storage of diving tanks

[In Training]

where and how do you store your diving tanks? We have a 49 ft bavaria, 3 cabins, 3 heads plus dedicated shower room. Only my husband and I so planning to use one aft cabin for storage and the opposite head. We have 6 dive tanks. I find if I open the door to the bathroom I can stand all 6 tanks on he floor, although not completely flat. however, they would need to be strapped in. need suggestions on how to do that or alternative suggestion for storage. all suggestions appreciated.

[poiu]

Originally Posted by In Training

where and how do you store your diving tanks? We have a 49 ft bavaria, 3 cabins, 3 heads plus dedicated shower room. Only my husband and I so planning to use one aft cabin for storage and the opposite head. We have 6 dive tanks. I find if I open the door to the bathroom I can stand all 6 tanks on he floor, although not completely flat. however, they would need to be strapped in. need suggestions on how to do that or alternative suggestion for storage. all suggestions appreciated.

Get rid of four and buy a dive compressor. I did this.

There are proprietary storage solutions, or make your own clamp/brackets. Not too hard to do.

[jordanbigel]

Originally Posted by poiu

Get rid of four and buy a dive compressor. I did this.

Second the motion.

Coltri-Sub gasoline powered is the smallest, lightest option. Assuming you are already carrying gasoline for the outboard, you just have to carry a bit more. Some people are put off by this, but I figure I am already carrying a lot of other flammable stuff. I keep it on deck in approved containers.

It's not cheap, but it will change your life if you like to dive, and based on 6 tanks, I assume you like to dive. Definitely takes up the same space as 2 tanks.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by In Training

where and how do you store your diving tanks? We have a 49 ft bavaria, 3 cabins, 3 heads plus dedicated shower room. Only my husband and I so planning to use one aft cabin for storage and the opposite head. We have 6 dive tanks. I find if I open the door to the bathroom I can stand all 6 tanks on he floor, although not completely flat. however, they would need to be strapped in. need suggestions on how to do that or alternative suggestion for storage. all suggestions appreciated.

Feel your pain on that, two of my kids dive and we have carried too many cylinders on many occasions.


There are two choices.


If you keep the cylinders upright you can make or buy some sort of contoured support to fit between them and the bulkhead then use a camover buckle or heavy bungee to hold them in place. There are many choices commercially and they are not hard to make out of plywood. See photos.


The other choice is you can make a heavy plywood box that is sized to hold two layers of three cylinders. You wedge a towel or rag or plywood shim or whatever between cylinders and layers so they don't bang on each other. I have done this with two layers of two cylinders for hauling in pickup beds etc but have not used the boxes onboard. No reason they wouldn't work although in a seaway you may have to lash or otherwise attach the box to the deck or bulkhead.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by poiu

Get rid of four and buy a dive compressor. I did this.

Sure, just realize that there's a certain amount of maintenance and air testing and so on that goes with it. And you're looking at $5000. I tried to do it on the cheap and wasted a bunch of money on a machine that didn't work and that no one could fix. There used to be various low-cost sources of good surplus compressors years ago but the market has changed.

[scherzoja]

In Training,

I converted a hanging locker into a dive locker. Made bracket out of aluminum bar and can store three tanks securely. Once clamped in, they become part of the boat. I didn't want tanks bouncing around above or below deck.

I also build shelves that fit in the area above the stowed tanks.

SCUBA - LA Gallery

Perhaps you can fasten clamps (wood or aluminum) to the head area and clamp your tanks in there?

[clownfishsydney]

I stored my 3 under the floor in one hull. Fitted perfectly. Basically, anywhere you can find and make something to hold in place.

[Tupaia]

I second the compressor option. Two tanks can be laid down and easily restrained.

[Sailon1]

Also consider using old tank backpacks, Remove unnecessary straps and parts and secure the backpack in desired location. Use the tank bands/straps to secure the tanks.