BC Confusion

[Kamala]

I'm starting to look at purchasing my own equipment and I'm a little confused as to the BC vs. BP/W distinction. During my OW class, my BC had a hard plastic back on which the tank sat, but otherwise seemed fundamentally similar to rental BC's I've used that had no hard plastic on the back. That being said, I much preferred the BC I used during certification (and I know this would be an easier question if I could remember the brand, but I can't). I would like to be able to look for what I want in the real world and on the internet without having to sort through a lot of what I'm fairly confident I don't want (a jacket with no hard material on the back). Was I using a BP/W set-up during my OW class or are there jackets both with and without a hard surface upon which the tank sits? Thanks!

 

[scubafool]

It sounds as if the BC that you used in class was a jacket style with, as you said, a hard plastic "plate" that the tank strapped to. A back plate with wings (BP/W) is made up of a actual plate, usually metal, a wing, tank straps, 2" nylon webbing threaded through the plate that is used as a harness, & usually, a single tank adaptor.

 

[Scott Riemer]

Highly unlikely you were using a BP/W in a PADI OW course. Many BC's have that hard plastic where your tank goes to help distribute the pressure of the tank against your back. My ScubaPro Knighthawk has it.

Like scubafool said, BP/W is something different. For more info on BP/W you could read through some of the other forums like DIR Forum or Bouyancy Compensators and Weight Systems .

 

[Kamala]

Good to know! Does there tend to be any language in the ads for jackets with hard backs that identifies them over soft-jackets? Trying to narrow down the list of BCs to check out before I buy and it doesn't always seem obvious from the descriptions which ones have them and which ones don't. :06:

 

[scubatoys]

Really it doesn't make a huge difference in whether they have a plastic hard back or not. It's not like the tank isn't hard enough! The real reason for the 2 designs is to stop the tank from flopping sideways. Picture a scubatank held just in the middle with a single strap. It could rotate back and forth - so the manufacturers put in a plastic curved piece that now stops that twisting motion.

Of course the other way to stop it is to use 2 tank straps. Most times you will find BC's have a hard back if using 1 tank strap - and a soft back if using 2. Either system works fine - so don't base your BC purchase on this difference.

 

[leadweight]

To add to what Larry said, onb BC's with 2 straps, make sure that you can moung the tank where you want it. On some it may not be possible to get the tank as low as you prefer. Caveat: usually you have better trim with the tank high.

 

[Kamala]

Hopefully I'll be able to try a few more designs with and without the plastic before I buy. But the difference in how I've felt in the water with the plastic as opposed to without it is huge, and isn't that the most important thing at the end? However, I do think the most important thing I need to do to see if the plastic makes that much difference is to try several BCs, some with, some without, and see how it goes. Now that I think about it, part of the difference might be nostalgia for what I wore in class and became used to as opposed to the various rental rigs that were ok, but just wasn't as comfortable with as I was in class. Any other suggestions for the big man BC?

 

[scubafool]

My first BC had two straps and no hard plastic plate. Even with the double bands, the tank would roll on my back whenever I rolled even slightly to one side or the other. This would allow the weight of the tank to pull me even further in that direction, resulting in an almost constant fight for control of body position. All such problems disappeared once I tried my BP/W.

 

[ae3753]

I dive a Zeagle Ranger (two straps, no hard plastic plate) and have had no issues with tank movement or rolling. This is with steel 72, aluminum 80, and steel 95s.

As for BC types, Kriterian gave a description of each of the major types in this thread. There are many other post about BC types here, but this is one of the more recent ones.

As BC recommendations for big guys, check here.

 

[Kamala]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!