Added Harness to BC

[sambolino44]

I just did something I think is pretty neat, and just had to tell somebody. I added straps to my jacket-style Scubapro Classic BC to make it more stable. Basically, it's like a harness for a backplate inside the jacket. The BC has a plastic "backplate" built in, with slots that are just right for this. I just bought some 2" nylon webbing and some buckles down at the local hardware store, and it was easy to rig it up. I had already added a 1" Dive Rite crotch strap; there is a slot on the plate that must be for that purpose, because it's the right size in the right place.

I haven't tried it in the water yet, but just by trying it on I can already tell that it's a lot more stable. That's one of the things that always bugged me about this BC; it flops around. The only thing holding it on is the belt. I never saw any use for the cumberbund, and the chest strap only provides any security at all when the thing is fully inflated. Now it feels like it will stay in place a lot better. I put adjustable quick release buckles on it, so I'm hoping it won't make getting it on and off much harder.

Until I get the money to get a real BP/W system, this looks like a cheap and easy way to make my BC a lot more stable and secure. Now I'd like to hear what you all think.

 

[Luis H]

I did that a wile back to my Genesis Cayman BC. I took the shoulder straps directly to the back pack. It is as stable as a traditional back pack harness. I also added a 1" crotch strap.

I also prefer a 2" waist strap to any cummerbund. I can actually slide the side air bladder back or slide it around my sides so it floats me comfortably on the surface.

This setup gives me the advantages of a real harness. It also has the balance of a back inflate bladder since I use very little air for buoyancy control (only the back portion of the bladder gets air), and on the surface I can add all the air I like. It floats me vertical and high enough to get a better view. All this with the simplest and one of the least expensive BC you can buy. It just takes some modifications.

The straps are twisted and not yet trimmed in the pictures below, but you can get the idea.

The last modification will be to replace the inflator hose with a shorter one.

 

[sambolino44]

OK, now I've had one dive with my new rig. It is definitely more stable. It's also more of a hassle to get on and off, but mostly that's the crotch strap, not the shoulder straps. It's inconvenient to get the weight belt on, under the BC, and on top of the crotch strap. However, a few extra minutes messing with it on the surface is worth it to have the freedom to move around under water and not have the cylinder flop around to one side or the other.