backplate and wing compatibility

[annasea]

It may be the beginning of a trend --or not--but some new wings such as the Oxycheq Mach V have no slots for bands. It must use a STA. This was initially a concern to me but I went with it anyways. I had been using my aluminum Hammerhead BP with the heavy stainless two piece Hammerhead STA and an older SeaTec wing. I purchased and subsequently modified a DiveRite single piece light weight STA. After grinding the stupid carriage bolts down and cutting a bit of matrerial from both ends so that the STA set flush to the backplate and then cutting an additional upper cam band slot so I can set my tank low enough that it does not bang my head I was pleased. The set up results in only--at most--about .2 inches additional height above my back plate than if there were no STA (which is not possible with the Mack V).

I will probably start looking for a plate with a milder bend and lower center channel or possibly make my own with either an inverted center channel or a flat section--no raised center--for use with single tanks to allow the STA to sit even closer to my back. N

I'm a bit confused... in the attached pic, it seems like you're using the heavyweight two-piece Hammerhead STA, yet you've modified a lightweight one-piece Dive Rite STA to use with the Mach V. Did you buy the Dive Rite STA solely because it's lightweight? Or were you unhappy for some reason with the two-piece STA?

The reason I ask this is because I recently bought a DSS BP and accessories and will soon be buying a Mach V wing to go with it. The last piece I need to select is the STA. I was planning on ordering OxyCheq's dog bone-style STA, but when I spoke with Dwayne today at OxyCheq, he suggested I consider their two-piece STA which will be coming out soon. Apparently, it's just as good as a one-piece, but a friend of mine who's an extremely reliable source of information poo-poos two-piece STAs.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Annasea,
If you go with the GolemGear 35# wing, you can be STA-less. Therefore, do you REALLY need/want the STA? My HH SS BP with GG 35# wing provides a very-stable tank platform, and, being STA-less, the tank is almost next to the BP (STA will cause the tank to be at a distance (5/16 " to 3/4") off the BP, depending upon brand).

I do have a HH SS 1-piece STA. This provides an extra 5 pounds of weight when I want it. If I want ot go light, for warm water, I've got a GG Al BP and STA-less wing.

 

[Nemrod]

annasea,

hello, I am sorry I confused you. The Hammerhead two piece STA you see there I purchased with my BP several years back. It is very heavy and thick--built like a tank. Believe it or not it is twice the weight of that DiveRite single piece STA.

The main reason I have the new DiveRite was so I could cut a lower set of notches so I can set the upper tank cam band lower on the cylinder and thus allow me to drop the cylinder down a bit lower. I covered that in the other thread and I think you read that thread--right? You can see in the pic that just below the upper slots I have cut an additional set of slots. I also trimmed the STA a bit just because I wanted a perfect fit.

I got it all from Scubatoys. If I were you that might be my choice.

I chose the DiveRite STA because I knew that I would be able to cut it to suit my needs.

You do not need to do anything to the STA in order to use it with the Mach V unless you want to drop the tank height a bit as I did.

If you get a Mach V and a Dive Rite STA and have an issue I will cut the STA for you.

The Mach V does not have slots sewn in like most other wings so it MUST use an STA. The DiveRite STA with the Mach V lifts the tank a max. of .2 inches---not the 3/4 inches referenced in the post above mine---that is wrong for this combination--the tanks sits almost as close as if there were no STA and it is solid. It is the sleekest and slimmest wing around.

N

 

[annasea]

annasea,

hello, I am sorry I confused you. The Hammerhead two piece STA you see there I purchased with my BP several years back. It is very heavy and thick--built like a tank. Believe it or not it is twice the weight of that DiveRite single piece STA.

The main reason I have the new DiveRite was so I could cut a lower set of notches so I can set the upper tank cam band lower on the cylinder and thus allow me to drop the cylinder down a bit lower. I covered that in the other thread and I think you read that thread--right? You can see in the pic that just below the upper slots I have cut an additional set of slots. I also trimmed the STA a bit just because I wanted a perfect fit.

I got it all from Scubatoys. If I were you that might be my choice.

I chose the DiveRite STA because I knew that I would be able to cut it to suit my needs.

You do not need to do anything to the STA in order to use it with the Mach V unless you want to drop the tank height a bit as I did.

If you get a Mach V and a Dive Rite STA and have an issue I will cut the STA for you.

The Mach V does not have slots sewn in like most other wings so it MUST use an STA. The DiveRite STA with the Mach V lifts the tank a max. of .2 inches---not the 3/4 inches referenced in the post above mine---that is wrong for this combination--the tanks sits almost as close as if there were no STA and it is solid. It is the sleekest and slimmest wing around.

N

Thank you for the clarification, Nemrod! I've only done 7 dives with a BP/W (all DSS borrowed from a friend) and I didn't have an issue with the tank placement, but I genuinely appreciate your offer of cutting an extra slot into a Dive Rite STA for me.

My main concern was that you were unhappy with the performance of the two-piece STA... which it appears you are not. I'll probably still get the dog bone STA over OxyCheq's soon to be for sale two-piece STA... it just seems a bit more rigid and sturdy.

 

[ams511]

Has anyone talked to Patrick at Oxycheq about adding slots to the Mach 5? In a post several months back he mentioned it was a possability. Their website is very slow to be updated so the product line is not up to date on it.

 

[Patrick]

Has anyone talked to Patrick at Oxycheq about adding slots to the Mach 5? In a post several months back he mentioned it was a possability. Their website is very slow to be updated so the product line is not up to date on it.

The Extreme Series Mach V does have slots and that allows the use of our A-Pac Lite Harness or similar. I also configured to so that you can even use those old $20 or $30 plastic back plates --- don't laugh, you can get a really good fit with them.

In the future, I will likely add those same features on the Sig Series Mach V.

The Mini STAs should be available near the end of the month. Of course, they are lighter and also about 1/2 the cost.

We'll also be showing our new reels and p-valves at BTS this weekend.

The Extreme Series Vertex 42 and 55 are now being shipped.

We are working on lots of other exciting products that will be annouced in several months.

Thanks to all for the kind words on the Mach V.

Best regards,

Patrick Duffy
OxyCheq