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Patrick Moran wrote:

>Hey folks,

>Just out of curiousity...
>Has anyone ever experienced a seam blowout in the bladder of a backmounted 
>BC in say the last 10 years (reasonable past)? I am not asking this to be 
>sarcastic. I really would like to know if this can and does happen. I was 
>under this impression (possibly misinformed) that the heat seal is as 
>strong , or stronger, than the actual bladder material (kinda like a 
>well glued wetsuit seam).

>I guess the question that I am asking is, is it really necessary to have 
>two bags if the primary bag is well protected from puncture/tear (as 
>demonstrated by lininig the bag with innnerr tube rubber in the "Doing It 
>Right" video). It seems that the one of the key sales points in all of these

>new "tech" style bcs is the double bag option. Is this a "convolution", 
>as George would say, considering the extra equipment that is hanging at 
>the divers chest and that this extra bladder does not increase lift 
>capability, or is it a necessary redudancy?

>Comments? Flames?

>Pat Moran


Pat

I personally think that some sort of back-up system is a must.  Not
neccesarily dual bladders, but some back-up inflation system.  I don't use
dual bladders, instead I use my drysuit as a back-up inflation system and I
always carry aroud a lift bag [so at the very least, I would have a line to
pull myself up, or tie it off and use it to slow my ascent if I ditch my
weights].  Now the lift bag isn't gonna do it for you in an overhead
environment, obviously some other alternative must be used.  


The only time that I experienced a total blow out, was when the plastic
adapter that connects the inflator hose to the bladder broke off at the
threads.  That was fun!  Free-falling to 70 feet before my buddy (my wife)
caught up with me and slowed me down.  In that case we both used her BC to
get us back to the surface [which is one of the many reasons why I dive with
back mounted bladders; it squeezed her quite a bit].  However, I have never
heard of a bladder seam bursting, I suppose it is possible.  

Mike

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