Seaquest Balance statistics

Hey all

I am trying to buy a more travel friendly BCD since I will be doing some traveling in the near future. I was wondering if anyone has or knows where I can get the specific stats on the 2004 Seaquest Balance. Things like the lift specifically. I want to compare what I'm going to buy with what I already have but cant find the stats on an older model bcd. Id appreciate any help. Thanks

-Mike

I bought the Balance when my gear didn't arrive for a trip. It's 36lbs lift for the ML, I think it's slight more for the L but can't remember. I had to deal with the narrower shoulders of the ML because the large waist band was too big for my 31" waist. This is the 2001 model.

I don't think it's changed in the last few years. Why don't you call Aqualung to find out directly? Easier than depending on online sources.

31" waist - just like Jerry Seinfeld!

Jerry was 31" about 30 years ago.

Lift for S, M, and ML is 36lbs or 16L. Lift for Large is 40lb/18l. Lift for XL is 50lbs/22l.

I find lift specs meaningless. One generally doesn't need more than 20lbs. of lift.

I can't remember which year they switched from velcro to clips for the weight pockets. My first Balance had the velcro wear out and the pockets rip out. The one I have know is far better.

I use for lighter travel.

Lift for S, M, and ML is 36lbs or 16L. Lift for Large is 40lb/18l. Lift for XL is 50lbs/22l.

 

I find lift specs meaningless. One generally doesn't need more than 20lbs. of lift.

 

I can't remember which year they switched from velcro to clips for the weight pockets. My first Balance had the velcro wear out and the pockets rip out. The one I have know is far better.

 

I use for lighter travel.

I have a 2001 Balance (with Velcro) that I only use for tropical diving now. After I lost a 10 pound weight pouch on a cold water dry suit dive I ditched it for a Ranger with a more secure weight system. The Balance is a great BC, but get one of the newer ones with the snap clip weight system.

Dave

I have a 2001 Balance (with Velcro) that I only use for tropical diving now. After I lost a 10 pound weight pouch on a cold water dry suit dive I ditched it for a Ranger with a more secure weight system. The Balance is a great BC, but get one of the newer ones with the snap clip weight system.

 

Dave

I wasn't very clear. Dave is absolutely correct. Don't get the Velcro version. I have chased many a weight pocket. I recall having a conversation with the Aqualung rep about them a few years ago. He insisted that they had tested them and that they were engineered properly, but......because so many people complained, they redesigned to the current clip system.

Gee, who do you think was right, all those customers or their test engineers?

Errr the engineer used 4 lbs of weight and simulated the rest of the 16lbs it's suppose to carry?

I love my Balance; it fits like a glove. I have had no problems with my Velcro weigh pouches. The key is to make sure that the Velcro is pressed down securely before hitting the water. The biggest problem I have had is with the inflator hose. Although it looks like a single hose, it is made of several rubber segments connected with hard plastic connectors. I am very careful with my gear, but I had this composite break on me three times! The last time I was at Roca Partida on my safety stop when I discovered I had no bouyancy control. Fortunately I wasn't overweighted and was able to swim to the surface, otherwise I would have had to drop my weights into the abyss. The other problem with my Balance is that the chest strap is not adjustable up and down. It fits great with my wetsuit, but interferes with my drysuit inflator valve. The upshot is that I don't use the chest strap with my drysuit.

The Balance although a nice BCD still .. and very popular is not half as good as it used to be back in 2000/2001 it used to be a nice simple bcd without loads of silly things and buckles everywhere .. perfect for travel and tropical diving ... it now looks like a tech diver bcd almost ... its such a shame that seaquest did that to their best ever BCD. They should have just made a new line and kept the balance as perfect for tropical and travel diving as possible.

I still have a SeaQuest 3D. Now that really is a BC for a travelling diver - but SeaQuest stopped making it, I assume because it was not a sales success. I use the 3D whenever the requirements of my job do not demand I use something else.

They replaced it with the early Balance, complete with faults. http://www.divernetxtra.com/equipment/0201...sts.htm#balance

The only problem was that the direct-feed hose supplied, an item which has a special slim connection to enable it to integrate nicely with the corrugated hose, was too short.

This meant that if you did anything but rig the camband at precisely the right place on the tank, it was impossible to release air by pulling down on the corrugated hose, as it was too restricted by the direct-feed hose.

is that your review John ? .. If it is I have a question. The hose being too short .. makes no sense at all to me .. you could just as easily say the tank was mounted to low .. or the first stage was to far from the bcd inflator.

I had the short hose and loved it, the other hoses I have had to use since are too long and don't fit nicely into the setup and bow out.

But the one thing I will agree with you about liking the 3D more .. the velcro cummerbund .. i like the balances quick release .. but the velcro ones kicked ass for tropical diving .. unfortunately I think the problem back in these days were .. gadgets ruled supreme .. and no one was buying simp0le nice BCD's as they all wanted to pretend that they were tech divers !

The hose being too short .. makes no sense at all to me .. you could just as easily say the tank was mounted to low .. or the first stage was to far from the bcd inflator.

I had the short hose and loved it, the other hoses I have had to use since are too long and don't fit nicely into the setup and bow out.

I always mount the tank so that the regulator first-stage is level with the top of my lungs when I am upright. If the hose is too short you cannot operate the top dump by pulling on the corrugated hose because it is restricted. I only used it for two weeks (3 dives per day) but I tried all combinations of tank position without a satisfactory result.

http://www.divernet.com/cgi-bin/articles.p...NG+...#seaquest

Thank you very much that is exactly what I needed I appreciate all the input guys thanks again.