Aluminum or SS Backplate?

[Mr. Sunday]

I am thinking of going with a backplate system and would like to know which material for the plate is best suited for me? I dive warm and cold water. I plan on using this rig primarily in the Pacific Northwest in a trilam drysuit. I have been told that SS is better suited for this type of diving. I will be starting with a single but would like to move to doubles eventually. However, is aluminum not also more adaptable? Could you not just add trim weights to compensate? What are the benifits or problems of either?
Thanks
Ken

 

[pdoege]

You need to decide how much weight you need and go from there.

From your description, I would say that the SS BP will work fine.

An AL or ABS BP will also work well, but you will need more weight on you belt.

Peter

 

[Wendy]

I don't know if you have talked to these guys, but its in your area I think. www.fifthd.com. Since they dive that area of the country maybe they would be able to help you.

 

[ColdH20diving]

The majority of my diving is done here in the PNW. I use a SS back plate (FredT), it helped take a couple more pounds off my weight system and transfered it to the back where I need it for trim. I don't see any advantages to using the aluminum backplate in cold water, go with SS.

 

[Tekkie]

I use total 14lbs with a 7mm two piece wet suit in 50-65f fresh water. I have a SS backplate so i only wear about 7lbs of lead. That 7lbs sure feels good compaired to 14 on my belt. I would go with the SS. And when I was in Cozumel, no weight belt for me .
It's all a matter of how you weight your self.
Tekkie

 

[maccajim]

I dive temperate (16c) to tropical (26c) but like to travel a lot and decided the alu is the best for me. You don't really want to lug a SS plate onto a plane.

If u dive cold water and drysuit i would get the SS for now then later if you want to travel just buy another alu for warm water and flights.

 

[HKRacing]

Tekkie: Where do you put the 7 pounds when you are in cold water? Do the BP people use weight belts or integrated? I am getting more and more interested in BP and wings and have all these questions. Right now using a ScubaPro Classic Plus with 16 pounds total.

 

[jplacson]

HK, Tekkie keeps the rest of his weight on his belt, he said so in his post.

Some BP users use integrated, others a belt. I personally hate weight belts... you should ideally have the least amount of ditchable weight as possible... imo, your ditchable weight should just equal the weight of the air that you have in your tanks... that way, should anything go wrong with your BC at the beginning of a dive, you can ditch... and be at least a bit positive... enough to fin yourself up.

Being overweight is bad... this makes you rely on your BC too much like a life jacket (which it's NOT) ... and makes ditching weight an actual option... which it shouldn't be... ditching should be a very, very, very, very last resort.

In a bladder failure emergency, at the beginning of a dive... just fin your self up... and inflate your surface marker/lift bag ... then hug it... it'll give you all the additional lift you'll need at the surface and signal the boat to help you.

 

[Mr. Sunday]

Thanks for all that useful info. I think I will go with the SS backplate. Now I need to decide on my wing. Probably a single tank wing between #30-#45. I just wish there was more models to choose from.

Thanks again
Ken

 

[JeffG]

kgdiver once bubbled...
Thanks for all that useful info. I think I will go with the SS backplate. Now I need to decide on my wing. Probably a single tank wing between #30-#45. I just wish there was more models to choose from.

Thanks again
Ken

FYI... I use an Alu plate (actually a DIY for $20 Can). I added a channel weight to get it to 7 lbs, and if I needed more I would just use trim weights.

Easier to carry for warm water trips, and with the channel weight and/or trim weights...good for cold water as well.


Alu plates are cheaper, unless you go with Halcyon


Jeff