Dive Tank Boot

[landonshaw]

I understand this is not a dive forum, although I use tanks to clean the bottom of the boat, so I will ask the question. Just got a tank boot to put on the bottom of the dive tank. Has anyone done this. I have been trying soap and it won't get close to going on. Thinking about heating it, but that might just ruin the plastic boot. Any suggestions?


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[a64pilot]

There are essentially two different sizes of boot, I think 7" and 8.25"
Well there are at least four sizes but two most common maybe you have the wrong size boot?
http://www.divegearexpress.com/libra...tml#dimensions

On edit, it's 7.25" and 8", go tit backwards apparently, of course Aluminum 40's etc are much smaller, byt they are usually only used for Deco but would be a great tank for cleaning hulls due to their
Maybe you got a 6.9 when you need a 7.25?

[a64pilot]

I don't like boots, I don't use them as they can cause and hide corrosion but if you do want a boot, I recommend the one that looks like a big nut, six sided as if you lay your tank on its side the flat spots help keep it from rolling around.
Vast majority of tanks are the aluminum 80, and aluminum tanks have a concave bottom and don't need a boot

[fstbttms]

Bring a pot of water to a boil, kill the flame and soak the boot in it. After it softens up, slide it on, maybe after lubing the tank with dish soap.

[rcontrera]

You should be able to just drop the tank straight into the top from about 6 inches. If you have no luck doing that, drop it in a bucket of HOT water for a couple of minutes and try it again.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by rcontrera

You should be able to just drop the tank straight into the top from about 6 inches. If you have no luck doing that, drop it in a bucket of HOT water for a couple of minutes and try it again.

Sit the tank in the fridge for a spell.... leave the boot in the sun or stick in hot water......
which makes me think ...if you heat a disk does the inner diameter get bigger or smaller?

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

which makes me think ...if you heat a disk does the inner diameter get bigger or smaller?

Bigger.

Pete

[Blue Crab]

Thanks for the chuckles. Here's how the dive shop does it:

Set boot on carpeted concrete floor.
Drop tank from about 3" into boot so it is started.
Drop tank and boot from about 6".

[landonshaw]

I boiled water in a container deeper than the boot. Set it in for 5 minutes. Soaped the bottom of the tank and it slide in without any pressure from me. Great way to fix the problem.


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[gamayun]

Forget the boot. In addition to the corrosion issues another poster mentioned, tanks that are left upright by themselves are a disaster waiting to happen. Best to lay them down unless holding onto them.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by gamayun

Forget the boot. In addition to the corrosion issues another poster mentioned, tanks that are left upright by themselves are a disaster waiting to happen. Best to lay them down unless holding onto them.

Agree on both points. I have purchased a couple of tanks that came with boots and the first thing I did was pull them off.

I have also pulled a boot off an old tank and have seen the corrosion first hand.

When I took my first SCUBA class anyone leaving a tank standing up had to buy beverages for the class.

[landonshaw]

The boot is used to give a little more stability of the tank on the boat. Most of the time it is lying down. There are occasions that a tank is standing and you are not touching it. I have two other tanks, one with a boot and one without. The one with a boot I intend to sell so will cut it off and observe its condition. Also, if it is bad I'd rather not sell and just get ride of it.

[Blue Crab]

Repeated hammer blows will remove a boot. Skip the hot and cold. Not a lot of need for boots on Al tanks except as anti-roll devices. That might be a critical aspect of your operation tho, like in the bed of your pickup or car trunk.

I'm guessing boots were invented for the old roundbottom steel 72s. I wouldn't want a steel tank without a boot, corrosion or not. Everyone is taught to lay tanks down in class. Very few do in real life IME.

[a64pilot]

In cave diving no one uses boots. They are an entanglement hazard. Your line can get caught on them. Only use for aluminum tanks is for stage and deco. Only time I have ever had complaints about my steels without boots is getting them re-filled at open water shops that are ignorant, they like all the tanks standing up as that easier to move.
For the boat google roll control tank holders. Work great fold flat when the tank isn't on the boat and slide out of the track if you want.
A standing tank is a disaster waiting to happen.


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[a64pilot]

PVC pipes with holes drilled in them and tied together with line is a real cheap but effective device to keep tanks from rolling around in your car or truck


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