Going left side thrown BOC

[tharshman 0]

Thinking of left side pilot chute throw BOC. Can someone shed light on it. I am licensed and at 57 my right shoulder rotator cuff was deemed irreparable many years ago and so live with a retracted Supraspinous cuff. It does not bother me at all and have always been able pull. Since I have injured the front cuff (Subscapularis) this is the cuff for internal rotation of the humorous bone. This is needed for reaching, grasping the hackey. The the throwing of the pilot is not a factor as that outward motion is not affected. However, I had to ride the reserve the other day since I could not get to my hackey. The left arm is in great shape and thought about the idea a very seasoned skydiver said and that was to sew a left side BOC (since spandex) right over the right one. Said it works great and you always have a right and left. Since spandex the side facing the other sewn on BOC just becomes the outside portion. I would rather throw left than go with a leg pouch.

[jonstark 8]

Can't think of anything to hold you back. Relearning to unconscious muscle memory is going to take some effort! I'm betting you'll get a LOT of looks too. It'll be strange to watch you practice. Go for it Tom!

Jon

[DougH 270]

I know one guy who has a left sided BOC, so it wouldn't be a first.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[faulknerwn 38]

I have seen multiple left-sided BOC's for people with various arm issues. Go for it - just practice a lot to re-learn muscle memory!

[skydude2000 3]

I've been jumping with a left BOC since jump 11. I was lucky enough that my DZ was willing to modify a set of rental gear with a double BOC. Just be careful, because if you only have one pouch sewn over the other, it can make for a hard pull. Might be better to install a full length pouch that's open from either side. I think the pull force would be lower that way.

Good luck!!!

PULL!! or DIE!!

[tharshman 0]

To everyone on this thread, Absolutely love your support. I have had this in my head trying to think of any possible additional risk and though I cannot come up with one I am still a young jumper at 84 jumps. However, after talking with Jon in private message yesterday, it may be to my advantage to only have that many jumps as my conditioning does not come from 5,000 jumps for example only throwing right. I am also just stopping all day long as I walk through the office and home and such...arching and pulling and throwing left. It will probably be best long term for me as the right shoulder already had an irreparable Supraspinous tear thought never affected it. This Subscapularis injury (pending MRI) does in fact keep me on inch or so from hackey. So at 57 years I do not see the right going the other direction. May get slightly better but I will always have a irreparable portion of the rotator cuff. Weird injuries those rotator cuffs. And since they make up four different areas you can have portions torn and not completely take you out of the game. However, now I have 3 of the four in question and that spells go left side. Again, thanks for all your support. I will keep up the ground work and when I do go up first time I will take a coach and have him fly by my side and I will use the entire jump doing practices pulls down to break off.

[gb1 3]

One of the options we used was a vertical mounted BOC with an extended Hackey "bridle" to be brought to either side for use with either hand. Worked well on throw out reserve also. I doubt anyone will install that for you. We built the first BOC, not thinking it was a big deal. Also the only TOC. Our reasoning was, "if you could wipe your ass, you could pull your pilot chute". 1976

[wmw999 2,529]

I've had a PC pocket replaced; replacing it with the opening on the other end is just a matter of sewing. As long as bridle coverage is assured (rig-dependent), I just can't see the issue with doing this.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[gb1 3]

Should be an easy chore. You are right, considering the bridle. Safe mod.

[jimmytavino 16]

I've been deploying left handed for almost 12 years now... and was pleased to find that it easily and quickly became "2nd Nature " ..
My rigger modified the spandex pouch changing the open end... bridle routing and protection was assured... and I Simply Changed....Cannot say that I ONE Time... reflexively " went for the hackey with my Right Hand "... I had my right shoulder dislocate immediately after a CASA Exit... as one of Our "Base 6 " managed to Snag some part of His harness on some part of the interior of the airplane... My exit slot was on the left side of the tailgate, backing off, facing In.. 2 friends to my right also backing off.....facing in. Then 3 others, lined up abreast, and facing Us...
anyway. We were all double gripped on shoulder grippers and when WE went,,, The guy Facing me, didn't... as the exit flailed, I tossed off the grips. but the guy on My right shoulder clenched right onto to me and then back looped.......The rest of the skydive was Interesting anyway,, being the upbeat kind of guy I LIKE to be,,, I wasn't gonna let that injury nor the following surgeries Ground Me... Thanks to my friend who is a Rigger.... I can still " make a jump or two,,,," " every once in a while" .. about possible "arm strength " and " handle location " on the right side...
gives you greater peace of mind , resulting in better overall skydiving performance in general !! I am for the idea...
jmy A 3914 D12122

[tkhayes 348]

I had had for 16 years since I broke my neck. No need to 'go left', you can have the pocket on both sides, just by having the rigger make a zig-zag fold of a pocket. Route the bridle and pack either way any time.

always a bitch when you loan your rig to a friend.