Backplate "profiles"

[Splitlip]

Hi All.
I am looking for a 3rd light weight plate for my daughter. I have only used DiveRite and Hammerhead. I have the DR in steel and the HH in aluminum.
I want to pick up a plate which will keep a single as close to the back as is possible. Aluminum is what I am thinking, but plastic or kydex is not out of the question.

Can anyone tell me how the DSS plates (or any others) compare in this regard to the Dive Rite plates (my point of reference)?

Oh, and is the DSS Kydex plate the same "profile" as their steel?

(I will be using a STA so some of the other plates out there may not work for me.)

Thanks

 

[DiveTub]

Why use the STA at all, that alone pushes the tank a fair way off the back ?
Zeagle Ally, with tank bands no STA required.

Cheers
Chriso

 

[crpntr133]

Why use the STA at all, that alone pushes the tank a fair way off the back ?
Zeagle Ally, with tank bands no STA required.

Cheers
Chriso

Nice plate too. Just got mine a couple weeks ago.

I don't think there is another plate as low of a profile as the DSS. But then like mentioned, throw the STA on and that takes care of it.

 

[diveprof]

Hi All.
I am looking for a 3rd light weight plate for my daughter. I have only used DiveRite and Hammerhead. I have the DR in steel and the HH in aluminum.
I want to pick up a plate which will keep a single as close to the back as is possible. Aluminum is what I am thinking, but plastic or kydex is not out of the question.

Can anyone tell me how the DSS plates (or any others) compare in this regard to the Dive Rite plates (my point of reference)?

Oh, and is the DSS Kydex plate the same "profile" as their steel?

(I will be using a STA so some of the other plates out there may not work for me.)

Thanks

I dive the DR steel with the venture wing - no sta needed so it is low profile. If you are going with single tanks, that should work for her. I'd find it hard to believe that another plate would get it much closer (more than 1/4" closer), but then I cannot say i've tried them all...

 

[PerroneFord]

The DSS plate is quite flat. The Kydex plate is awesome and will probably find it's way into my hands this fall when I get my new tanks. Unlike some here, I tend to like the STA but to each his own.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Hi All.
I am looking for a 3rd light weight plate for my daughter. I have only used DiveRite and Hammerhead. I have the DR in steel and the HH in aluminum.
I want to pick up a plate which will keep a single as close to the back as is possible. Aluminum is what I am thinking, but plastic or kydex is not out of the question.

Can anyone tell me how the DSS plates (or any others) compare in this regard to the Dive Rite plates (my point of reference)?

Oh, and is the DSS Kydex plate the same "profile" as their steel?

(I will be using a STA so some of the other plates out there may not work for me.)

Thanks

SL,

Best way for me to be sure to see any DSS questions is to post in the DSS forum, I miss a few otherwise.

Our Kydex Plates are the same geometry as our SS plates in terms of overall shape and bend angle. The kydex plates are slightly different in that they do not have the attachment holes for the weight plates. They are also slightly flexible.

If your daughter is using a buoyant tank, and pretty much any exposure suit she very well might benefit from the weight of a SS plate.

Tobin

 

[Nemrod]

I prefer a STA. Even with the experimental flat plate I made the STA was needed to keep the tank rock solid. Here is the thing, the three wings I have at my disposal including my new Mach V have grommets in them that are there for a STA. Now, of course you could remove the grommets--but---anyways--the grommets have a considerable thickness to them and that must be delt with--with or without a STA. Without a STA the tank rolls around on the grommets. Now, as I said, one could remove the grommets since with the no STA rig the grommets are not needed. So, back to my point, with the grommets my Dive Rite STA which is hardly more than 1/16 inch thick sits on the grommets. Then a carriage bolt passes through them which I ground down and polished to a much thinner profile. Ok, then the cambands pass through the STA or can be looped under and the assembly is cinched down. The only difference in "thickness" or stack up (STA vs no STA) is the 1/16 inch thickness of the STA. This is insignificant. I am not going to trade 1/16 inch for the loss of tank stability I get with a good STA.

I am from time to time experimenting with various junk but I am moving toward a STA which is inlet for the grommets and has a built in thread for a countersunk screw. The result is a STA that is absolutly flush to the plate save for the thickness of the wings fabric. It will be later in the year before I will have time to experiment further.

At some point the tank is so close to the back that the lower cylinder rides down on your posterior (lol) creating a gap between the plate and your lower back. This problem is addressed with the Freedom Plate for single tank users which puts a small angle in the STA to plate connection which is pretty neat and the ergonomic design contributes to the stability of the rig.

N

 

[cool_hardware52]

Now, of course you could remove the grommets--but---anyways--the grommets have a considerable thickness to them and that must be delt with--with or without a STA. Without a STA the tank rolls around on the grommets.

Or Start with a wing that does not have thick metal rolled grommets......


Tobin

 

[Rainer]

Or Start with a wing that does not have thick metal rolled grommets......


Tobin

Ding ding ding.

 

[diveprof]

I know the issue in question is the backplate, but the wing you decide to use on it probably has a bigger impact on the overall profile. Think 30 pounds or less depending on fresh vs salt, aluminum tanks vs steel. DSS, Oxcheq and DR make a lower profile wing (the new DSS may be a lower profile, but I don't won't to touch that battle ).