SMB management using a double-ender bolt snap to prevent tangling.
Here’s the breakdown of SMB management
- Detach your double-ender from your BCD D-ring
- Pass the line through one end (clipping it over the line) it acts as a sliding guide, keeping everything controlled
- Hold the double-ender in one hand to guide while the other winds the spool
- Lock it by wrapping the line around the spool and clipping the double-ender through a side hole
- Re-stow the whole assembly back to your BCD
The important stuff
Keep tension on the line during your ENTIRE ascent. A slack line = tangled mess or a deflated SMB falling over on the surface.
If slack appears, reel it in immediately to keep your SMB vertical and visible.
The double-ender method also protects your hands from line friction during retrieval.