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From: <kirvine@sa*.ne*>
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 06:43:03 -0500
To: Charles Ayash <cagraphics@mi*.co*>
CC: cavers@cavers.com
Subject: Re: 2 questions
Scootering the bottle causes much less drag if placed as low on the
tanks as possible. If it is sticking up level with the necks or higher,
it slows you dowm. This is all relative - every fpm counts over a long
distance. Even not having to stop to change stage bottles adds an
effective 20 fpm , something that takes about 5 more pounds of thrust to
equal, or a big reduction in drag, as in the difference between a
drysuit and a wetsuit.

The difference of five pounds of thrust is the difference between one of
my scooters and a stock Mako. If I wind a motor for five more pounds of
thrust than that, if draws 10 more amps of current, which cuts the burn
time almost in half.

This shows you how important efficiency and drag can be over distance,
as proved by the usdct at Wakulla. Their longest penetration ( by the
two Brits - the other strokes could not get to first base) took over
five hours to do what we did in 185 minutes, and we were on open
circuit, and had to change stages - seven times, and we pulled them all
out with us. When we do that same dive on the Halcyon, where there is no
changing stages and we are not pulling a bunch of bottles, we cover that
portion of the dive in 120 minutes. Of course we are not preoccupied
with staying alive , we are enjoying the cave. Doing it their way is
like being blindfolded bareass in a box of rattlesnakes.

We don't so this to save on deco - we do it to save face. Only a stroke
would ride around in a cave looking like a train wreck . Actually , the
quicker and more consistently you do it, the safer it is.

Charles Ayash wrote:
> 
> I have just over 20 dives with the Halcyon Argon straps
> and they work just fine. The rubber grip on the inside
> of the strap helps secure the position of the bottle.
> 
> Not that  have a need for Argon at present, I do use
> the setup with air for DS inflation.
> 
> I have noticed that George often mentions Slip Stream,
> Hey the Guy knows what he is talking about, because I
> have not noticed any drag created by the bottle.
> 
> Rock Boots?  Dont know a TLS 350 is next for me with 2 side pockets.
> Then I can lose that silly pouch that creates drag.
> Must be that Slip Stream thing.
> 
> At 08:54 PM 2/26/99 +0100, you wrote:
> >Hi,,,
> >
> >I have just watched the DIR 98 video which contained some nice info.
> >
> >2 questions spring to mind:
> >
> >- The Halcyon argon bottle bands; they don't look too stable. What I mean
> >is that the bands - as I saw it - don't feature some sort of cam action. Is
> >the velcro enough to keep the tanks stable?
> >
> >- On a slightly different note: does anyone have any experience with the
> >fairly new DUI Rock Boots? Fin control, warmth, quality?
> >
> >TIA.
> >
> >       Hilsen (...and for the anglophiles: Best regards)
> >
> >       Peter Fjelsten
> >       ___________________________________
> >       TekDykningsWeb 3.0
> >       http://welcome.to/pf
> >       ICQ: 1783 9090
> >


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