Freedom Plate poll

[cool_hardware52]

I ended up with a DSS because your busisness was in transition. I still like your idea and would maybe consider one. I kept the DSS plate for 1 year and sold it for one reason only. The lower straps came from under my rib area instead of my waist area. I 6"3"

That's any easy problem to solve.

We make Long Pattern Plates. These plates space the lower harness straps about 2" lower than our Large plate and 3" lower than our medium.

Tobin

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I kept the DSS plate for 1 year and sold it for one reason only. The lower straps came from under my rib area instead of my waist area. I 6"3" , so I guess what I'm saying is one size might not fit all. Possibly a longer plate is needed for tall divers. I also hate stays, but like the tank to align without problems. I would also like it to fit several different wing combos. I'm a high tank person and that could be solved by tilting the tank away from your head. I'm a geek for dive gear, but not sure if the average diver would consider it.

I'm 6'4" and my plate fits me fine. The waist strap rides right about my navel which gives me just the right amount of room to have a weight belt on and not have them crowd each other. The original model was 15 3/4" tall, the new model will be 15" tall. I've used both and I honestly cant tell the difference; it's not really enough to worry about. Everybody that I know that dives one of my plates is shorter than me except for one guy, and none of them have complained about fit. Actually, I take it back, Peter C's girlfriend is very short and also has a very short torso to top it off. I cut an inch and a half section out of the narrow part of the plate and tig welded it back together, ground it, sanded it and finally polished it out for an invisible splice and it fits her perfect. Maybe it's different with my design, I don't know, but all the height issues I've ever heard about always involved conventional plates.
I think with this new model virtually any single tank wing with slots should work. As I encounter different wings I'll let you know which ones work and which one don't.

For the new plate, what sort of time line are you looking at? i.e. How long would I have to hold back from buying a plate to get my hands on one of these, I would hate to wait a year to see it.

Thanks,
Jeremy

Hopefully no more than two months. I'd like to have them sooner but we'll see. They will be fairly limited in stock at first so I hope I don't run into the Ugg shoe syndrome.

 

[Peter_C]

Since hearing us rave about our Freedom Plates my gal wanted one too. Unfortunately she has such a short torso that she required a completely custom plate by ZKY. Thanks again for building it. I wasn't going to bring it up since it was a one off build. She dove it at Point Lobos over the weekend and it worked great as expected.

 

[dannobee]

I'm probably more guilty of drumming up interest in Eric's plate than most. I dived off of the Cypress Sea around Christmas and the plate drew a crowd.

There's still interest if you're going to build them.

I'll be doing some warm water trips this summer, and I'll be in the Florida Keys in July for Invasion 3. I'll be bringing my Freedom Plate and I'm sure there will be more interest in the plate after that.

Keep some in stock.

 

[Clanggedin]

I'd be very interested in purchasing the plate and wing setup from you if that happens within the next few month. If not then just the plate.

Awesome plate design.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I'd be very interested in purchasing the plate and wing setup from you if that happens within the next few month. If not then just the plate.

Awesome plate design.

Awesome!
The plates should be ready in less than 2 months. We'll see how Patricks Mach V stock is doing around that time. Having complete rigs shouldn't be a problem either.

Thanks

Eric

 

[zen_man]

Awesome!
The plates should be ready in less than 2 months. We'll see how Patricks Mach V stock is doing around that time. Having complete rigs shouldn't be a problem either.

Thanks

Eric

I'm now getting excited! Thanks for the good news Eric! YEA!!


:zen:

 

[dschonbrun]

I'm on the list to get one of the newest prototypes... really looking forward to putting it through it's paces in the caribbean. I just don't see how the flat BP's in the market can be nearly as popular or comfortable.

 

[Clanggedin]

Awesome!
The plates should be ready in less than 2 months. We'll see how Patricks Mach V stock is doing around that time. Having complete rigs shouldn't be a problem either.

Thanks

Eric

Great.. I have my AOW dives at the end of March. If I can get one before that takes place then definately count me in on a BP/W set. Wahoo!

 

[kazuo]

I bought one of Erics plates when he was having his big sale, I can't remember what I paid for it but I practicaly stole i!. I have only used mine once but I love it!! It fits perfectly and doesn't move, period. I was wearing 15 lbs of lead with my old BC in Hawaii and I was down to less then 5 when I used the freedom plate. I bought a set of XS Scuba weight pockets and got rid of the weight belt altogether. Total weight of my set up with cast stainless steel cam bands and Oxycheq wing was about 9 pounds which is heavy compared to my wifes which weighs about 6 lbs. and my old BC which weighed about 4 lbs.

The only thing I would like to see is some way of holding the wing in place when the tank is removed. The slots in the wing allow you to adjust the placement of the wing and you might not get the wing in exactly the right spot. I might drill and counter sink a 1/4" hole and put a bolt through the plate to hold the wing in place but I haven't bothered yet. It's not a problem when I set it up my self but on some boats where the crew sets up your gear for you I can see it confusing people.

Over all its a minor issue. Once you use this plate you will be convinced that its the way to go for single tank diving.