Backplate/wing setup for tropical diver with a 19cu pony bottle on sling?

[jf3193]

Good evening.
Long time solo diver here (mostly Bonaire travel). Im wanting to switch from my almost 16 year old Zeagle Ranger to a BPW setup, 1 piece harness.
I love my old Zeagle, but i put priority on trim, weight, etc. an I love the idea of building the perfect kit tailored to my style of diving


I see the common comments of 'go with an aluminum backplate and like a 20-25 pd lift wing for the tropics.
Since i will be carrying my 19 pony bottle on a sling, would those smaller lifts still be enough lift with a little left over? The 30pd wings i look at seem to be a bit much from comments i read (the taco affect). My Zeagle has 44pds lift, which i never came close to needing.

Did you really find a huge weight drop off from switching to BPW? In tropics, i normal dive 14 pds with a 3mm, and 10-12 with a rash guard/shorts.
The idea of dropping more is appealing.

Those of you that dive steel in the tropics mention how they often dent use weights at all (not even ditch able?), but what about the AL folks ?


Any tips or thoughts on this?

 

[rhwestfall]

There are numerous 30# wings that are narrow profile, so unless you are diving a single lp50, the word "taco" shouldn't be in your vocabulary.

The 30# wing is a universal size, working well in warm and cool water.

 

[jf3193]

There are numerous 30# wings that are narrow profile, so unless you are diving a single lp50, the word "taco" shouldn't be in your vocabulary.

The 30# wing is a universal size, working well in warm and cool water.

There are numerous 30# wings that are narrow profile, so unless you are diving a single lp50, the word "taco" shouldn't be in your vocabulary.

The 30# wing is a universal size, working well in warm and cool water.

Many thanks! The BPW is pretty new to me, and i dont have a local LDS down the street to refer to sadly.

 

[happy-diver]

Have you floated your pony in the bath

18 on the left

30 the other one

 

[MrChen]

Good evening.
Long time solo diver here (mostly Bonaire travel). Im wanting to switch from my almost 16 year old Zeagle Ranger to a BPW setup, 1 piece harness.
I love my old Zeagle, but i put priority on trim, weight, etc. an I love the idea of building the perfect kit tailored to my style of diving


I see the common comments of 'go with an aluminum backplate and like a 20-25 pd lift wing for the tropics.
Since i will be carrying my 19 pony bottle on a sling, would those smaller lifts still be enough lift with a little left over? The 30pd wings i look at seem to be a bit much from comments i read (the taco affect). My Zeagle has 44pds lift, which i never came close to needing.

Did you really find a huge weight drop off from switching to BPW? In tropics, i normal dive 14 pds with a 3mm, and 10-12 with a rash guard/shorts.
The idea of dropping more is appealing.

Those of you that dive steel in the tropics mention how they often dent use weights at all (not even ditch able?), but what about the AL folks ?


Any tips or thoughts on this?

The difference in weighting shouldn't be that much of a difference between your Zeagle and a BPW. With the BPW you can integrate weight into your backplate with a steel backplate, which decreases how much weight you need in pockets.

You can get a steel backplate and weighted STA, which could bring your needed weights down by 5 to 7 pounds (depends on models). Dive with a steel 100 and possibly drop another 4 pounds.

When I log my dives, I log my backplate and STA as part of my weights. I also make sure to note which wetsuit I'm wearing and what type of tank.

 

[inquis]

A backplate is nice because it doesn't have unnecessary padding or positively buoyant materials like most BCDs. You can use a travel scale to weigh your Ranger w/ empty bladder submerged in a tub/pool/trashcan (add enough lead to sink it and take the difference). An AL plate will be about -1.5 lb to -2 lb. A stainless steel plate will be about -6.5 lb. So if your Ranger weighs 2 lbs in the tub with 5 lbs of lead, it is +3 lb buoyant; switching to an AL plate would allow you to drop about 5 lb of lead in that case.

 

[Nemrod]

I use a VDH 23 pounds lift wing and Oxy UL textile soft plate with a slung pony for solo. I find an 18 a little skimpy for that purpose. I am usually only carrying about 8 pounds, two pounds each in cam band pockets and two pounds each in QR pockets on my waist strap, 3mm short suit. Lately I may just have a 3# in each cam band pocket.





The DGX 30 wing is very narrow being a copy of the Oxy Mach V 30. It will not taco if you want a 30.

DGX Custom - DGX Gears Singles Harness / Backplate / Wing Package

A basic DGX backplate/wing/harness package for single tank diving at a value price.

www.divegearexpress.com

Here is another good deal:

DGX Custom - DGX Gears Harness Package - Dive Rite XT

Build a custom configured BC using our exclusive DGX Gears style harness and backplate, together with the Dive Rite brand XT armored series wing.

www.divegearexpress.com

For tropical/warm water and carrying a slung pony and perhaps a can light or camera, in other words, fully outfitted a 23 to 26 pounds wing is probably enough. A 30 is not hugely overkill. I am not going to tote steel plates around all over the place when there are weights at the resorts or boats.

 

[Scared Silly]

If you have been happy with Zeagle I would suggest instead of a metal backplate look at their Express Tech which is a composite backplate. They are more friendly for travel than a metal plate. One can add a couple of tank band weight pockets. We dive these and really like them for singles over metal plates. The system is not unlike what @Nemrod just posted up.

 

[jf3193]

Have you floated your pony in the bath

18 on the left

View attachment 888719

30 the other one

No, i typically just rent one and a sling on site in Bonaire from a few places i work with. All of my diving is travel related.

 

[jf3193]

A backplate is nice because it doesn't have unnecessary padding or positively buoyant materials like most BCDs. You can use a travel scale to weigh your Ranger w/ empty bladder submerged in a tub/pool/trashcan (add enough lead to sink it and take the difference). An AL plate will be about -1.5 lb to -2 lb. A stainless steel plate will be about -6.5 lb. So if your Ranger weighs 2 lbs in the tub with 5 lbs of lead, it is +3 lb buoyant; switching to an AL plate would allow you to drop about 5 lb of lead in that case.

A backplate is nice because it doesn't have unnecessary padding or positively buoyant materials like most BCDs. You can use a travel scale to weigh your Ranger w/ empty bladder submerged in a tub/pool/trashcan (add enough lead to sink it and take the difference). An AL plate will be about -1.5 lb to -2 lb. A stainless steel plate will be about -6.5 lb. So if your Ranger weighs 2 lbs in the tub with 5 lbs of lead, it is +3 lb buoyant; switching to an AL plate would allow you to drop about 5 lb of lead in that ca

A backplate is nice because it doesn't have unnecessary padding or positively buoyant materials like most BCDs. You can use a travel scale to weigh your Ranger w/ empty bladder submerged in a tub/pool/trashcan (add enough lead to sink it and take the difference). An AL plate will be about -1.5 lb to -2 lb. A stainless steel plate will be about -6.5 lb. So if your Ranger weighs 2 lbs in the tub with 5 lbs of lead, it is +3 lb buoyant; switching to an AL plate would allow you to drop about 5 lb of lead in that case.

Ive read that the Zeagle Ranger is over + 4 pounds buyoant. Im hoping ill be excited by how much less i have to use regardless of if i buy ALU or steel. The entire Ranger rig without anything in or attached) is 8.4 pounds.