzle. Inflation doesn't actually
start until you press the two ends together so you've got time to check that
everything is ready before pumping gas into the smb. Once it's got enough
gas, you simply let go off the SMB and it disconnects with no resistance at
all as the drysuit feed is simply slipping off a smooth barrel.

> 2 - disconnecting a wing/suit direct feed then reconnecting it
> afterwards seems a bit of a faff compared to sticking a reg in a bag

Not really - I actually find it less hassle than switching regs (I use a
long hose so I always had to inflate off my primary second stage). All I do
now is disconnect my dry suit feed, loop it over my left arm, inflate, loop
it back under and then reconnect - easy!

> But I have not used one so my miss givings may be miss placed
> --
> Pete
>
> news 'at' melbourne 'dot' me 'dot' uk