From: Karl_Schutz@rand.ORG (Karl Schutz)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Weight Belts (was Re: Boyancy control with drysuits)
Date: 10 Sep 92 21:38:40 GMT
Organization: The RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California


In article <1992Sep10.184559.11829@hubcap.clemson.edu>, mjs@hubcap.clemson.edu (M. J. Saltzman) writes:
> In article <1992Sep10.164810.20558@scifi.uucp> njs@scifi.uucp (Nicholas J. Simicich) writes:
> >In article <14573@mindlink.bc.ca> Charlie_Gibbs@mindlink.bc.ca (Charlie Gibbs) writes:
> >>In article <p0amsok@twilight.wpd.sgi.com> story@sgi.com
> >>(David (Duis) Story) writes:
> >>
> >>     Oddly enough, when we examined the belt later we found that
> >>the buckle itself hadn't let go.  It was still firmly gripping the
> >>free end of the belt.  It was the other end, which should have
> >>remained securely fastened to the buckle, that came unthreaded.
> >>
> >>     It was a good reminder that equipment needs to be inspected
> >>at least as closely before its first use as at any other time -
> >>and that nothing is so simple that it can't be screwed up.
> 
> Of course it also helps to thread the buckle onto the belt properly,
> and to have a reasonable amount of excess belt.  I'm not saying that
> wasn't done in this case, but I've seen some really poor threading
> jobs. 
>

Has anyone recently looked at how new belts are packaged these days.  They come
pre-threaded throught the buckle; usually as follows:
                                                        __
                                                        \X\
                                                       	 \X\
                                                          \X\
                                                           \X\
                               	                            \X\
                                                             \X\
               	                        Buckle                \X\
                                          |                    \X\
               _____          _____       |         _____       \X\
              /     \        /     \               /     \       \X\
      |XXXX|-/--|X|--\-|XX|-/--|X|--\-|XXXXXXXXX|-/--|X|--\-|XXXXX\*\XX|
....._______/         \____/         \___________/         \_______________o

   |                                                                       |
   |                                                                       |
 to free end                                                           terminal
 of belt                                                               node of 
                                                                       belt


The first-time buyer probably assumes that the pre-packaging thread job is the
manufacture's suggested and/or best method.  I draw this conclusion from
observation of recently-purchased donned belts and the subsequent retrieval of
the same.

The following thread job works for me.  (Only lost my belt once; and, it
detached at the buckle, threaded like above.  I was once naive too :-) .)  The
bunch I dive with also use this threading without a problem to date.
   
                                                        __
                                                        \X\
                                                         \X\
                                                          \X\
                                                           \X\
                                                            \X\
                                                             \X\
                                                              \X\
                ___            _________________________       \X\
               /___\          /       ___________       \       \X\
              //   \\        /       /           \       \       \X\
      |XXXX|-//-|X|-\\-|XX|-/--|X|--/-|XXXXXXXXX|-\--|X|--\-|XXXXX\*\XX|
....._______//       \\____/       /               \______/
  o_________/         \___________/



-- 
Karl F. Schutz
PADI DM-50321
Newsgroups: rec.scuba