Back Inflate BC vs. BP Wings??????
- Thread starter Bill Fisher
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more weight.
If it is more bouyant because of (padding, not nylon), then it will require more weight to achieve equilibrium - neutral bouyancy.
If it is more bouyant because of (padding, not nylon), then it will require more weight to achieve equilibrium - neutral bouyancy.
SeaJay
Contributor
I wrote an article regarding the "three main types of BC" which some have argued with... But most find it pertinent information. Feel free to check it out...
http://www.DeepSouthDivers.org/homebc.html
http://www.DeepSouthDivers.org/homebc.html
colinw
Registered
"Wing vs jacket" in the search engine will give you tons of info.
Yeah I'm wondering what to get as well. With christmas coming close I hopefully will be able to make a deal with "Santa" for a BCD.
What I know at this point for sure is that it WON'T be a JACKET style BCD...it will either be back-inflate or wing b/c
The reason why I don't own a BCD yet is because i'm still growing and therfor didn't want to spend money on something that wouldn't fit me in a few years time.
Just recentley I heard but (and correct me if I'm wrong) that back-inflate and wing bcd's can quiet easily (and cheaply?) be adjusted to size by changing the shoulder pads.
I plan on doing a wreck course further down the track but am not sure how technical I'll go.
At the moment I'm just looking for something with back-inflate which can be adjusted to changing size (changes shouldn't be too costly if possible
)
Anyone got any recommendations?
Thanks!!
What I know at this point for sure is that it WON'T be a JACKET style BCD...it will either be back-inflate or wing b/c
The reason why I don't own a BCD yet is because i'm still growing and therfor didn't want to spend money on something that wouldn't fit me in a few years time.
Just recentley I heard but (and correct me if I'm wrong) that back-inflate and wing bcd's can quiet easily (and cheaply?) be adjusted to size by changing the shoulder pads.
I plan on doing a wreck course further down the track but am not sure how technical I'll go.
At the moment I'm just looking for something with back-inflate which can be adjusted to changing size (changes shouldn't be too costly if possible
)Anyone got any recommendations?
Thanks!!
grouchyturtle
Contributor
BP and wing is more streamlined than most back inflate BCs.
Also much lighter since most BCs coming out now are weight integrated.
I've only been diving a little over a year. Got my first BC back in the spring. It was a back inflate and modular, so you can swap wings, pockets, etc.
Just picked up a BP and wing last Wed. Only done 2 dives with it so far, but it's a keeper. Wish I had just gone with that in the first place!
Also much lighter since most BCs coming out now are weight integrated.
I've only been diving a little over a year. Got my first BC back in the spring. It was a back inflate and modular, so you can swap wings, pockets, etc.
Just picked up a BP and wing last Wed. Only done 2 dives with it so far, but it's a keeper. Wish I had just gone with that in the first place!
grouchyturtle
Contributor
By the way SeaJay, love the diagrams!
Don Burke
Contributor
A backplate can be adjusted to size for anyone. Halcyon, DiveRite, and OMS use one size for everyone. Others have different sizes and I suspect that is just catering to people who want different sizes as opposed to needing them.Sebastian once bubbled... Yeah I'm wondering what to get as well. With christmas coming close I hopefully will be able to make a deal with "Santa" for a BCD.
What I know at this point for sure is that it WON'T be a JACKET style BCD...it will either be back-inflate or wing b/c
The reason why I don't own a BCD yet is because i'm still growing and therfor didn't want to spend money on something that wouldn't fit me in a few years time.
Just recentley I heard but (and correct me if I'm wrong) that back-inflate and wing bcd's can quiet easily (and cheaply?) be adjusted to size by changing the shoulder pads.
I plan on doing a wreck course further down the track but am not sure how technical I'll go.
At the moment I'm just looking for something with back-inflate which can be adjusted to changing size (changes shouldn't be too costly if possible
Anyone got any recommendations?
Thanks!!
The worst that can happen with a backplate is that you need to replace the webbing, which is the same stuff weightbelts are made of and is pretty cheap.
If you're not sure how technical you'll go, the wing can be changed for different amounts of lift or stay at one amount your entire diving career.
Don Burke
Contributor
Your wing needs to handle buoyancy changes during the dive. How much lead you are wearing isn't the issue.
Your heaviest point is when you first get to the bottom with nearly full tanks and the compressible intems on you squashed as much as they are going to get on that dive.
The air in an AL80 weighs about 5.8 pounds.
You can check the surface buoyancy of a wetsuit with some weights and a pool or barrel of water (I have a 44 gallon plastic trash can that I use as a rinse tank). Figure you'll lose about 45% at 33 feet, about 70% at 66 feet, and about 75% at 99 feet. I tested my wetgear at various depths and found that the buoyancy didn't go away quite as quickly as a simple pressure computation would indicate.
Add about ten pounds for a little margin on the surface.
In practice, about 25-30 pounds of lift will take care of most single tank diving. A very thick wetsuit with a big tank (some dive 131s around here) might push you to about 40.
Good luck,
Don
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