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Scuba Forum / Scuba Equipment / August 2004Help! - Dacor Falcon BCD - Best method of draining after diving
I have a Dacor Falcon BCD. I cannot get the last amount of water out of it after diving. The traditional method of blowing it up, holding it upside down and opening the release valve at the end of the tube always leaves some water in the BCD. Any pointers would be appreciated. >I have a Dacor Falcon BCD. I cannot get the last amount of water out of it > after diving. The traditional method of blowing it up, holding it upside > down and opening the release valve at the end of the tube always leaves > some water in the BCD. Any pointers would be appreciated. Is there an overpressure valve at the bottom? Sometimes these are better positioned for drainage than the inflator hose. Rinse it out at the end of diving and leave some fresh water in it, partially inflated. > I have a Dacor Falcon BCD. I cannot get the last amount of water out of it > after diving. The traditional method of blowing it up, holding it upside > down and opening the release valve at the end of the tube always leaves > some water in the BCD. Any pointers would be appreciated. The only way you can dry the interior completely is to circulate dry air through it for a few minutes. Rinse it out with fresh water a few times. Adding a small quantity of listerine (sp?) on the final rinse might kill off the growies hiding in the fresh water. Check with Dacor before using listerine (sp?) or the like. > Rinse it out with fresh water a few times. Adding a small quantity of > listerine (sp?) on the final rinse might kill off the growies hiding in > the fresh water. Check with Dacor before using listerine (sp?) or the > like. You would be better using a diluted solution Milton (as used for sterilising baby's bottles) which is typically 3% Hypochlorite. DONT use it concentrated, use approx a capful (approx 50ml / 2 Fluid Ounces or about 1 to 25 with tap water, and DONT use normal chlorine based domestic bleaches as this will degrade the bladder material. Leave overnight and then rinse out well (just like sterilising baby feeding bottles). >You would be better using a diluted solution Milton (as used for sterilising >baby's bottles) which is typically 3% Hypochlorite. IMO you would be better off laying it in the driveway and running over it with your car a few times. "hypochlorite" ? *what* hypochlorite? Sodium? Calcium? They are both furious OXIDIZERS. Neither one belongs in a BC for any reason, in any dilution. Their is no need to sterilize a BC, unless your baby is going to drink from it. safe diving, bullshark > Rinse it out with fresh water a few times. Adding a small quantity of > listerine (sp?) on the final rinse might kill off the growies hiding in > the fresh water. Check with Dacor before using listerine (sp?) or the > like. Don't forget to sterilise the hose & inflator, especially the inside of the mouthpiece. >Don't forget to sterilise the hose & inflator, especially the inside of the >mouthpiece. Why? safe diving, bullshark > >Don't forget to sterilise the hose & inflator, especially the inside of the > >mouthpiece. > > Why? Because the only reason to sterilise the inside of the bladder is so that in an emergency, if you need to inflate or breathe off of the BCD/ wing you wont get a lung infection. Safe diving. Tony >Because the only reason to sterilise the inside of the bladder is so that in >an emergency, if you need to inflate Tony I really don't know what you're saying here. I inflate my BC every time I go diving. No matter what you do to your mouthpiece and hose, they will not be sterile after you jump in the water. >or breathe off of the BCD/ wing you >wont get a lung infection. Such an act is one of desperation. I would not even suggest it in public. It is not an approved or recommended method of rescue by any agency that I know of. It is possible, but so dangerous that I would give even the most experienced diver no more than a 50% chance of surviving the attempt (in real conditions). The principal problem is that the inflator hose is full of water and there is no way to purge it. Notwithstanding, breathing from a non-sterile bag or mouthpiece or hose is not necessarily going to give you a lung infection. In fact, if you're healthy, it's not going to give you anything. I breathe off my BC all the time on the surface. I orally deflate it before I dive, and sometimes I orally inflate it after cleaning. I never sterilize any part of it and I've never gotten sick from it. safe diving, bullshark OK It's not commonly practiced anymore; however given the choice of either drowning or a few gulps of salt water then I'd take the coughing. Obviously this is very uncommon practice now, but used to be taught in the pool (as I was) under the BSAC training regime. That was in the days where many divers did not have any other alternative air source, such as a 'octopus', pony cylinder or twinset. The other reason, which is far more common, is that if aural inflation is required of the BCD, then it is likely that some air will be breathed back from the BCD, and any bladder that is not cleaned periodically will / may have ingress of such matter as bacteria and, even more likely, fungal spores, which may thrive in the damp interior of the bladder and hose assembly. These can cause either infection or allergic reaction and should be avoided. Although uncommon, it is possible, and the effort required to properly clean these bladders & hoses is minimal. Personally I think you are nit-picking and should go away & clean your kit :-) > >Because the only reason to sterilise the inside of the bladder is so that in > >an emergency, if you need to inflate [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > bullshark >The other reason, which is far more common, is that if aural inflation is "aural"? >required of the BCD, then it is likely that some air will be breathed back As I said, I've been doing it for 20 years and have yet to get a "lung infection" (whatever that is). >Personally I think you are nit-picking Not hardly. Your recommendation (sterilization by super chlorination) was IMO, ridiculous, and you might as well just set your gear on fire. If it doesn't ruin it outright, it will shorten it's life several fold. Have you noticed how few mushrooms grow in the ocean? There is no reason whatsoever to sterilize your BC. None. safe diving, bullshark Ok, Oral. Compared to other spelling mistakes I've seen on this NG, that's a bit pedantic of you. > >The other reason, which is far more common, is that if aural inflation is > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > bullshark > OK It's not commonly practiced anymore; however given the choice of either > drowning or a few gulps of salt water then I'd take the coughing. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > The other reason, which is far more common, is that if aural inflation Do you aurally inflate on a regular basis? > I have a Dacor Falcon BCD. I cannot get the last amount of water out > of it after diving. The traditional method of blowing it up, holding > it upside down and opening the release valve at the end of the tube > always leaves some water in the BCD. Any pointers would be > appreciated. a. A sharp knife? b. One thing that will get a good bit of that last amount out is to refill it with air, turn it upside down and jiggle it around as you ket the air out. c. Another thing is to get most of the air out, then form a "funnel" with the material that surrounds the BC end of the tube. d. Open the valve and microwave the whole thing to boil off the water. I'd ignore all but the middle two. >I have a Dacor Falcon BCD. I cannot get the last amount of water out of it >Any pointers would be appreciated. It's not a big deal. Nobody can. I recommend that you flush it with fresh water a couple times though and just try to get as much out as you can. If you are going to store it for a long time, you might want to unscrew the inflator hose. Over time the moisture in side will evaporate out. safe diving, bullshark |
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