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On the subject of mounts, Rich asked about a close-fitting bracket, while
someone else questioned the cost of the pony tamer and similar brackets.
I had a bracket ordered through the shop (I think it was a DiveRite but I
didn't keep track of details) which was relatively cheap (~$30), it was
portable and required no mating brackets on the primary tanks, and it was
relatively secure.

The mount is too simple.  It's a U-shaped loop of heavy guage wire which
mounts to the pony with stainless steel hose clamps (open end of the "U"
being at the bottom).  You bend the top away from the tank and the closed
end of the "U" loops over the primary tank valve.  Four small 1/4" snips of
surgical tubing are slid over the U just inside the clamp points of the
hose clamps to keep the pony/primary from making direct contact.  Finally,
a quick release clip on one side of the U, plus a loop of surgical tubing
going through the mating quick release clip fits around the primary tank.
The U-bracket bears the bulk of the weight, the tubing loop stabilizes the
position of the pony.

I've had mine for three years.  The wire loop was plastic-coated and some of
that has worn off at the valve loop, but otherwise it's fine.  If you don't
have any clearance between your tanks and backplate, it might be impossible
to fit the securing strap around a primary tank; and with a BC it's a bit of
a bother feeding the strap between a double-banded strap design.  The only
major drawback is that it isn't detachable (without removing the primary
regulator, so more or less forget that).

The classic pony tamer requires mounts on the primaries, which is either
costly if you have multiple tanks, or prohibitive for those dive vacations
when you're using rental tanks.  There is some new gizmo that has a cam band
like strap that replaces the hose clamps for the primary and looks promising,
but as I recall it's around $90 (can't see paying that much for what you get)

Of course if Rich carries five ponies like he said, this won't work for
him :-)

Jeff Kell <jeff-kell@ut*.ed*>

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