All I want is a BC Please

[Jersey Chris]

I have been trying to find a damn BC for about 2 weeks already. I have been diving a Dacor Rig since 96 and I really like it alot but back then I was a little thinner then today and I need to get a large so I am giving it to my wife. I am looking for either a Zeagle Ranger LTD or the Tech. Every time I think I find one online the next day I get a phone call that they dont have them and wont for 2 weeks. Is it just me or are other people having a problem getting Zeagles now? While we are on the subject does anyone have any other suggestions for a BC that I might try.. Quick dive profile.. Most all diving in cold Jersey. Vacation diving maybe 1 week out of the year. Single 95 steel. Most dives less then 100 ft. 35-50 lbs of lift is fine. . Weigh 185 lbs and mostly dive 7mm full suit. Any help would be greatly appreciated.. :wavey:

 

[Uncle Pug]

May I suggest that you look into getting a SS backplate, single piece harness and a 36# buoyancy wing? This will last forever and will help your trim immensely as the SS plate takes 6# off of your belt and spreads it across your back.

 

[alemaozinho]

I have been trying to find a damn BC for about 2 weeks already. I have been diving a Dacor Rig since 96 and I really like it alot but back then I was a little thinner then today and I need to get a large so I am giving it to my wife. I am looking for either a Zeagle Ranger LTD or the Tech. Every time I think I find one online the next day I get a phone call that they dont have them and wont for 2 weeks. Is it just me or are other people having a problem getting Zeagles now? While we are on the subject does anyone have any other suggestions for a BC that I might try.. Quick dive profile.. Most all diving in cold Jersey. Vacation diving maybe 1 week out of the year. Single 95 steel. Most dives less then 100 ft. 35-50 lbs of lift is fine. . Weigh 185 lbs and mostly dive 7mm full suit. Any help would be greatly appreciated.. :wavey:

I dive a zeagle Ranger for many years but if this one will ever be toast ,then my next purchase will be a backplate (preferably one from oxycheck 11lbs)with a harness and a couple of differend wings.check it out.

 

[Jersey Chris]

Thanks for the quick responces guys. My question on the wing is the ones I have seen dont seem to have alot of provisions for clips and rings. Not that I like to carry "stuff" but here in the cold dark waters of Jersey we often have very low vis so I sometimes carrry at least one light during day and 2 at night, some times I carry a reel.. Do they have weight integration or will I be needing a belt? Just would like to learn a little more about them and if I will be comfortable finding places for my extras I carry..

 

[Uncle Pug]

alemaozinho: there is always the ever popular ranger --> ebay --> BP/Wing maneuver

Chris: you can put as many D-rings on the harness strap as you want though I personally prefer the DIR configuration of two on the crotch strap (one in front for scooter tow cord and one in back for a reel), one on each shoulder strap at clavical level and one on the left waist strap to clip off the SPG.

I can carry a back up light clipped off to each shoulder strap and held back on the strap under my arms along my side by an innertube loop. I have a canister light on the right waist strap. You can use a weight belt (I do with a single) or you can use weight pockets on the waist strap (I tried them but don't like them.) Pockets glued to the suit on the outside of the thighs is a better place to carry the extra stuff than in pockets on a BC IMO.

 

[Quarrior]

I think Uncle Pug said it pretty well, even for an DIR guy. I have the Dive Rite weight pockets, well only one now since I got my cannister light. BP/W is the most flexible and customizable setup there is.

 

[bwerb]

Why not check e-bay...might find just that Zeagle you are looking for...

A well set-up BP/wing and a set of thigh pockets will give you all the storage you will need. I carry three lights, back-up mask, extra shears, SMB, two spools, wetnotes etc. with just the standard DIR D-ring placements. I think you'll find it really streamlined and able to carry everything up to multiple stages/reels and a towed scooter or two.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Or if you don't want to glue pockets to your wet/drysuit, some people like the X-Shorts.

 

[darylm74]

I just bought an Oxycheq 45# with a 5l# stainless steel backplate. I also own a Mares Pegasus which I liked a lot, though I know a lot of people don't like them. I took the wing out today for the first time today to get used to it in a pool before my up and coming advanced night dive. I dove in a drysuit, which I just got certified for, and I had about 21lbs of weight and will probably drop about 3 more pounds when it is all said and done. My suggestion to you is to find a place to possibly rent a wing set-up or possibly borrow one from a friend to try in a pool. I can say after 2 hours in the pool, I will not go back to the Pegasus......it will probably go to a friend or will be on ebay soon or as a back-up. I could not believe how easy I trimmed out, especially in the drysuit which I have only about 3 OW dives in. I glided through the water like I never have before and there were plenty of rings for lights and so forth. You could add more where you want as well I'm sure. I spent about 4 hours rigging it with the current rings, exactly where I want it and probably have about 4 more hours before I get it 80%. I could write a book on how well the backplate went this morning, however I do know that a lot of people like the Zeagle Rangers as well. I would also study the DIR configuration. I have read the book and still not sure if I'm going DIR or not, but as far as BP/W set-ups go, GUE / DIR is by far the most knowledgeable resource I've found short of scubaboard.


Good Luck and may the FORCE be with you.

 

[Ed Hayes]

I have been trying to find a damn BC for about 2 weeks already. I have been diving a Dacor Rig since 96 and I really like it alot but back then I was a little thinner then today and I need to get a large so I am giving it to my wife. I am looking for either a Zeagle Ranger LTD or the Tech. Every time I think I find one online the next day I get a phone call that they dont have them and wont for 2 weeks. Is it just me or are other people having a problem getting Zeagles now? While we are on the subject does anyone have any other suggestions for a BC that I might try.. Quick dive profile.. Most all diving in cold Jersey. Vacation diving maybe 1 week out of the year. Single 95 steel. Most dives less then 100 ft. 35-50 lbs of lift is fine. . Weigh 185 lbs and mostly dive 7mm full suit. Any help would be greatly appreciated.. :wavey:

we will have a rather large contingent at dutch springs,, this coming week end 8/20-- 8/22,,, come and try the bp and wing set up if you wish,,, there will also be a gue instructor there along w/ the entire group, being dir/gue certified or working on it,,, we will answer any ??? in person if you wish

Ed Hayes