OMS single backplate setup. 32 or 45lb Wing??? Also which harness is best?

[Speardoggin]

I am getting more into the tech setups for diving now due to the industrial strength materials and lack of failure points. I spearfish and the chance for $hit to go wrong is high. I had my quick release harness straps on my BC come off in 200 fsw which is no fun when a 70lb AJ is on the end of the speargun. I need a setup for a single tank. I will be using up to a 133 HP steel cylinder. I was going to get a Halcyon dive setup at my LDS, but it seems I can piece it together much cheaper online. Maybe I am wrong, but after researching on what i need, if I can save some money, it would be nice. Not sure which bladder, backplate, pockets, weight pockets and harness to get. Anything I need??? I am new to the backplate wing setups, so any advice is appreciated.

BTW, my diving is deepwater ocean and wreck diving.

I have an AL40 that i sling for deep stuff. Do you think a 32lb OMS single will be enough lift with everything i'm carrying? Here are the weight specs that i am thinking:

Stainless backplate 6lb or aluminum 2lb????
Regulator 3lb
knife 1lb
lights 3lb
tank 9lb
40 AL 1.5 lb
speargun 2lb
Miscellaneous BS 1 lb
weight to compensate for empty tanks bouyancy 4lbs
Unsure how much weight is needed for me and my 5 mil Scubapro wetsuit (what do you think?)

That's 30.5 lbs (with steel backplate) without the weight for me and my thickest wetsuit. Not sure if that is enough for the 30lb Halcyon or 32lb OMS. I may be forgetting something in this equation. I guess if my speargun and knife is attached to me, that might make a difference.

How much weight do you think i will need for the wetsuit approx(never really isolated how much weight for the wetsuit alone)? I know when i freedive, i only use 5lbs, but that is with an open cell 3 mil Oceanic FIT 45 wetsuit and i am still floating so i can breathe on the surface.

Jeff

 

[Crush]

I am 6' tall, 225 lbs and in a 7mm two-piece wetsuit I carry about 24 lbs lead to make me neutral. I am carrying two to three flashlights, a reg and an octo. If I add my pony with reg I can drop about 2-3 lbs of lead. I used to dive this setup with a 24 lbs lift bladder, which was skating the edge as my suit compression was approaching -24 lbs at depth. I now have a 32 lbs bladder and it is more than enough. Also, with a drysuit I now have redundant lift.

I have two comments:

1. I would recommend either ditchable weight or redundant lift. Since you have a wetsuit (no redundant lift) you might consider putting some of your weight on a belt so that you can ditch it; and
2. It is up to you, and I am not going to say "you're gonna die," but 200 feet on air is not endorsed by any agency that I am aware of. You're a big boy and can do as you wish. I just want to caution any new divers reading this post that diving to 200 feet on air is IMHO a bad idea, and diving 200 feet on air while fishing is a very bad idea.

Edit: here is the kit I bought: http://www.scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=BackPlate_Wing_Package . ScubaToys will give you an additional 10% off if you are a scubaboard member.

 

[noreastDIVER84]

I am 6' tall, 225 lbs and in a 7mm two-piece wetsuit I carry about 24 lbs lead to make me neutral. I am carrying two to three flashlights, a reg and an octo. If I add my pony with reg I can drop about 2-3 lbs of lead. I used to dive this setup with a 24 lbs lift bladder, which was skating the edge as my suit compression was approaching -24 lbs at depth. I now have a 32 lbs bladder and it is more than enough. Also, with a drysuit I now have redundant lift.

I have two comments:

1. I would recommend either ditchable weight or redundant lift. Since you have a wetsuit (no redundant lift) you might consider putting some of your weight on a belt so that you can ditch it; and
2. It is up to you, and I am not going to say "you're gonna die," but 200 feet on air is not endorsed by any agency that I am aware of. You're a big boy and can do as you wish. I just want to caution any new divers reading this post that diving to 200 feet on air is IMHO a bad idea, and diving 200 feet on air while fishing is a very bad idea.

You said exactly what I was thinking....

 

[Speardoggin]

I am 6' tall, 225 lbs and in a 7mm two-piece wetsuit I carry about 24 lbs lead to make me neutral. I am carrying two to three flashlights, a reg and an octo. If I add my pony with reg I can drop about 2-3 lbs of lead. I used to dive this setup with a 24 lbs lift bladder, which was skating the edge as my suit compression was approaching -24 lbs at depth. I now have a 32 lbs bladder and it is more than enough. Also, with a drysuit I now have redundant lift.

I have two comments:

1. I would recommend either ditchable weight or redundant lift. Since you have a wetsuit (no redundant lift) you might consider putting some of your weight on a belt so that you can ditch it; and
2. It is up to you, and I am not going to say "you're gonna die," but 200 feet on air is not endorsed by any agency that I am aware of. You're a big boy and can do as you wish. I just want to caution any new divers reading this post that diving to 200 feet on air is IMHO a bad idea, and diving 200 feet on air while fishing is a very bad idea.

Edit: here is the kit I bought: BackPlate and Wing Package reviews and discounts, Dive Rite . ScubaToys will give you an additional 10% off if you are a scubaboard member.

Thank you for your input. I think I will be plenty fine with a 32 then. I'm probably over estimating the weights of equipment as well. I just want my gear to have the ability to float if I have to.

What about the "comfort" style harnesses vs webbing? The only thing I don't like about the OMS stuff is the plastic quick release buckles.

 

[Crush]

Thank you for your input. I think I will be plenty fine with a 32 then. I'm probably over estimating the weights of equipment as well. I just want my gear to have the ability to float if I have to.

What about the "comfort" style harnesses vs webbing? The only thing I don't like about the OMS stuff is the plastic quick release buckles.

I am brand-new to the BP/w game - I have sent in my membership application but they haven't responded so far. In selecting my gear I bought what lots of the old salts on SB say they eventually settled on. I got the simple BP setup - no padding with a basic crotch strap. I figure that my 7mm wetsuit or drysuit will provide me with lots of "comfort." I may find myself diving my 3mm suit, but I don't know if I will ever be in T-shirt-only dive water - hence, no padding.

The recurring recommendations for BP/w that I read on SB are (in no particular order): Dive Rite, Halcyon, and "tobin" (Deep Sea Supply?) Someone please correct me if I am wrong on Tobin's affiliation and I will edit this post.

 

[Speardoggin]

How do you secure a single to the wing? Does it require an adapter???

Jeff

 

[Crush]

How do you secure a single to the wing? Does it require an adapter???

Jeff

The oxycheq wing has "stubs" which allow you to use the wing without an STA (the stubs push your tank up from the BP a bit, like an STA). Since I travel by air to many of my dives, weight is a consideration - I got an AL BP and skipped the STA. The wing will not shift during a dive (even without an STA) because of the tank. During tank swaps it can shift up or down (if you don't have an STA) by about two inches, so I went to a hardware store and bought two SS nuts and bolts (about $6) which I use to secure the wing to the BP (both wing and BP have matching holes). I used a hacksaw to cut down the bolts to the appropriate length. If you want to splurge you can get the SS sex bolts (which are lower profile) for (I believe) $12 each. However, with the SS nut and bolt solution, owing to the recess along the spine of the BP I found that even in a T-shirt the nut did not push against my spine.

If you are never going to travel by plane, or your STA is lightweight, there is nothing wrong with an STA. The SS bolts are pretty cheap, though.

 

[Crush]

The only thing I don't like about the OMS stuff is the plastic quick release buckles.

I have had a plastic (weight belt) buckle break on me while I setting up the weight belt - that could have turned me into an ICBM if I was in the water as I dive with about 24-28# weight (in cold water). Now, all of my buckles (weight belt and BP waist/crotch strap) are SS. I see no reason to use plastic in those applications.