Here is the Dive Gear Express recommended procedure to assemble and adjust our
hogarthian harness (also called the DIR harness)
on to a backplate. The process should take about 60 minutes if this the first time you have
assembled a harness. Tools that will make assembly easier are a measuring tape and a pair of needle nose
pliers. All mention of left, right, front, and rear are interpreted
from the perspective of the diver when wearing the harness.
Assembling a Hogarthian Harness
Weave Shoulder Straps: Two removable long webbing sleeves are shipped already threaded
onto the harness webbing. Check the position of the webbing sleeves to verify the ends are centered approximately
one inch on each side of the grommet. Position the grommet of the webbing over the upper bolt hole on the tank
side of the plate. Thread the webbing through the angled slots to the diver's side of the plate, and back through
the upper slots. With the grommet aligned over the bolt hole, only the webbing sleeves should be in contact with
the plate slots.
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Add Shoulder D-Rings: Install one bent D-ring and slide on the divers right shoulder
strap, positioned approximately 12-inches of webbing length from the top of the plate. The bent D-ring is turned
up to extend slightly from the strap. Thread the webbing up through one side of the slide, over the base of the
D-ring and back down through the slide. Weave the left shoulder D-ring in a similar manner to the right. Along
with the D-ring also include the bungee loop, so that both the D-ring and bungee loop are captured and held
together in place by the webbing.
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Add Elastic Bands and Webbing Sleeves: Thread one or two of the neoprene elastic bands
onto each shoulder strap. Then thread a short webbing sleeve onto each shoulder strap. Position the sleeve so
that the center of the sleeve is approximately 18-inches from the base of the shoulder D-rings.
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Weave Waist Straps: Thread the webbing through the inside slots at the bottom of the
plate, then through the slots closest to the edges of the plate to form the waist straps. Each of the webbing
sleeves should be centered between the slots and only the sleeves should be in contact with the plate.
The outside edges of the webbing
should be at the top of the inner slots so that the outer faces of the shoulder straps become the inner faces of
the waist straps. Properly threaded, the shoulder straps should lay flat against your sides without
twisting.
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Add Waist D-Ring: Install one straight D-ring and slide on the left waist strap,
positioned approximately one hand width of webbing length from the plate.
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| Add Waist Strap Accessories: A loose
black plastic buckle is provided for securing removable
right side accessories, such as a light canister or pocket.
For now, thread the right waist strap webbing through the
plastic buckle gate and position the buckle close to the plate. Thread the
strap through the end slot of the plastic buckle and close the tongue.
Lace any non-removable left side accessories that will be permanently retained by the
S/S buckle, such as a waist belt sheath for a line cutter, on to the left waist strap.
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Weave S/S Belt Buckle: Starting from the front of the metal buckle, thread the left waist strap
through the larger end slot of the buckle. Position the buckle approximately 18-inches of webbing length from the
plate left waist slot. Then thread the webbing from the back through the center slot and through the front of
the inner most slot. Then thread the webbing
through the back of the larger end slot so there are
two thicknesses of webbing through one slot and pull the weave tight. The excess webbing will now be doubled back and
lay flat along the inside of the left waist strap.
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Weave Crotch Strap: A bent D-ring with a non-serrated slide is shipped already laced
onto the crotch strap, position it approximately 12-inches from the un-sewn end. With the bent D-ring pointing
away from the diver, lace the tail of the crotch strap through the front of horizontal slot at the bottom of the
plate and back through both slots of the non-serrated slide a second time, forming a loop about 4-inches in
length. Pull the neoprene abrasion sleeve near the rear D-ring and tuck the excess of the tail end of the webbing
into the sleeve.
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Variations - The webbing sleeves can be omitted
and serrated slides woven behind the plate waist slots. The neoprene abrasion sleeve can be removed from
the crotch strap.
Particularly if scootering, the rear loop used to attach the crotch
strap to the plate can be formed using a serrated belt slide separate from the one used to hold the rear D-ring.
Use only two neoprene elastic straps on the harness and thread one on the inflator assembly near the elbow.
Omit the bungee loop and thread one of the neoprene elastic straps on the left shoulder webbing above the
D-ring for use in retaining the inflation hose assembly. Omit the plastic buckle and weave a
long left waist strap so the metal buckle will reach far enough to the right to retain the canister.
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Adjusting a Hogarthian Harness
There are some initial dry adjustments of the harness that should be made to achieve a proper fit. Be patient;
some adjustments may require partially disassembling and rethreading components of the harness. Avoid the
temptation to trim any excess webbing from the straps until after final in-water adjustments are made and you
are certain you are satisfied with the configuration. If the webbing is trimmed, seal the ends of the webbing
with a flame or hot knife to prevent unraveling.
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• A common error is making the shoulder straps much too tight. Having the straps too tight
will cause the plate to ride too high on your back and can also impede your respiration.
Shoulder straps should be left loose enough that with your wrist resting on the top of your shoulder,
you can reach down your back with your hand and touch the top of the plate.
The top of the waist belt should fall at or slightly below your navel.
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• The shoulder straps should also be loose enough that you are able to easily slip your fist under the
shoulder straps. Keep in mind that later you must be able to don your harness while wearing your exposure
protection. The BC
inflation hose assembly is threaded through, and retained by, the left shoulder bungee loop.
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• Adjust the position of the shoulder D-rings so they are facing out from your shoulder, a little above
your arm pit at about your collar bone. Holding your arm straight out, make a fist like you are holding a clip.
Close your eyes and bring your fist straight in to the harness shoulder strap, as if you were about to clip to
the D-ring. Your fist should be touching the D-ring.
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• The waist D-ring is positioned along the mid-line of the diver's left side, about in line
with where a tailored shirt side seam would lay. For most
divers this will be about a hand width of webbing in front of the plate.
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• Adjust the position of the S/S buckle on the left waist strap so that the buckle is to the diver's
right of center, allowing the crotch strap to be at the diver's center.
If the right waist strap is excessively long, instead of trimming, you can weave it through the loop of
waist belt sheath and even double back through the loops again if necessary.
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After adjusting the harness, adjust the length of the crotch strap to
be snug. It should not be so tight as to pull the waist straps down.
While adjusting the length of the strap, the rear D-ring should
positioned below the where the cylinders will lay and yet as high as
possible where the D-ring can still be reached with your right hand.
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• The primary light canister is pushed all the way back to the plate on the right waist belt and secured with the
plastic buckle. Using a separate plastic buckle to retain the canister instead of the metal buckle
avoids scoring the canister, and allows
harness doff and don without accessories sliding off the strap.
The backup lights are clipped to the shoulder D-rings and secured with an elastic band.
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Once you are satisfied with initial dry adjustments, you are ready to make final minor adjustments. The most
efficient and safest method is with assistance of your buddy or instructor in a swimming pool or other body
of confined water. In shallow confined water you can work together and can make easy entry/exit to
evaluate adjustments.
While everything is soaking wet, repeatedly don and doff the harness with your entire diving configuration
of cylinders, regulators, accessories and exposure suit. Tweak the length of the shoulder and waist straps
along with the crotch strap until you can gear up easily and remove the harness quickly. Check the in-water trim,
many divers have said
that when everything is correct, the configuration just 'feels right' and seems to automatically achieve proper
trim. Then practice repeatedly clipping the SPG, primary regulator, stage/deco
bottles, lights and reel. Tweak the D-ring positions until everything can be performed smoothly underwater and
you can easily clip to the D-rings with every attempt. Congratulations, your hogarthian harness is ready to
dive!
Источник: http://www.diveriteexpress.com/library/hogrigging.shtml |
