Aluminum or Stainless Steel Backplate?

[sshaffer]

I'm getting ready to buy a backplate and wing setup and wanted some advice on whether to get an aluminum or stainless backplate. Here is some background info that might help:

I fly to most diving locations, most in conjunction with business trips. Diving ranges from 80 F with a 3 mm wetsuit to 50 F in a drysuit. When wearing a 3mm suit and my current jacket style BC, I wear about 12 pounds weight. I will be diving singles.

Thanks.

 

[The Kraken]

I assume that's a single aluminum 80.
Go with a stainless, unless you're worried about luggage weight.
It'll take about 6 pounds from your weight belt.

the K

 

[Ben_ca]

I assume that's a single aluminum 80.
Go with a stainless, unless you're worried about luggage weight.
It'll take about 6 pounds from your weight belt.

the K

I agree with the Stainless plate... but then again you'll end up with both of them just like the rest of us

 

[kidspot]

I use a SS plate in a 3mil suit (in a .5mil suit too) and have 8 lbs on a belt.

Aloha, Tim

 

[Tavi]

With a 3 mil suit in saltwater and an aluminum 80, I wear a 9 lb plate. I don't need any additional weight. Yes, I travel with this plate!!

In freshwater with a Drysuit, I add a 5lb single tank addapter and dive steel tanks, agian I don't need any additional weight.

With double steel tanks, I use an aluminum BP.

Hope this helps!!

 

[jbb]

I dive with a drysuit at home with the SS plate - i got the Deep Sea Supply with the extra weight plates. I also travel with the SS plate to the tropics where I wear a 3mm full suit which I will upgrade to a 5mm because 3 dive per day for 4 days even at 84 degree water will chill me on 60 minute dives. I considered the aluminum plate but I like to keep weight on my back and the 6 pounds hasn't been a problem other than getting charged for extra weight on small foreign airlines.

Jason

 

[Captain CaveMan]

i got the alum for traveling but soon im going to get the ss for home use.

 

[Tom Winters]

I travel with a stainless steel backplate. Once I score a nice cheap aluminum job, that will be my travel plate UNLESS someone out there needs a beta tester for a titanium backplate.
Listen, when you're traveling, the four pounds you save with an aluminum plate might be a lifesaver, especially if you have to take one of those puddle jumpers where they weigh the passengers.
I love diving with no weight belt with a steel tank and backplate; traveling, you're going to have to use some weights anywhere with the ubiquitous aluminum 80's so amke it a little bit easier and get the aluminum backplate.
I'm still a little leery of the ABS plastic backplates - I've never seen one so I have to reserve an opinion on them. Maybe Tobin at DSS will send me one to break.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I'm still a little leery of the ABS plastic backplates - I've never seen one so I have to reserve an opinion on them. Maybe Tobin at DSS will send me one to break.

Tom,

Our hybrid plates are not ABS, we make em out of Kydex (~2x more impact resistant than ABS) We also reinforce all the high stress points with 16 ga SS.

Thermoforming plastic can result in areas of high stress. The center channel of a BackPlate is where the holes for mounting doubles are located. Conventional wing nuts, and or lock washers can produce localized point loads that can serve as starting points for cracks to propagate from.

When relatively brittle ABS is improperly thermoformed, and then subjected to localized point loads via wing nuts and washers, it's not too surprising that some crack in half right down the middle.

Even in ABS this is a fairly uncommon failure, which really means that most Backplates really aren't highly loaded in use.

Tom, are you coming to DEMA? If so look me up.


Regards,


Tobin

 

[TPete61]

SS Backplate for Single 80's Aluminum Backplate for Twin 85's. Both setups work great for me.