A combined wing-harness - don't even know what's the proper name of this thing (many pics)

[fatgeorge]

The final weight of everything attached (including the harness, brackets and belt buckle but not including the tank straps) is 889 grams, ~2lbs.

This is one reason I wouldn't use an inner tube as a bladder, as an inner tube alone weights 2lbs. The Intex ring weights 0.1lb.

The wing with the harness but without the power inflator and brackets is 1.1lbs.

 

[rx7diver]

Diving with my homemade soft backplate and the homemade wing made me thinking why not combine them together? ...

This is really neat! I do wonder, though, about what seems to me to be a lack of lateral strength (bracing) both across the bottom (waist) and across the top. I'm thinking that it should be possible to arrange and sew the internal webbing in such a way that the webbing itself does the major work (rather than that back panel of flexible material). Might have to resort to using only a single tank strap, though.

rx7diver

 

[fatgeorge]

This is really neat! I do wonder, though, about what seems to me to be a lack of lateral strength (bracing) both across the bottom (waist) and across the top. I'm thinking that it should be possible to arrange and sew the internal webbing in such a way that the webbing itself does the major work (rather than that back panel of flexible material). Might have to resort to using only a single tank strap, though.

rx7diver

The forces on the backplate mainly come from the weight of the hanging tank, vectoring toward the ground, thus the main factor is tensile strength of the cordura. This is why I did not add any more bracing across the top as the harness straps are not pulled sideways, so having the two sides of cordura + the side strap bearing the load (2*138lbs + 65lbs total tearing strenght) shall be good enough. There is no reinforcement on the lower bottom of the wing, but it doesn't carry any weight.

The vertical harness goes all the way down to the side straps - see the fifth photo which shows the backplate panel from the inside. The side straps extend and cover the vertical harness and are sewn into it. The horizontal strength is provided by three pieces of cordura (shell top, shell bottom and the central panel which is sewn to both the right and the left side straps and is also 1680.

The cordura I used is 1680D ballistic nylon. 730lbs tensile strenght and 138lbs tearing strength. I'm a former skydiver, so I trusted nylon fabrics with my life in past. Used to work on my own main as well.

 

[nitro-bubbles]

Fatgeorge - love your work!

Given this project, it looks like you could zip open any wing and sew in harness points.

(+1 on the need for continuous side to side bottom webbing - the strips going up to the shoulder do nothing to counter the horizontal waist belt tension)

 

[happy-diver]

If he builds some they may come

 

[NothingClever]

This is one reason I wouldn't use an inner tube as a bladder, as an inner tube alone weights 2lbs. The Intex ring weights 0.1lb.

The wing with the harness but without the power inflator and brackets is 1.1lbs.

I tried an inner tube too, but it is too thick/heavy - useful in cave/wrecks as it's much harder to cut, but in rec diving it's just extra weight to carry.

You seem to be prioritizing maximum weight savings. Is your intended use case strictly recreational travel? While you’re definitely winning at the airport, it seems you’re giving up some critical durability on the boat.

 

[James79]

You seem to be prioritizing maximum weight savings. Is your intended use case strictly recreational travel? While you’re definitely winning at the airport, it seems you’re giving up some critical durability on the boat.

I'm curious which critical aspect of durability he's giving up? For perspective, I've been using my Mk3 wing for 5 years now. Granted it's purely recreational use.... But so are the cast majority of divers.

 

[NothingClever]

I'm curious which critical aspect of durability he's giving up? For perspective, I've been using my Mk3 wing for 5 years now. Granted it's purely recreational use.... But so are the cast majority of divers.

My general observation with outdoor apparel and equipment is that one reaches a point of diminishing returns when prioritizing lightweight over durability.

This BCD may be perfectly fine but overall it looks to me like it would be vulnerable for a busy diver. Busy doesn't mean inattentive or careless.

I applaud the marlinspike ingenuity.

I recognize the Tailor of Rosenheim (Johann Klepper) probably went through several years of trial and error before landing on the final design that ushered in Europe's early chapter of kayaking.

 

[fatgeorge]

You seem to be prioritizing maximum weight savings. Is your intended use case strictly recreational travel?

Yes, and strictly in tropical warm waters.

 

[scoobyluu]

This is very cool - don't think I'm handy enough to sew something this nice.