New BC - Tank Band Conditioning?

[jnorris]

I just got a new Oceanic BC and we're going on a dive vacation in about a week. I've heard talk that a new BC should have the tank band "conditioned". I assume this would involve getting the band wet and getting it to stretch out. Am I close? What should I do to get this BC ready for my trip so that I don't show up at the boat without having this taken care of?

Thanks for any and all input!

[dumpsterDiver]

Oceanic uses a weird shaped cam buckle and they have the least amount of leverage and tightness of any manufacturer i have seen, They pop lose a lot based on my experience.

If you have a tank that is the same that you will be using on the trip... I would wet the strap, tighten it up firmly (not crazy tight becasuse they can break) and then store the bc on the tank for a week.... maybe check it in 2-days and see if it is loose, then re-wet and store again..

[JahJahwarrior]

Even after use, nylon tends to stretch when wet. Putting it on a tank is a good idea, but on the boat see if you can get it wet before putting it on the tank.

How tight to set it up is a mixture of multiple factors, including your strength, the buckle strength, the buckle length, and how slightly you can adjust the bands. I like them tight, because I hate loose tanks. You'll quickly realize what works best for you after a few dives in the BC.

[jnorris]

Thanks for these replies. Sort of as I thought, but it's good to have confirmation!