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Ok George I had stated that I only wantd to give an opnion not get into a debate but debate it is. I have been butt mounting lights since 1989(I waist mounted lights from 1965 until then and from 1962 to 1965 we mounted jury rigged lights from our neck or inbetween tanks) and I have yet to become entangled one single time. The reason I prefer butt mount is less drag and more streamlined diiving. Below I will give my answer to each point you make. Bear in mind this is not a statement that everyone should butt mount a light or that it is wrong to mount lights in other fashions. Where the light is carried will have a lot to do with the type equipment used and the techniques used on a project. With the tow behind DPV and the style of towing WKPP uses a buttmount light doesnot sound feasiable. For the towing I do and teach it works. It also works on a ride on DPV in any situtation. You wrote: > > > > Tom, here are some reasons NOT to use the butt lights: > >1) The use of a double attachment point on the bottom of the tanks which > necessitates the addition of two hose clamps and d-rings to the tanks - > more goofery to hang up, make it difficult to sit with the tanks, get > tangled in lines and snags where you can not see them or get to them, > and is obviously just plain dangerous and a convoluted effort to sell > a totally useless piece of shit light by dive rite, and a good way to > damage a proper light. > >1A**As stated above I have yet to become entangled with a butt mounted light. I have no problem reaching the AUL switch and the twist actuactor is even simplier yet. I have yet to damage my light when it is butt mounted, and I most definetly do not baby my equipment. > 2) You will have trouble accessing the switch to the light, especially if > you are using an argon bottle, or stage diving, and that twist on > handle is nonsense and one more thing to fail and be dangerous. > 2A *****Answered above, except my argon bottle has not limited my flexiability, I may be mounting it differntly than you.The twist on handle is not as prone to failure as a switch. > 3) The switch and cord are subjected to damage by being pointed outward, > and convoluting the cord or through-hull arrangement is another concession > to inanity. >3A **It all has to do with the way you route the cord. >4) The cord must be much longer to make it to your hand, which is obviously > an unneccessary accomondation to convolution, and will be one more > snagging problem. >4A***My AUL light has the standard length and works ok, The diverite is also standard length and no problems, For guys who wear helmets the length on a butt light would most likely create a trouble spot. > 5) The light now lays over your legs, a problem with 104's, and a danger > with the big 121's. >5A**In 104's and 108's my light rest on my butt when in the water, yes on 121's it is on my legs but has not caused any problems to date. >6) Now you have lost a good place to tow your second scooter, to place you > exploration reel, and to tow your buddy from. >6A On towing a DPV, I agree but how many divers outside the WKPP stage DPV's also if I stage a DPV one will have to be a ride on and that is easy enough to tow with a butt light. I have no problem towing a buddy, I have done it, I have been towed and I teach towing all using a butt light. I could not tow (I assume) using the method you have developed in the WKPP. > 7) Butt-mounting yor light is like wearing a sign on your back saying, > " I have given little or no thought to this activity or to safety, > do not violate rule number one by diving with me". >7A The buttlite is as safe as any system, It may not apply to your particular situtatin. Advantages 1. Cleaner config with less drag 2. Allows acess to both sides of the backplate for stage storage when using 3 or more stages. 3. For use on a ride on DPV it gives less drag I can go on but there is no point in doing so. Conclusion: Either side mounting or buttmounting of lights is safe and both have thousands of safe dives proving there applications. It is just which do you prefer. On specific projects with well defined parameters dealing with a particular project either way could be a disadvantage and not applicable or useable on a specific project. With the WKPP procedures butt mount lights are not useable and will effect safety due to the methodology used by the WKPP project, This like of appliciability to WKPP activities has nothing to do with the overall safety of the system in dives conducted outside of WKPP I consider myself, Larry Green, Lamar Hires all as safe divers and we all buttmount lights as does a significant percentage of divers AND INSTRUCTORS out there. YOU CAN DIVE SAFELY WITH LIGHTS MOUNTED ON YOUR WAIST OR ON YOUR BUTT AS LONG AS YOU TAKE THE EFFORT TO CONFIGURE THEM CORRECTLY EITHER WAY. > Now, give me the next piece of abject goofery to discuss. - G > > >-- >Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@terra.net'. >Send subscription/archive requests to `techdiver-request@terra.net'. >
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