Scubatoys bp/w package

[jono33]

Couldn't find any direct info about this here yet. I'm about to finally get a BP/W pretty soon as i'm finally moving somewhere where near the ocean. So I'm thinking the package from scubatoys looks like a good deal. 30# OxyCheq Mach V wing, diverite backplate...

I know 30# might be a little large for my diving, but I want some versatility maybe, and I don't think it sounds "TOOO" big. I'll mostly be in tropical warm water, sometime no wetsuit, sometimes 3mil, maybe with hoodie at times. I'll be traveling several places. not very interested in colder places but who knows i don't want to close off these options. just thinking i'll mostly be diving warmer waters.

Q: sounds like STA is not necessary with this rig from my understanding?


Also wondering about the travel backplate. Couldn't I just use this as my normal rig too, maybe add one of those sausage weights to it and maybe a little more on cam straps and weight belt? Are there any other disadvantages to this as a normal rig?

Hey any advice would be much appreciated, love the expert advice I get here so thanks to everyone that contributes.

PS also looking for dive buddy hilo or big island hawaii june 25-july11 sometime!

Thanks-jono

 

[Bubbletrubble]

30 lbs. of lift will be more than enough for any warm water diving, although the wing should not be so large that dumping air is cumbersome. Conveniently, it should also provide sufficient lift for using with a single steel tank and a thick wetsuit or drysuit in colder water, provided that you attach some of your ballast to your body (in the form of a weight belt or weight harness). I use my 30 lb. wing for both diving here in SoCal (in a drysuit) and warm water dive vacations (in a wetsuit). It works great.

You'll need to decide on the material composition of your BP: stiff fabric, plastic/Kydex, aluminum (AL), or stainless steel (SS).
The preferred BP for cold water divers is SS. This places more weight above one's lungs. That's a good thing for divers wearing thick exposure protection and using lots of lead weight.
Some people use a SS BP on warm water vacations. With a 3mm wetsuit and a single AL80 tank, they might not have any ditchable weight to speak of. IMO, this isn't a big deal.
Nowadays, with airlines charging more for checked luggage, divers who fly to their destination are putting some thought into minimizing the weight of their gear. For this reason, a lighter (dry carry) weight BP is sometimes desired. That's where an AL, plastic/Kydex plate, or stiff fabric (e.g., Oxycheq Ultra Lite BP) might be preferable.
Personally, I use a SS BP for local cold water diving and an AL BP for warm water diving.

As long as the wing has tank camband slots (like the Mach V) and the BP has camband slots, you don't need to use the STA.
I do believe that it's good practice to detach the wing from a metal BP while it's in storage or being transported to dive site. This minimizes the possibility of getting a pinch-flat. It's simple to take everything apart if a STA is used. Some people find that the STA anchors the tank more securely. One disadvantage is that the STA places the tank farther away from your back.
Perhaps the most clever integrated BP/W design is the Deep Sea Supply STA-less setup. The wing has a built-in elastomeric tank cradle (same function as STA) and has "windows" that allow the cambands (mounted on the BP) to be pulled through. The windows really simplify breaking down the gear for post-dive rinsing and storage.

Sausage weights would be OK to use for local diving. The problem with using them when flying to a dive destination...is that you'd have to pack 'em with you. A better alternative might be to mount a couple of XS Scuba weight pockets on your tank cambands and fill them with lead provided by the dive op at your destination.

 

[Scuba Ken]

Are you talking about the metal travel backplate that looks kind of like a capital "I" they have or the soft one that comes in multiple colors?

From the Mach V's I've seen you will not need an STA as it has Cam Band Slots.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I purchased the same BP kit from ST about 2 years ago and am pleased with it. It was the most reasonable cost setup at the time and may still be. Tobin at DSS has similar kit which many people also like, but it is a bit more expensive. His wings do allow easier breakdown for travel. You may want to purchase the sex bolts to hold the wing to the plate when not tank is buckled int. No STA is needed.

The sizing of the wing with an AL plate is a good all-round size but it is a bit bigger than needed for warm water diving and if you are only diving warm water and traveling, then you might consider a smaller wing / travel plate just to make air travel easier. If you intend to mix cold and warm water with the same rig, its perfect.

 

[jono33]

Thanks for the quick feedback bubbletrouble and ken. I'm totally diggin' all the great feedback that DSS gets from customers, along with the system they have put together. I just like the price of the mach V/DR plate from scubatoys. but if there's one thing i've learned it's that you usually get what you pay for, especially when people speak so highly of DSS. Still a good price, just a little more than I want to spend. I was also looking at the HOG system that has a nice price.

I was talking about the "I" travel backplate from DR. I thought that would fit nicely into my cary-on, better than a full on backplate. I figure one disadvantage is there's no option for adding a BP pad, not a comfort issue, but rather having that storage spot for SMB. I normally keep this in a wetsuit pocket, but if i'm warm enough for no wetsuit, maybe i'd need to add pockets and I hate pockets on my bc. love the thigh ones on my wetsuit.

Information from Bubbletrouble about disassembly was very helpful. I have dove a Zeagle rig and loved it, but I didn't do any of the assembly/disassembly, so I see how the DSS one takes the cake there. Otherwise it sounds like I'd be unthreading and rethreading cam bands every dive? and I also appreciate the advice about STA. For most, stability doesn't really seem to be an issue, just wondering about this particular rig.

OK, decisions decisions. I really just want a great first rig, as I'm sure I'll be adding to it in the future (more pieces for more situations). probably get into doubles at some point in my life. Thanks again for advice. much appreciated.

-jono

 

[TSandM]

Taking the wing off the plate is good insurance, but I know a lot of us don't do it. I take my rig completely apart for travel, and sometimes for cleaning at home, but I certainly don't do it every dive.

A 30 lb wing should work fine for the applications you describe. I used my DSS 30 lb horseshoe wing with a 3 mil wetsuit, until I got a smaller wing (and small wings in warm water are a delight, and something you might eventually decide to spring for). Now I use it again, because I dive dry everywhere.

I'm a DSS fan. Tobin stands behind everything he makes, sometimes to an unbelievable degree. Although problems with wings are pretty rare, if you have one, he'll make it right.

 

[wilderydude83]

Couldn't find any direct info about this here yet. I'm about to finally get a BP/W pretty soon as i'm finally moving somewhere where near the ocean. So I'm thinking the package from scubatoys looks like a good deal. 30# OxyCheq Mach V wing, diverite backplate...

I know 30# might be a little large for my diving, but I want some versatility maybe, and I don't think it sounds "TOOO" big. I'll mostly be in tropical warm water, sometime no wetsuit, sometimes 3mil, maybe with hoodie at times. I'll be traveling several places. not very interested in colder places but who knows i don't want to close off these options. just thinking i'll mostly be diving warmer waters.

Q: sounds like STA is not necessary with this rig from my understanding?


Also wondering about the travel backplate. Couldn't I just use this as my normal rig too, maybe add one of those sausage weights to it and maybe a little more on cam straps and weight belt? Are there any other disadvantages to this as a normal rig?

Hey any advice would be much appreciated, love the expert advice I get here so thanks to everyone that contributes.

PS also looking for dive buddy hilo or big island hawaii june 25-july11 sometime!

Thanks-jono

I have the same setup but I got mine from Cave Adventurers | Located on Merritt's Mill Pond, Marianna, FL. They even threw in a crotch strap for free. I use SS B/p in all conditions and have no problems. I only need like 3lbs of no-ditch weight. If you're diving purely recreational and have no desire to go the DIR route get the QR buckles (kinda wish I had gotten these). Anyways, good luck and dive safe.

R-

 

[CT Sean]

Assuming it's the right wing for your needs, you could always see if Scubatoys would substitute the 18 lb Mach 5 wing.

 

[jono33]

I am thinking about subbing a smaller wing as I'll generally be in warm water. Torn between DSS and Scubatoys DiveRite/mach V package. As I see it, the main advantage of DSS are easy assembly/disassembly. maybe get the lighter backplate like kydex for travel reasons but I think I like the idea of SS and minimal belt weight. but the price difference is leaning me towards Scubatoys. Any words about traveling with backplate? easy enough to fit in cary-on?

Thanks again for all the advice-

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I am thinking about subbing a smaller wing as I'll generally be in warm water. Torn between DSS and Scubatoys DiveRite/mach V package. As I see it, the main advantage of DSS are easy assembly/disassembly. maybe get the lighter backplate like kydex for travel reasons but I think I like the idea of SS and minimal belt weight. but the price difference is leaning me towards Scubatoys. Any words about traveling with backplate? easy enough to fit in cary-on?

Thanks again for all the advice-

It probably depends on your travel style. Normally I have to check my dive gear and I keep my carry on small (back pack) so it can fit under the seat in case the overhead is full. By the time I place high value goods in my carry on (camera, laptop, dive computers, mask, lights, meds, chargers, etc) there is not enough room left over for a back plate. If I went to a larger carry on, it would fit, but then I would want to join the rush of passengers trying to board first and seize the overhead bins. The advantages of a SS plate are just not worth the aggravation and stress in traveling.

Note: I travel for business and tag on an extra day to dive, this changes my priorities from someone on a week long dive vacation.