Advice on first BP/W

[HIGHwing]

I feel like I actually need the STA. I have no time for a tank that isn't exactly aligned or rocks back and forth slightly.

The STA is essentially a piece of angled steel bolted to the BP that "cradles" the cylinder. It could be said there is no real requirement for an STA, in actuality. Not everyone uses them, but I find increased enjoyment out of rig with the STA.

YMMV

 

[victorzamora]

So, to expand on High Wing's point.....yes, a STA is a solid piece of (normally) metal that holds the tank in EXACTLY the right spot. They add a little extra weight (or a lot, depending) and add some flexibility. For me to switch my bpw to doubles, I'd have to unthread my cambands, unscrew two sex screws, remove my wing, replace my wing, and bolt on doubles. To do it with a STA, you don't have to unthread your cambands. This reduces work, you don't have to keep adjusting them, AND it reduces wear on your cambands (my velcro is already on its way out).

The downsides are that it increases weight (maybe good?) and costs more. Also, it holds the tank further from your back, which reduces stability, especially with big steels. Plenty of wings have built-in "tank stabilizers" or "STAs". I had a Hollis wing with a little tank stabilizer that did great. I've got a Hog wing now that also has those tank stabilizers. I haven't dived it yet, but I won't dive it with a STA. I also don't need one, as I won't be switching to doubles. My wing allows for cambands through the plate (not available on all wing/plate combinations). Some people like STAs, some don't, some don't have an opinion. I don't really have an opinion, but I don't see the need to buy one, so I won't. If I do, which I won't, I will.

Yes, there are certain brand combos you should avoid if you want to dive without a STA.....but I'm not aware of all of them. I can tell you for sure the Hog Wing doesn't fit a Hollis plate without a little dremel work. A STA would've fixed it. The only concern with mixing brands is that the camband slots in the wing may not align with the camband slots in the plate. Halcyon wings don't have camband slots at all.

Here's the best picture I've found of one so far. The "flat" part goes against the plate. The "open" part is what the tank rides on. You screw your wing/plate/STA combo together with two screws, like you would without the STA. STAs come in all shapes and sizes. Have a Google around the web and you'll see a few designs.

 

[fisheater]

Both DSS and Oxycheq (there may be others) have devices on their wings that stabilize the tank. No wobbles. No problem.

The main advantage of an STA is the ability to switch from a single tank to double tanks quickly.

The main advantage of a non-STA system is that the tanks sits closer to the diver's back.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DanMont]

Thanks for all the input guys, has given me a few things to think about. Also big thanks to Jim for the article, it was both informative and interesting. I will let you know what I end up going with!

Dan

 

[halocline]

The modern style of metal backplate was designed originally for use with manifolded (connected) double tanks, providing standardized holes 11" apart to match with the bolts on the double tank steel bands. There are no cambands used on this type of set up. So, the early backplates and wings had no slots for cambands. Because of this, when divers wanted to use the backplate on a single tank, using a single tank adapter (STA) was a necessity. It bolts onto the holes and provides slots to weave cambands through. Now the plates and wings have slots for the cambands. The only issue with mixing brands is that you need to have the slots in the plate and the wing line up enough to weave the bands through. A few years back I started a thread attempting to list the slot spacing on different brands of wings and plates, but I don't think it ever got any traction. I do know that the oxycheq wings are compatible with dive rite plates and vice versa. I think most of the major brands are. The oxycheq and dive rite wings have lots of room to adjust the cambands vertically to work with different plates.

The deep sea supply set up is a little different; the wings have large center openings that allow the user to simply pull the wing off the plate without un-threading the cambands, provided you're using a DSS wing and plate. This is a really nice feature for cleaning and storage, and it's too bad other companies haven't jumped on board. But to me re-threading the cambands is very little work, and I prefer to store the plate, wing, and bands separately anyway. Keep in mind that the whole wing/plate/tank system is held together firmly by the cambands that sandwich the wing in place. The little bolts that some people use to attach the wing to the plate are really just a convenience. I don't use them, I just line everything up when I'm strapping on the tank. It's very easy.

The idea that you're going to wear out the velcro on the straps by removing them from the plate doesn't make any sense to me. First, you attach/detach the velcro every time you loosen or tighten the bands for a tank anyway, and the velcro doesn't do anything except contain the excess length of tank strap. So I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[Colliam7]

I guess at the moment my biggest question is about straps etc. I quite like the look of DiveRite's transplate set up does anyone else dive with this setup and give me your opinion on it? . . . Definitely think I will go for the continuous harness now for the moment, as said better to swap to something more expensive than realise I spent all that money when I didn't need to.

Good decision. I have used a Transplate a number of times over the years. While it is functional, most of the rigging is not needed, I find it limits positioning of my shoulder D-rings, and the added expense is therefore unnecessary - a Transplate harness may cost ~$120 from Dive Gear Express, while a single piece of webbing, 3-4 D-rings, and a SS buckle will cost less than $40. My only comment on the harness issue - I use single piece harnesses on all of my wetsuit plates. For drysuit diving, I have moved to a variation - I have a quick release sewn into the left shoulder strap of each harness (by a local shoe shop), to allow me to get out of the rig easily. That may be a reflection of my personal preference, my shoulder mobility, or my laziness - at the end of a dive I don't really care to futz around getting out of the rig. You don't even have to sew the QR into the harness, for that matter. There are some divers (and a few threads on SB about doing this) who use a longer piece of webbing, and a SS buckle on the strap, to create the equivalent of a quick release, but with a single (longer) piece of webbing. So, when you buy your webbing for the harness, err on the long side - webbing is fairly inexpensive, and buying a piece that is 2 feet longer than you ultimately need is far better than buying a piece that turns out to be 3 inches shorter than you need. Just a thought.

Secondly I have read a bit about compatibility issues between brands, is this a real issue or just an attempt to get divers to buy everything off of one company? If it is an issue which brands should I avoid mixing gear from? i.e would a hollis wing work on a diverite plate? I guess it is only really the wing/plate attachment that is affected by this as the webbing should be the same regardless of brand, right?

As several have pointed out, brand compatibility is more likely to be an issue if you do not use a STA. Generally plates and wings use 11" O.C. bolt holes (and STAs have 11" O.C. bolts). So, there should not be a brand compatibility problem, when an STA is used. The issue is when you try to use the cam band slots on the plate and on the wing, and they don't align. I prefer to use a STA for single cylinder diving, for a number of reasons. 1. It adds a bit of weight to my rig, placed higher on my torso than my waist (so it contributes to horizontal trim, for me), and I need added weight even when diving 1mm wetsuits with AL80 cylinders and a SS plate; 2. I like to completely dis-assemble my rig after each dive trip, and the use of a STA, instead of threading the cam bands through the plate and wing slots, makes that a bit easier for me; and 3. I have several plates and several wings that do not have cam band slots, and it was easier / cheaper to simply buy a STA than change out the plates and wings. I don't find that displacing the cylinder - AL or steel - an extra inch from my back when using a STA noticeably affects my stability in a drysuit (or a wetsuit for that matter).

 

[victorzamora]

halocline, my comment about tearing up my velcro wasn't form "velcroing" and "develcroing" the strap....it was pushing my camband through the plate. It's started catching on the lip, under the seam, and is threatening to destroy my camband. Again, the velcro isn't necessary....but it's something that would cause me to replace my camband.

Colliam made a few really good points that hadn't been mentioned yet, and I wanted to clarify where my position was coming from regarding single piece harnesses:

A buddy of mine was in a drysuit slightly too small for him (it "shrank") and he had slightly limited mobility for some motions. Getting out of his harness was one of them. He was diving the Hollis Elite 2 harness, which has two buckles on it. He greatly enjoyed having those buckles to get out from under his doubles. So, I definitely DO think there's some merit to the "fancier" harnesses....but I think it's something that's more specific to the person. If you spend $100 on a harness that you don't really need features of, they just start becoming a hassle and getting in your way. My recommendation is a single-piece of webbing due to the price, flexibility, and the fact that I don't know how people will react to diving a BPW. Most don't need the buckles, and having them adds stuff to get caught on (not directly, but because they come on "fancier" harnesses) and add to the frustration. I know that that was my experience. Also, if you decide that you need to make changes to the single piece of webbing setup, I think that getting a buckle custom-sewn provides a much cleaner solution. You can also place it lower than is commonly found on premade harnesses, allowing it to be as useful but less in the way.

tl;dr: Single piece webbing is good for MOST people, if you need to change from that you can do a custom job to fit your requirements that will turn out better/cleaner anyway. Fancy harnesses make you deal with added clutter whether you need the features or not. Go with simple, decide later if you want to make it fancier.

 

[DanMont]

Quick question all, I have been looking for backplates second hand and stumbled across a halcyon SS very cheap. Just wanted to check that there wouldn't be any issues mounting a diverite wing on it?

 

[victorzamora]

Halcyon backplates do not have camband slots....so you would HAVE to get a STA. So, no...they won't work together.

Other than that, it should be fine....as in the sex screw locations should line up just fine.

 

[Colliam7]

Quick question all, I have been looking for backplates second hand and stumbled across a halcyon SS very cheap. Just wanted to check that there wouldn't be any issues mounting a diverite wing on it?

As victozamora said, if you use a STA, there will be no compatibility issues with a Halcyon plate and a Dive Rite wing. Neither Halcyon plates nor wings feature a cam band slot. I regularly use Halcyon wings with a Dive Rite plate, and Dive Rite wings with a Halcyon plate and have no problems at all. But, I always use a STA for single cylinder diving.