Regulator Bungee

[sig]

I've seen the bungee necklace done in several different ways and thought I would post mine since I haven't seen it. For awhile I have been using a plain bungee cord but have not found it as comfortable as I imagined surgical tubing would be especially when diving without a hood. I didn't want to use just plain surgical tubing though since I figured it would not hold the reg as well and still be able to release the reg if pulled on hard enough. So after I finally found some surgical tubing here is my contraption. First I take a piece of bungee cord and coat it with talc, then I feed the cord through a slightly shorter length of surgical tubing. After the bungee cord is sticking through both ends I use a double fisherman's not and then I tuck the left over tails into the surgical tubing giving you a nice and neat necklace.

If this setup has already been done forgive me. I just thought this would work nice for some people and I had never seen it done this way yet. Not sure if it would be DIR acceptable but I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't be. Here is a link on how to tie the double fisherman's knot.

http://www.une.edu.au/~unemc/dbfish.htm

[sig]

I'm not signed up anywhere to host my pictures but if someone can link them I can send pictures in email.

[Doppler]

Nice link to the animation... Much better than the series of pictures I have been working on... :(

[john_a]

I have used surgical tubing secured with tie wraps for some time now and it has worked pretty well, though I have found it somewhat bulky. Also, on one occasion I did experience some minor facial abrasion from the tie wraps.

It sounds like you may have found the best of both worlds - the comfort of surgical tubing and the unbulkiness of bungie.

[Waterborne]

I can't get them all in one post. If a mod is around can you maybe fix that please? If there is a way I can do it from now on can you pm me how? Thank you:D

[Waterborne]

#2

[Waterborne]

There you go sig. ;)

[sig]

SCORE ResQ,

Thanks or posting the pictures.

[Doppler]

Good information... one point. Knots over cable ties everytime! And you have made it easy for anyone to see how to tie those knots... excellent!

DD

[mer]

sig once bubbled...
I've seen the bungee necklace done in several different ways and thought I would post mine since I haven't seen it.

Sig,

Great post. Sexy necklace!

I'm thinking of changing over to long hose and this is what I needed to hear.

But, could you post length and diameter of both bungee and sugical tubing you used? I know the length will vary from person to person, but it'll give me a ball park.

Thanks!

[large_diver]

Mer,

Here is a report I wrote up a while back on setting up the long hose and bungeed back-up. I believe I use 1/8" bungee for the necklace. 1/4" is just not flexible enough for something you are pulling over your head all the time.

As for how long -- start with more than you need and tie it loosely (say 2-2.5 feet)-- you can always tighten it up and cut off the excess later.

http://www.scubadiving.com/members/divetips.php?s=253

Hope this helps.

[sig]

Hi Mer,

The bungee cord is 1/8" and 34" in length. The surgical tubing is 1/8" x 1/4" and it is 24" in length. I got the bungee at Lowes and the surgical tubing at home depot.

[peter_steinhoff]

Guys,
this is all nice and dandy, but the neckless needs to be secure.

It really shouldn't be able to come off becuse when you need your backup, you need it bad and it must be there.

Some divers are afraid that an out-of-air diver is going to grab their backup instead of the longer hose. That is not the case for two reasons. One is that you as a buddy should be aware of your buddys situation and donetae your longhose before he even reaches you. The other thing is that if you dive in a correct position, horizontal, it's almost inpossible to grab the backup because your primary reg is in front.

Now, there are two acceptable ways to rig the backup reg.

One is to use surgical tubing and fasten it under the tiewrap that holds the mouth piece.
The other way is to use bungees and tie knots in the end and secure that under the tie that holds the mouthpiece.

I think you can find pictures under http://wkpp.org (look for equipment pictures)

Halcyon sells a pre-configured neckless but it is more intended to be able to quickly put a neckless on a reg without cutting zip ties. Good when you want somebody to try having the backup in a neckless instead of an octopus stowed somewhere.

As a final point I want to mention that I used to have mine rigged in a "tubing-loop" that could come off if you pulled hard. Well, it came off twice in situations that wasn't to much fun.

Best,
Peter Steinhoff
http://dir-diver.com


Ohh, one more thing.
If you want to have the backup under your chin but you are not using a longhose, which you btw don't have to in an OW environment, breath from the longer hose, the octopus, and rig the shorter hose as backup. If you have a low performance reg as backup you can just unscrew it and change positions.

[ScubaToneDog]

[QUOTE]peter_steinhoff once bubbled...
[B]Guys,
this is all nice and dandy, but the neckless needs to be secure.

Actually with the double fisherman's knot using bungee its a hell of alot more secure than anything else out there. Beats surgical tubing hands down.

Great thread!

:spaninq:

[divermasterB]

ScubaToneDog once bubbled...
[QUOTE]peter_steinhoff once bubbled...
[B]Guys,
this is all nice and dandy, but the neckless needs to be secure.

Actually with the double fisherman's knot using bungee its a hell of alot more secure than anything else out there. Beats surgical tubing hands down.

Great thread!

:spaninq:

I used the fishermans not bungee this weekend and it came off twice. I finally switched to put the bungee under the zip tie, with a not on the other side.

[ScubaToneDog]

When working with knots in bungee's you need to work the knot down while the bungee is stretched. Fishermans knots are of the constrictor family. Normally they dont need to be tightend very hard as they constrict and hold very well under strain when tied in a line. In the case of an elastic line they must be tightened under stretch to work equally well.

:spaninq:

[Grajan]

is that it isn't one.

It only becomes a double fishermens when the two halves of the knot are pulled together, making it much stronger.

What we have here is two single fisherman knots. Worse still the loops are side loaded, providing an opening force not present in the correct (normal) application.

Add to this the dubious knotting properties of bungee cord and you have a recipe for failure, something that has already happened to me twice.

I don't have a good answer yet so ideas welcome.

[Grajan]

Treating each side of the reg as a separate problem (which it clearly is), what you want to do is tie the bitter end of one line to the middle of another line in a way that allows the bitter end to slip along the line but that has the lines tensioned at right angles.

The correct knot for this application is a round turn with two half hitches (knew I did all that scout stuff for something...).

I have just tested this and it is solid as a rock. A single turn with the two hitches works fine. It does not need to loop round the line twice.

Now - how am I going to explain this to Jarrod? :)

[ScubaToneDog]

Im tellin :mean:

You can make the double fisherman work if you stretch the standing end as you tie the knot. It works, and I know it works because I am playing with the necklace right now. It takes a little patience.

I do like the round turn 2 half hitch idea, but how do you keep the round turn in place and isnt the 2 half hitches just like a regular fishermans knot tied twice?

:spaninq:

[Grajan]

It is a different knot. I have been looking for an illustration. Lets see if I can describe it effectively:

Bitter end - the free end of the cord.
Line - the area you want to tie to.

1. Pass the bitter end once over the line (going round again as you would with a bar does not work)

2. With the bitter end, put two half hitches round itself, creating a sort of noose round the line.

3. Tighten the hitches to grip firmly onto the line.

This slides on the line OK but correctly loads the knot preventing any tendency to undo, but a granny knot placed in the remaining bitter end and pushed up to the half hitches would add even more security (if a little more bulk).

This is very different to the "double" fishermans if you look at it as it is designed to operate with perpedicular lines (as we have) instead of parallel lines.

[Grajan]

Here are a couple of images of the knot that might be helpful.

[Grajan]

here.

I have erased the extended bitter end for clarity.

[sig]

Try pulling the knots together before placing over the mouth piece. Then pull apart again and slip over the mouth piece. I also place it over the zip tie. I have not had any instances while diving where this slipped off.

It does pull away with enough force which I'm sure could be of benefit in an entanglement. Probably not a big risk with a hose that fits closely to your body but I like the idea that I can pull it away never the less.

I also would not like to come in contact with a distressed diver pulling me around by my neck because of a reg that would not release.

It may not be the best for everyone but it works well for me.

[ScubaToneDog]

That is a slick set up. I see what you mean on how it sits better with diverted strain.

This is what I love about this forum...tons of different ideas.

:spaninq:

[Aquamaniac]

Bungee cord under very tight zip ties, no knots anywhere.

Cant get any easier than that!

Dave

[Bob3]

tie knots in the end and secure that under the tie that holds the mouthpiece. Having knots tied in the ends of bungee that goes under the zip tie will often result in having the mouthpiece stripped off the reg if the 2nd gets fouled or yanked on hard.
Leave off the knots, or do the "loop thingie" described.
SS hog rings covered with shrink tube makes a very nice necklace, but it's a bit much for the casual diver to buy a couple thousand rings & crimping pliers.
I saw a very slick way of rigging tubing that involved punching a hole in the side of the tube, though it looks to be similar to one of those "how'd they do that" puzzles, I'll have to dig some tubing up & post some pics.

[Greg Barlow]

I use 1/4" surgical tubing and simply place the ends under the pull tie that secures the mouthpiece. After I snug up the pull tie, I stretch the tubing somewhat while a third hand draws the tie a bit tighter. I repeat on the other side, and it is secure. A hard tug will disengage the second stage, but I have yet to have one come loose from normal usage.

I've used 1/8" bungee with knots on the ends, but it is somewhat abrasive against a bare neck. It certainly lasts longer than surgical tubing, but comfort may be an issue.

All of my regs utilize a bungeed backup regardless of whether they are used for tech or recreational dives. I believe it to be a superior means of handling OOA emergencies.

[fugu]

Hey bob, id like to see those pics if you get a chance.

thanx,
Clay

[kevjl2]

ANy of you divers on this post have any extra bungee laying around? I'll buy 5-6 feet if you do. I have checked Lowes, Home Depot, Ace hardware and Orchard Supply out here and no one carries it. PM me if you got it. Kevin

[grouchyturtle]

Try here (http://www.reefscuba.com/index.htm)
These guys carry bungie, surgical tubing, clips, rings, etc.

[Boogie711]

Just for the record, I sell bungee necklaces on E-Bay. I have about a lifetime supply of 3/16" in black, which I'd be happy to sell to anyone for far less than Reef Scuba. Just send me a PM.

That being said, the folks at Reef are good, solid people, and I have no hesitation buying from them.

[WKenny]

I might be interested in buying a regulator necklace. How do I reach you on E-Bay.


Bill Kenny

kennywek@aol.com

[alpaj]

Sorry not to burst your bubble but this thread is 3 years old man. PM him if he's still around that is.

[Rick Inman]

Sorry not to burst your bubble but this thread is 3 years old man. PM him if he's still around that is.
Yup. He's still around. Bet he's still got some of that bungee, too.