73diver
Contributor
I am committed to convert to sidemount. I immediately liked the features of the Hollis SMS75 so I purchased one. On the SMS75 the inflator can be attached to the left bottom of the wing or at the left shoulder. It came attached to the bottom. Mounted at the bottom, the inflator seemed to "always be in the way" of D-rings, SPG, etc. I noticed that "the pros" mounted the inflator over the shoulder. In addition, with the inflator bottom mounted, air is released from the shoulder dump-OPV. I like the convenience of releasing air using the shoulder dump-OPV. However, the surface of the OPV is semi spherical and the line makes a hard 90 degree angle. The OPV is situated under the left shoulder strap. With the OPV next to my suit under the shoulder strap I found that once activated the OPV remained open.
I decided to mount the inflator at the shoulder for the reasons above, which raises my question of hose routing. I have a 22" LP hose right now which is the wrong length. To keep hoses under control, I am considering routing the LP inflator hose up the inflator, over the shoulder and along the wing to around my left waist with a 30-36" hose. I could use the wing bungee to secure the hose. At the waist strap I propose to have a QD that connects to a 9" LP hose attached to the regulator. I know that adding another QD is adding another failure point but both QD's are within view and I have my drysuit inflator on the other regulator as a backup whether I am in drysuit or wetsuit.
What do you think?
Thanks,
Ken
I decided to mount the inflator at the shoulder for the reasons above, which raises my question of hose routing. I have a 22" LP hose right now which is the wrong length. To keep hoses under control, I am considering routing the LP inflator hose up the inflator, over the shoulder and along the wing to around my left waist with a 30-36" hose. I could use the wing bungee to secure the hose. At the waist strap I propose to have a QD that connects to a 9" LP hose attached to the regulator. I know that adding another QD is adding another failure point but both QD's are within view and I have my drysuit inflator on the other regulator as a backup whether I am in drysuit or wetsuit.
What do you think?
Thanks,
Ken