aluminum vs steel bp/w

[wrybosome]

Hi all,

I'm looking at getting a bp/w setup. Most of the local divers I know (PA,NJ,NY) are using this type of setup here in the Atlantic and all of them swear by it.

I was hoping to get some insight into whether a steel or aluminum bp would be more appropriate. Currently I dive a single HP100 or LP95 tank, but plan on eventually moving into doubles as my comfort and skill level increase. A dry suit may be in the future, but not for a year or two most likely.

Typically I'll require 15 - 16 lbs of weight in a 7mm suit w/ hood and gloves and jacket style bc. I'm less concerned with the relative durability of the ferrous or aluminum plates than I am on the effect they're going to have on my buoyancy. Would a steel plate in some gear configurations leave me with no ditchable weight?

Thanks for your thoughts,

Tim

 

[Jorgy]

All my dive buddies who use a BP/W for singles cold water diving use a SS plate.......

Now for doubles it is split, some use AL to reduce total weight, some use SS for trimming out.........

Hope this helps........M

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Aluminum plates are around 2 lbs. Steel plates average around 5.5 lbs. If you use a STA when diving a single tank this will add additional weight (how much depends on the STA, but around 2 to 5 lbs).

A BP/W rig also is typically less buoyant than a jacket BC because the jacket BC has padding in the shoulder straps, cummerbund, etc., which makes the jacket BC more "floaty" Some jacket BC's are 3-4 lbs positive due to the materials used.

So.... some folks diving a thin wetsuit in warm water with a SS backplate may not have ditchable weight. In this case (tropical diving) you'll probably want aluminum (Aluminum backplate and maybe AL80's).

But it is usually not that big a concern for single tank rec diving. It just comes down to the individual diver's ballast requirements in order to make the correct choice.

Best wishes.

 

[ScubaSam]

Tim -

Earlier this month, I just brought a Deep Sea Supply BP/W with a SS backplate and love it. I use it to dive Dutch and was in Key West with it last week. When I dive Dutch Springs, I use about 4lbs of ditchable weight with my AL80. All my buddies who own BP/W also have a SS backplate. When I get a drysuit in the fall, I can still use the same rig.

Tobin from DSS helped me chose the rig I needed after spending close to an hour on the phone with me asking about my tank, the environment I would be diving and my exposure suit. You may want to give Tobin from Deep Sea Supply a call if you are unsure which way to go.

Good luck.

 

[wrybosome]

So.... some folks diving a thin wetsuit in warm water with a SS backplate may not have ditchable weight. In this case (tropical diving) you'll probably want aluminum (Aluminum backplate and maybe AL80's).

But it is usually not that big a concern for single tank rec diving. It just comes down to the individual diver's ballast requirements in order to make the correct choice.

Best wishes.

Thanks. I am doing a tropical trip next month where I'll be going with a rental jacket bc, but if I want to keep diving it's mostly going to be cold water stuff up here from NY down to NC (I'm in PA).

I hadn't considered the buoyancy contributed by the bc padding either.

 

[wrybosome]

When I dive Dutch Springs, I use about 4lbs of ditchable weight with my AL80. All my buddies who own BP/W also have a SS backplate.

That's a lot of buddies! I keep running into DNY folks at Dutch, but haven't met you yet or dove with DNY. I meant to one weekend this spring but my buddy wanted to go off the student side.

How do you think your weighting and buoyancy would change if you used a steel tank or doubles? My wife's instructor was using double 95s, a transpac, and no weight last weekend.

 

[ScubaSam]

That's a lot of buddies! I keep running into DNY folks at Dutch, but haven't met you yet or dove with DNY. I meant to one weekend this spring but my buddy wanted to go off the student side.

How do you think your weighting and buoyancy would change if you used a steel tank or doubles? My wife's instructor was using double 95s, a transpac, and no weight last weekend.

Oh, please join us the next time you're in Dutch, even if it's just to hang out during SI cause it's a good group of divers. We are always on the peninsula side of Dutch.

For SB's ITK event next month, I've rented a HP100 so I'll let ya know how I do with the steel tank cause I'm don't think I'll need a weight belt. I've never dived doubles but expect to later in the summer or early fall.

 

[Jrock1062]

HP 100's and a SS plate will be negative by about 14 pounds depending on who makes the tank , I dive that set up AND WITH A 3MM on i use no ditchable weight

 

[scarefaceDM]

It all depends.

When I dive dry and a single Alu80 I use a 6lbs SS plate with a 6lbs STA and about 6 pounds on a belt. depending on the undies I am using.

If I am diving the same as above and in a wetsuit. I will use either the Aluminum plate or the SS plate but a lighter STA( if I can borrow one) and a few pounds on a weight belt for ditchable weight.

I dragged my rig south. I used Aluminum plate and a 6 lbs STA, plus a weight belt. Total of my rig is +/-10-12 pounds. Diving a 3mm wetsuit I add 4 pounds on a belt.
I do need to get a lighter STA however. Lessen the load in the suit case for traveling. I need to figure out the southern diving aspect. Since I usually dive dry or a 7mm.

It is All about balance. Something to consider when going the BP/wing route. Many combination's. Just find one that works for you.

 

[cool_hardware52]

HP 100's and a SS plate will be negative by about 14 pounds depending on who makes the tank , I dive that set up AND WITH A 3MM on i use no ditchable weight

The typical hp 100 is -2 lbs empty, and a SS plate and harness will be about -6 lbs. Your reg is about -2. With an empty tank you have ~10 lbs of total ballast. They typical 3mm suit is about +4~5 lbs.

That means with a steel plate, and a single HP 100 you are very likely over weighted by about 4-6 lbs. Yikes.

You'd be much better off with either a lightweight back plate, or a buoyant tank, like and al 80.

(I don't really want to think about a 3mm suit, SS plate and double HP 100's, bad idea.)

Tobin