Carrying Diving Air Tanks Aboard

[dctucker]

Not being a diver myself, I've not paid any attention to how tanks are safely secured aboard a RIB. What are the important safety concerns? What are some of the options for securing tanks aboard?

I may need to be regularly carrying some small tanks on the Searider, so I'm starting to plan for it. Probably 6 or 13 CF tanks, maybe 2-6 of them. Is this a fabricated it yourself or purchase?

Suggestions? Recommendations?

[codprawn]

Most dive RIBs I have seen have a bottle rack in the middle made from stainless.

A cheaper solution for just a few would be this ssytem

http://www.hitechplastics.co.nz/imag...ck%20right.jpg

[jyasaki]

Dive tanks are not really all that fragile. You're at more risk of beating the crap out of the rest of the boat with the tanks. That said, you don't want side impact on the tank valves (that would be classified under the "bad stuff" heading.) The cylinders themselves are tough, but constant banging together will drive you nuts in no time.

For my SIB (with limited space), I used to assemble the scuba rig, and lay them in the front of the boat. Spare cylinders were wedged in between the assembled rigs. (In truth, my RIB is using the same method, until I can get the boat into my buddy's shop to finish up with the tank racks.)

Some people use wire "milk crate" racks; I always found that they take up too much room, and are a pain in the butt to use (tank boots and BC's keep snagging on the wire when you don't want them to.)

A couple of people I know stand the rigs up and use a ratchet strap to tie them to the tubes, but I could never get mine to stay put that way.

Just reread your message: 6 or 13 CF tanks? What are you using those for? I hope you're not planning on using those as primary dive tanks.

Those would be a custom job, as most off-the-shelf solutions are sized for standard dive cylinders (7 to 8" diameter) rather than ponies (which are closer to 4 or 5 inches, I'm guessing.)

jky

[dctucker]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Dive tanks are not really all that fragile. You're at more risk of beating the crap out of the rest of the boat with the tanks. That said, you don't want side impact on the tank valves (that would be classified under the "bad stuff" heading.) The cylinders themselves are tough, but constant banging together will drive you nuts in no time.

Just reread your message: 6 or 13 CF tanks? What are you using those for? I hope you're not planning on using those as primary dive tanks.

Those would be a custom job, as most off-the-shelf solutions are sized for standard dive cylinders (7 to 8" diameter) rather than ponies (which are closer to 4 or 5 inches, I'm guessing.)

jky

Thanks. It's the "bad stuff" that I want to avoid. I keep thinking of the scene at the end of "Jaws", where the Chief uses the diving tank to blow up the shark. Don't need anything like that happening aboard unintentionally! Sounds like I'll be building something myself. Or rather, having an expert woodworker build something for me. Probably best to build something with a lid, so the tanks are fully enclosed and protected?

No, This isn't diving related. It's a top secret project I'm working on. Probably going to wind up using compressed air as a power source for some machinery and will need to carry the tanks on the rib. Waiting for the engineering students at MIT to calculate the forces and capacities before we know what size tanks we need to carry. Probably won't be the full sized tanks though, too big & heavy!

I could tell you more, but then I'd have to kill all of you (or at leat the Brits ). And maybe blow up the rib.net server as well! It's a damned cool project though!!

Hmmm... maybe I can have the carbon fiber fabricator who's building the system make me a really cool looking bottle rack!

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by dctucker

No, This isn't diving related. It's a top secret project I'm working on. Probably going to wind up using compressed air as a power source for some machinery and will need to carry the tanks on the rib. Waiting for the engineering students at MIT to calculate the forces and capacities before we know what size tanks we need to carry.

Flame thrower for dealing with errant yachties that get in the way?

[whiteminiman]

Originally Posted by dctucker

No, This isn't diving related. It's a top secret project I'm working on.

You gonna be running your RIB on Nitrous Oxide?!!! With a big red GO button on the helm! It'll make everything blurry like in the Fast and the Furious!

WMM

[dctucker]

Originally Posted by whiteminiman

You gonna be running your RIB on Nitrous Oxide?!!! With a big red GO button on the helm! It'll make everything blurry like in the Fast and the Furious!

I LIKE that idea! Especially after getting slammed on another forum, for asking about tweaking a 75 E-TEC up to a 90.

I'm enjoying the conjecture! Anyone else??

[Stoo]

You point out that these are 6 and 13 cu ft bottles, right? These are just "pony bottles", so that won't fit in any standard tank racks. I presume that they are aluminum, so you need to be careful not to gouge them. Aluminum is considerably softer than steel of course. I am curious as to their end use, and why you would use a number of small tanks rather than a large one....

As jky pointed out though, it is mainly the valves you need to protect, but they are pretty tough. Also, be careful you don't overfill the tanks and leave them lying about in the sun or you might end up with a burst disk letting go...!

[prairie tuber]

Originally Posted by dctucker

Probably going to wind up using compressed air as a power source for some machinery and will need to carry the tanks on the rib.

If the application will take place at above 0 C (32 F) temperatures, why not use CO2 tanks? Much safer and will provide much more energy for a given tank size.

http://www.powertank.com/

[jyasaki]

Like Stoo said, the cylinders aren't really all that fragile.

The exploding cylinder thing is, for the most part, myth (some older aluminum cylinders, made of a more brittle alloy, are in fact prone to cracking and exploding; usually during the fill process.)

Recently manufactured cylinders use a more ductile alloy, which is not as prone to cracking, and when they are punctured, release one hell of a blast of air (and possibly project the cylinder around), but no explosion.

In case you're wondering, an aluminum cylinders' wall is near a half inch thick; not something that an errant gaff is going to hurt.

What you build will depend on how many cylinders you need to carry. Might check out wine racks; they'll be too small, but if you can find one with a decent density of bottle storage, it may give you some ideas.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that a plain box would be simplest, especially if you need in situ access to the valves. Plan on using something to isolate teh cylinders from one another (neoprene works well), or you'll drive yourself batty with clanging.

I, for one, have officially had my curiosity piqued.

jky