Hawaiian pack - with a twist…

[Drado]

One of my friends - Dexter, came up with a rather interesting project: he decided to make a Hawaiian pack - but used a VDH - styled flat plate made out of PVC coupled with rolled pvc pipe shoulder hooks. In lieu of a belt, he opted to run bungees instead. I asked his permission to post his photos of his project, so here they’ are:







Makes me want to try modifying my plate, and doing something similar!

[antique diver]

A timely post, Eduardo. I have been wanting to make something like this to avoid wrestling with donning limp & twisted shoulder straps. I'm wondering how well it stays put for maintaining optimum placement of double hose regs. I guess a good waist strap and probably a crotch strap would do the trick once the shoulder shape is adjusted well.

[Drado]

He showed another picture of his setup. He does have a crotch bungee as well - and a bolt snap as a buckle. It was also modified with D rings on the shoulder part.

[Bryan]

Those of you who know me, know that I loooove Hawaiian Packs.....Just take my money, I want one of those!

[1969ivan1]

THe D rings are a nice touch.

[Drado]

Here’s a video of it featuring AK19-069 and a nice sunny day at the beach.

[antique diver]

That looks sooo easy to get in and out of (as long as I didn't have to sit down in the sand to do so).

Thanks for showing us the rig.

[Nemrod]

That is really cool. Really nice execution of the concept! Beautiful and nice photos too, thanks for sharing.

James

[BigSwell]

I've been going through a knee-high stack of vintage Skin Diver magazines I've acquired and noticed this ad

IMG_4069.JPG

[couv]

He showed another picture of his setup. He does have a crotch bungee as well - and a bolt snap as a buckle. It was also modified with D rings on the shoulder part.

Thanks Ed,

Now I have to get tickets to the latest Bond film.

Couv

[couv]

I've been going through a knee-high stack of vintage Skin Diver magazines I've acquired and noticed this adIMG_4069.JPG

Thanks BigSwell,

That's the Hawaiian pack I remember. I used to do volunteer work for a Search and Rescue team (was more of a recovery team) and those are the models we had. Very quick to put on and jump in the water.

Couv

[antique diver]

I've been going through a knee-high stack of vintage Skin Diver magazines I've acquired and noticed this adIMG_4069.JPG

Thanks BigSwell,

That's the Hawaiian pack I remember. I used to do volunteer work for a Search and Rescue team (was more of a recovery team) and those are the models we had. Very quick to put on and jump in the water.

Couv

Do you recall how well they stayed in position on you?

[BigSwell]

I've been going through a knee-high stack of vintage Skin Diver magazines I've acquired and noticed this adIMG_4069.JPG

Thanks BigSwell,

That's the Hawaiian pack I remember. I used to do volunteer work for a Search and Rescue team (was more of a recovery team) and those are the models we had. Very quick to put on and jump in the water.

Couv

I know what you mean, I've been on a few recovery ops myself. Not to get too far off topic but I really like these old magazines. The gear back then was wild, like the wild west of whatever works. And the advertisements, HELLLO! Pretty certain none of them would pass muster today... lots of pretty girls in bikinis (or nothing at all) showing lots of skin while dudes smoke cigarettes just before entering the water. If you can get a hold of the pre 80's dive magazines they are well worth the time to look through... you'll recognize all the manufactures, even the ads announcing the mergers of some manufactures. They just don't publish good magazines like they used to back then, which is unfortunate on so many levels.

[couv]

I've been going through a knee-high stack of vintage Skin Diver magazines I've acquired and noticed this adIMG_4069.JPG

Thanks BigSwell,

That's the Hawaiian pack I remember. I used to do volunteer work for a Search and Rescue team (was more of a recovery team) and those are the models we had. Very quick to put on and jump in the water.

Couv

Do you recall how well they stayed in position on you?

Yes, they stayed on rather well. The "arms" had soft rubber covers-sort of like pipe insulation that were snug but not uncomfortable. The waist strap cinched up nicely on my 20 something year old waist.

For searching just over the bottom of a lake I did not use a BC. The only PIA was the quick release band that held the tank. While it was an improvement over the bands that required a screwdriver to fasten down to a tank, it sure would have been nice to have the fabric bands with the over-center cams we use today.

I see a statement in the add BigSwell posted, "Weight transfers to waist." I don't remember that being the case nor why that would be an advantage.