back plate

[dferg77]

I was wondering what setup configuration for stainless and aluminum back plates are.
whether one is better for doubles or singles and so on. thanks

 

[Sharky1948]

The principle difference is weight. From any given manufacturer, both are machined the same way and, in general, you can configure all BPs with continuous web or the harness of your choice.

The advantage of steel (~6lbs.) is that you have less weight on your weight in a belt. (You can add trim weights to an aluminum BP to accomplish the same thing.) The advantage of aluminum is that it travels more conveniently, i.e., less baggage weight.

Either can be used with singles and doubles.

 

[dferg77]

from others experience how much weight do you use on your belt/bc with a stainless plate. I have been diving with a full 3 mil, alu. 80 with 14 pounds of weight.

 

[Meng_Tze]

from others experience how much weight do you use on your belt/bc with a stainless plate. I have been diving with a full 3 mil, alu. 80 with 14 pounds of weight.

Tha is difficult to answer.... not everyone is the same, has the same buoyancy characteristics. What I can say is that if you need 14lbs when diving with a jacket BC, you may need less to account for the buoyancy of the jacket, and you can probably remove 6lbs (steel plate) or 4lbs (Al plate) from your belt.

But you need to verify this in person. Forums can give an idea, but when you reconfigure gear that dramatically, you need to do some set up dives to configure, weight, positioning etc....

 

[dferg77]

does anyone dive with all their weight on the bp in the way of trim weights weighted sta etc.

 

[FredT]

yes

 

[cummings66]

In my drysuit I have no weight on my BP, no weight belt, nada. My BP/W is the DSS setup and I have the 8 lb stainless weight plate which is bolted to the BP, so my BP weighs 13 lbs.

In fresh water with my drysuit that's all the weight I need and it's all on my back. I am thinking of getting the 5lb weight plate because with the 13 lbs even with a full breath I'm still completely submerged about 1 foot under with 500 psi in my steel HP 120 tank.

I have a pocket on the tank cam bands just in case I'm forced to dive an AL80 someday.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

does anyone dive with all their weight on the bp in the way of trim weights weighted sta etc.

If I use a 7mm suit and HP80 with SS BP there is no weightbelt needed.
My trim is better though with an AL BP and 5# belt.

 

[rawls]

from others experience how much weight do you use on your belt/bc with a stainless plate. I have been diving with a full 3 mil, alu. 80 with 14 pounds of weight.

I use the basic same thing as you...3mm and AL80...I used no added weight and am just a tad bit positive, but not by much...

 

[CoalBoy]

hi! i hope this helps, 'coz i'm not familiar with the conditions you dive in, but for me, i dive in a 5mm farmer john and use an 8lb SS backplate plus a 2lb STA when using single AL80s. for doubles, all i need is the SS bp. all the other "small stuff" compensates for the added bouyancy of near empty twins and the wing.