Inverted Doubles 'Bull Bars'l

[Chilly_Dipper]

Does anyone know of where to get a set of bull bars for doubles in north America? I'm looking into inverting my doubles so that I can reach my valves easily.

Before any of the trolls start I'll point out that I could do my valve drills just fine until I tore my rotatory cuff in my shoulder. The only thing I can find on the web regarding bull bars is an article called Nigels setup, but I am unable to find anything in any manufacturers catalog.

Cheers,
CD

 

[Teller]

Maybe sidemount is in your future.

 

[elan]

My friend switched to sidemount after he had a bicycle accident and damaged his shoulder.

 

[Akimbo]

I had to build mine, there are photos in this thread:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/solo-divers/408803-progressive-equalization.html

 

[Chilly_Dipper]

I had to build mine, there are photos in this thread:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/solo-divers/408803-progressive-equalization.html

I can't seem to view that thread. Do you have any mechanical drawing of your set up with dimensions?

Cheers,
CD

---------- Post Merged at 10:45 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 10:42 PM ----------

Maybe sidemount is in your future.

I've tried side mount and didn't care for it.

Maybe when my back is gone and I can no longer sling doubles around I'll go that route but not for now.

 

[Akimbo]

Oops, it is in the Solo Forum and requires signing up. Here is a quote and the images:

I have been using progressive equalization since learning the technique from ex-British Navy divers around 1974. We didn’t have isolation manifolds then but did have doubles with individual cylinder valves that manifolded together to support a single regulator. A lot of doubles in Scandinavia and northern Europe were like that, as well as doubles in the US with an inexpensive adapter manifold. I preferred the adapters to the standard US doubles manifold which used metal to metal seats instead of O-rings in those days.

My most recent sets of valve-down doubles were built because complying with the SDI solo card requires a redundant gas source. Of course modern doubles with an isolation manifold and two regulators meets the criteria. I got the solo card to let charter boat skippers off the liability hook. Probably about 80% of my recreational dives have been same-ocean-buddy or nobody-on-the-beach solos most of my life.

To be honest, I am more comfortable with them. I would be perfectly happy to dive solo with a single regulator but progressive equalization makes it pretty darn difficult to get distracted and run low on gas.

View attachment 113865

Progressive equalization is discussed in these posts:

Nigel's twinset rig

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ad...y-bailout-strategies-recreational-diving.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/tanks-valves-bands/393392-double-valve-single-tank.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/vintage-equipment-diving/397498-baby-doubles.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/tanks-valves-bands/399622-isolation-manifold-question.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/tanks-valves-bands/394714-custom-manifolds.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ad...-cant-reliably-reach-doubles-valves-help.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ba...cuba-tanks-set-up-like-firefighters-scba.html

I have drawings for a Rev-2 version in AutoCAD format. I can make them into a PDF in you like.

---------- Post Merged at 09:57 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 08:34 AM ----------

Here is a link to the Protectors/Lift Bars made in the UK. As near as I can tell they are the only ones marketed today.

Quality Diving Equipment by Custom Divers - Protectors & Lift Bars