Building a Pony

[johndiver999]

Adding to this:

In theory both your pony and main tank should always have at least enough air for 1-diver to safely surface.

However, if you had to, you could still buddy-breathe off your main tank. By the time you might "need" to buddy breathe, the other OOA diver should have had the time to calm down, collect their thoughts and communicate/understand you're buddy-breathing.

Perhaps, but counting on your buddy to be able to buddy breathe off one second stage is not prudent at all.

It is no longer taught and rarely practiced and it is stressful. I am reasonably sure that I could do it under most emergency circumstances, but this would be a silly assumption for the random dive buddy.

That is one reason, why I think the air 2 has a distinct advantage when diving a single tank and pony bottle. It allows you to carry a 3rd second stage, but with negligible additional complexity or opportunity to confuse second stages. No buddy breathing required!

 

[rx7diver]

I see the slung 19L ponies with a loop of LP hose bungied most of the length of the bottle. So that would be around 34" LP hose. I'm guessing those using 30L bottles wouldn't need more than that right?

You meant to write "19 cu ft" and "30 cu ft" (rather than "19L" and "30L"), correct?

rx7diver

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

You meant to write "19 cu ft" and "30 cu ft" (rather than "19L" and "30L"), correct?

rx7diver

Dang it ! I wanted to get a couple of them 30 L bottles an run em as doubles.

 

[Litefoot]

You meant to write "19 cu ft" and "30 cu ft" (rather than "19L" and "30L"), correct?

rx7diver

Yes. That would be a draft horse not a pony. Darn pain meds.

 

[Litefoot]

OK - if we're doing pony porn again ..... Slinging, intuitively, is a mucho mac simpler option.

View attachment 830131

To the OPs point about vintage gear on a pony, when I use one it's an AL19 with Conshelf VI slung l.
View attachment 830135
Respectfully,

James

@James79 @OMyMyOHellYes Is your hose and 1st strapped to the slung bottle as depicted in the photos above when you’re diving? I guess I’m asking because if you had a necklaced alternate and then the pony 2nd secured out of the way it could remove some of the confusion of a third 2nd. Right?

 

[James79]

@James79 @OMyMyOHellYes Is your hose and 1st strapped to the slung bottle as depicted in the photos above when you’re diving? I guess I’m asking because if you had a necklaced alternate and then the pony 2nd secured out of the way it could remove some of the confusion of a third 2nd. Right?

Mine is... Do to other training I already have a trained muscle memory for grabbing the second stage, extending my arm to pull the hose out of the bungies, and plugging it into my face. It's on a 28 inch hose that swivels at the first stage end, and the ball bungies make it easy to re-stow after practicing at the safety stop.

Respectfully,

James

 

[James79]

Incidentally, I sling mine on my right front when I use it (shoulder d ring and hip d ring) to take advantage of existing muscle memory. I gather that most sling on the left side. Regardless, the critical thing is to practice with the configuration you use so it becomes muscle memory.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

@James79 @OMyMyOHellYes Is your hose and 1st strapped to the slung bottle as depicted in the photos above when you’re diving? I guess I’m asking because if you had a necklaced alternate and then the pony 2nd secured out of the way it could remove some of the confusion of a third 2nd. Right?

Photo is pretty much exactly as used diving.

Using an Air 2 as an alternate off the primary bottle at the current time so not likely confusion of juggling three seconds. I like the Air 2 config for this application.

If I switch off to the BPW config, then I'll likely go to long hose w/necklaced second.

 

[Litefoot]

I wanted to follow-up here and let you all know that I decided to go back mount for now with an inverted 19cf bottle using the QuickDraw. That 19L bottle was a bit too much for my 30 lb wing . I may try to sling it later.
I’ll use the MK10/109 combo until I get a rebuild done on a couple of regs donated to the cause by an awesome member here. Thanks everyone for the great discussion. I “learnt” a ton.

 

[johndiver999]

Why is the tank in that position? How will the hoses be routed? Is that the best rotational angle within the mount? Are you sure you have the best access to the tank valve when the regulator is placed on the pony?