BP/W and additional weight

[Scared Silly]

I recently switched over to a BP/W and curious to know how folks perfer to add extra wieght to balance their rig out. I have tried to find some info on this but have not been able to locate any.

With my SS plate and a single AL tank I do not need any extra weight for warm water diving. But I also dive cold water with my dry suit. When I was diving dry with double steels there was no problem everything was pretty well balanced and though perhaps a bit heavy I could swim the rig to the surface.

Now I am starting to play with it diving dry but with a single tank and know I will need some extra weight. A rough guess is maybe 10 lbs. As such, I am curious to know how people like to add extra weight. Going back to belt is not real appealing (before my plate I used a Zeagle Ranger so I am used to integrated weights). Add the weight to the tank band as trim weight (How much is too much trim weight?) I have seen others like Halcyon, OMS, and Zeagle which have pockets that add on to the harness waist and become basically integrate weights.

TIA

 

[PerroneFord]

V-weight, or pouches on the cam buckles.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I recently switched over to a BP/W and curious to know how folks perfer to add extra wieght to balance their rig out. I have tried to find some info on this but have not been able to locate any.

With my SS plate and a single AL tank I do not need any extra weight for warm water diving. But I also dive cold water with my dry suit. When I was diving dry with double steels there was no problem everything was pretty well balanced and though perhaps a bit heavy I could swim the rig to the surface.

Now I am starting to play with it diving dry but with a single tank and know I will need some extra weight. A rough guess is maybe 10 lbs. As such, I am curious to know how people like to add extra weight. Going back to belt is not real appealing (before my plate I used a Zeagle Ranger so I am used to integrated weights). Add the weight to the tank band as trim weight (How much is too much trim weight?) I have seen others like Halcyon, OMS, and Zeagle which have pockets that add on to the harness waist and become basically integrate weights.

TIA

Hi Tia,

You haven't stated what wing you ae using, but remember that you wing needs to be able to; Float your rig at the surface without you in it, an compensate for the compression of a wetsuit or flood of a dry suit.

You should verify that your wign has enough lift to float your rig with all the ballast attached to it. If you had 10 lbs in a weight belt, and not on your rig, the wing would not need to support that 10 lbs if you removed your gear in the water. If you put the 10 lbs on the rig it will.

You can estimate the total weight of your rig. Jus add up the buoyancy numbers for the tank, the plate, the regs, can light, and any other ballast you add to the rig.

Regards,

Tobin

 

[d@n]

XS Scuba makes pouches that will go on your harness waist strap or on the tank strap. I have one on each waist strap, right up against the plate. They each can hold up to 6 lbs. I think they make them with quick releases as well, but not sure.

 

[GreenDiverDown]

V-weight, or pouches on the cam buckles.

I know that you know this, but since he is using a single cylinder a V weight wouldn't work. Perhaps a P weight might help, though.

I like the trim weight pockets from Halcyon. If you are crazy like me, then you can put two on each camband. This lets you move weight around... or up and down... the cylinder to aid in trim.

You may, however, prefer or even need to put some of that weight on a belt. I don't know your experience level is but having some ditchable weight is a good idea for some divers. A drysuit makes this less important, but still...

Also, you may need some weight on a belt for trim purposes.

Also, as Tobin pointed out, you may need to put some of that weight on a belt so that your wing can float your rig... with you out of it, of course.

A weightbelt isn't all that bad if you keep the weight to a reasonable amount.

 

[PerroneFord]

I was actually thinking of the weight that goes in the channel of the BP. But you're right, v-weights are for doubles. Sorry for the confusion. Another option is the weighted STA. Though it's not moveable.

 

[GreenDiverDown]

I was actually thinking of the weight that goes in the channel of the BP.

Yah, a pour-your own P-weight.

A weighted sta is a great idea. you can get a 6 pounder.

 

[JeffG]

Yah, a pour-your own P-weight.

A weighted sta is a great idea. you can get a 6 pounder.

I've gotten ~8lb into a channel weight.

Do both and you could have a 6lb Plate with 14lbs of attached weight.

 

[Scared Silly]

You should verify that your wing has enough lift to float your rig with all the ballast attached to it. If you had 10 lbs in a weight belt, and not on your rig, the wing would not need to support that 10 lbs if you removed your gear in the water. If you put the 10 lbs on the rig it will.

Previously, I used the bladder off of my Zeagle Ranger that has 44lbs of lift. Which has more than enough (perhaps too much) lift for a single tank - BP (-6lbs), AL tank (-2), regs, lights, and what not. (Never calculated the latter items maybe another -5 lbs). So even with an additional 10-12lbs of lead there is plently of lift.


However, which bladder I use is also on my mind as I sold my Ranger to a friend ;-). So I am in the market for a new bladder. I have thought about just getting another Zeagle Ranger bladder because it also has enough lift for a set of doubles. So for my current diving needs I could use it for both singles and doubles. However, there is alot to be said for getting a smaller bladder for single tank diving.

PS - No worries on the P vs V weights I figured that one out ;-). The only thing about the P-weight is schelpping it along while on holiday. I already piss the baggage weight police off enough ;-).

 

[PerroneFord]

I have thought about just getting another Zeagle Ranger bladder because it also has enough lift for a set of doubles. So for my current diving needs I could use it for both singles and doubles.

:shakehead


Come on.. you KNOW this is a bad idea.