Malibugary
Registered
A LDS has a new wtx-d30 wing, one piece web harness, two integrated weight pockets, wtx aluminum BP w/single tanks adaptor for $380. Would this be a good buy for my first BP/w? I've been wanting to go this route for awhile.
Apeks Bp/w
- Thread starter Malibugary
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runsongas
Contributor
not a terrible deal at that price. you may want to ask for a steel bp instead though unless if you want aluminum for travel purposes.
OP
Malibugary
Registered
I dive with steel lp 108's and hp 100's locally in fresh but thought the setup would be good to take on trips as well. Was going to get some trim pockets for the tank bands for al 80's
cool_hardware52
Contributor
Malibugary,
I speak with divers considering a BP&W 3-4 times a day. Here's the condensed version of the process I walk them through.
1) The height of the diver is the primary factor in selecting the size of the plate. (~85+ % fit in a Medium or Large)
2) The "ballast budget" determines if a light weight plate (alum or kydex) or more negative Stainless Steel plate is appropriate. The buoyancy of the exposure suit and the buoyancy characteristics of the cylinders the diver uses are the main players. For example a diver with a thin suit and negative steel cylinders definitely does not need *more* ballast in the form of a stainless back plate, but a diver in a 3-5+ mm suit with a buoyant al 80 would benefit from the ballast a Stainless plate provides.
3) Wing lift; any bc must be able to A) Float the rig with full tank, and B) Be able to compensate for the maximum possible change in buoyancy of the diver's exposure suit.
If we received an order for a light weight plate, which implies thin (not very buoyant suits) and a fairly high capacity wing, which implies a fairly buoyant suit, I'd be calling the customer before we processed the order.
With out specifics about your application it's really not possible to recommend a specific set of components. I can say that a light weight plate and larger wing would raise some red flags.
Good luck with what ever you choose.
Tobin
That's a decent price for all of that, although if I may, I had an Apeks WTX rig and I was never quite happy with it. It felt funny in the water and hard to trim out. As this is your first kick at BP/W, I think for the extra $100 its worth looking at Tobins stuff. It's a guarantee he'll work with you and the 1000 questions you'll have. Spend a bit more but save in the long run and be satisfied sooner. Just my 2 PSI.
OP
Malibugary
Registered
Local diving (3-8 hr drives) are lake,quarries so mostly drysuit. I only need about 4-6 lbs. with the steel tanks if I use a full "John" instead of just under armor type underwear. I figure the aluminum plate will work great for travel as I do at least 3 trips a year (fly) to the ocean. I have access to making "ballast" to simulate a steel back plate for this setup. They have an 18# wing but based on what I've read on the forums it seems the 30# is most common. This BP/w setup is prolly less buoyant than the current BC I have anyway. I just thought the price seemed fair. As far as med/lrg I don't understand that...?
KevinNM
Contributor
Steel BPs alone are available at reasonable prices. Halcyon blemish plates are one example. So if it otherwise works you could get another $25 of webbing and a steel BP pretty cheap.
cool_hardware52
Contributor
Assuming you have a steel cylinder that is ~-2 lbs empty + a regulator (~-2 lbs) and 6 lbs of other ballast it suggests that you need about 10 lbs of ballast with your drysuit and and current BC. You are correct that the typical BC is inherently buoyant, often by 3-5 lbs. If your current BC is only +2 then it suggest you need only about 8 lbs to sink your drysuit. That's on the light end of the scale, but certainly possible in fresh water.
Lets say your drysuit is +8~10 lbs in fresh water, and your rig with an aluminum plate and HP 100 would be about -14~15 lbs when the cylinder is full. That argues against a 30 lbs wing.
If your salt water trips are to warm water, i.e. less buoyant suits, then a 30 lbs wing is likely more than you need for salt too. OTOH if you travel to cold salt water and use more buoyant suits you might need more than a 18 lbs wing.
(We offer plates in 5 sizes, but if you are ~5-6 to about 6 ft the one size fits most plates should be ok.)
Tobin
OP
Malibugary
Registered
Thanks for the responses. Just looking for creative debate. I'm 6'3" 197# with a thin/long torso (why bc's don't fit me that well). With a Whites/Aqua Bullet, 4th Element John, socks, dry glove, 6/8mm hood, Aqua Axiom bc, and lp 108 I only need 6# tops and don't really have an issue with safety stop with about 1k left.
cool_hardware52
Contributor
At 6'3" x 197 you are probably a little negative in fresh water in a swim suit and about neutral in salt water. Your 108 /112 is about -2 empty in fresh water, and about -4 @ 1000 psi. Add a reg and 6 lbs of lead you are using about 12 lbs of total ballast. Take away 2 for your BC leaves about 10 for your suit, maybe a tad more if you are slightly negative in swim trunks.
A large SS plate and harness would overweight you. A large SS plate and harness is about -7 lbs and you also remove the inherently buoyant bc. That makes a light weight plate a better choice.
With an alum or Kydex plate, harness, full 108 and reg your rig would be about - 13, and about -5 with an empty cylinder. That suggests you would need about 2-4 lbs on a belt.
You can still use a small wing. If your salt water trips are tropical the small wing will likely work there too.
BTW if you are long waisted, i.e. shorter legs, longer torso you may want to consider a longer back plate. If you are short waisted or ~normally proportioned a "large" or one size fits all type will likely fit ok.
Tobin
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