BP/W and travel weight?

[buddhasummer]

I keep seeing posts with questions about traveling with a SS BP/W and the weight consideration, I am a little confused as to what problem is, for example a DSS SS Medium BP weighs in at 4.6lbs according to their web site and a Transpac harness weighs in at 4lbs, Ive checked out the weight on various jacket styl BCs and the weights seem to be similar. This being the case i.e. all much of a muchness (excluding BCs designed specifically for travel) Does the weight of the BP really make that much diffrence?

Also I note on this forum that most people seem to be using Al tanks when vacationing in the tropics, in Thailand big steel tanks are seem to be the norm, that being said if I were to use a SS back plate with a steel tank would I be dangerously overweighted? I am 137lbs, slight build wearing a full 3mm wetsuit usually wearing around 10lbs of weight in a standard jacket style BC.

Ive tried to find the info but Ive read so much its turned my brain to jelly.

Thanks in advance and sorry if the question is elementary....

 

[mkutyna]

If you typically wear 10 lbs with your jacket style BC, I doubt you'll be overweighted with a SS backplate and a single steel tank.

I borrowed my brother's HP 120 tank this weekend and after taking all of my weights off (I usually wear 4 lbs) I was still a bit overweight in fresh water with my SS backplate but I think my plate weights a bit more than 4.6 lbs. Nothing that my wing couldn't compensate for though.

So, yeah, I wouldn't say "dangerously" overweighted but you'll probably be slightly overweighted. I'd definitely see if you could borrow a steel tank before your trip to verify this though. Thousands of miles from home isn't the best place to be testing out new gear setups IMO.

 

[halocline]

Does the weight of the BP really make that much diffrence? (in luggage)

Also I note on this forum that most people seem to be using Al tanks when vacationing in the tropics, in Thailand big steel tanks are seem to be the norm, that being said if I were to use a SS back plate with a steel tank would I be dangerously overweighted? I am 137lbs, slight build wearing a full 3mm wetsuit usually wearing around 10lbs of weight in a standard jacket style BC.

To your 1st question, for me it doesn't, but for some people it might. A reasonable solution then is to use an AL or plastic plate and attach weights to the cambands with small pockets made specifically for that.

About your 2nd question, if that's 10 lbs with a AL80, jacket BC, 3 mil suit, it is likely that you'd be negative with no lead using a SS plate, heavy steel tank, same suit, especially in fresh water. But, probably not by much, and not "dangerously." Of course, there are those who think that not having immediately ditchable weight is dangerous, and for them the whole idea of a SS plate as your ballast is not a good one. (It's a surface issue; most people agree that ditching weights at depth is never a good idea)

If you're 137 lbs and skinny, and wearing 10 lbs with a 3 mil, I would take a guess that your BC has a pretty good amount of inherent buoyancy and you'll lose more than the weight of the plate when/if you switch.

 

[buddhasummer]

I use big steel tanks not Als, and saltwater not fresh...thanks for the replies much appreciated

 

[johnny_bravo]

I think most of those comments are in regards to travelling with one suitcase or carry-on limitations, etc. For most people the 6-9 lbs that your BP/W sytem may weigh are not an issue plus it's nice to deal with those AL tanks while on most out of country charters.

Cheers.

-J.-

 

[Bismark]

SS BPW and steel tank and 10 pounds lead on a 137 lb person = overweighted. Al BP with steel tank and 10 lbs lead on 137 lb person = overweighted. Al BP with steel tank and no lead on 137 lb person is probably still more than you need but liveable. My wife is slightly smaller than you and a SS bp with al 80 tank leaves her slightly overweighted. One of the great things about the BPW is that you can get by with less weight as you don't have a buoyant BCD filled with foam etc, that requires 4-5 lbs of lead just to get it under the water. I am 220 lbs and about 6', fairly large frame and al 80 and ss bp is all I need. If I put a steel tank on, I get rid of the ss bp and use an al backplate. By and large 99 % of people use too much weight. Good luck. Hope this helps.

 

[scubadobadoo]

SS BPW and steel tank and 10 pounds lead on a 137 lb person = overweighted. Al BP with steel tank and 10 lbs lead on 137 lb person = overweighted. Al BP with steel tank and no lead on 137 lb person is probably still more than you need but liveable. My wife is slightly smaller than you and a SS bp with al 80 tank leaves her slightly overweighted. One of the great things about the BPW is that you can get by with less weight as you don't have a buoyant BCD filled with foam etc, that requires 4-5 lbs of lead just to get it under the water. I am 220 lbs and about 6', fairly large frame and al 80 and ss bp is all I need. If I put a steel tank on, I get rid of the ss bp and use an al backplate. By and large 99 % of people use too much weight. Good luck. Hope this helps.

What he said. I use a SS BP and if I dive in warm water with a 3mm on at 175 pounds with a steel tank, then I am overweighted without any weight added to the belt at all.

To answer your question specifically...Dangerously, maybe not, but overweighted enough to make it harder to enjoy true neutral buoyancy easily...yes.

Happy diving!

 

[buddhasummer]

SS BPW and steel tank and 10 pounds lead on a 137 lb person = overweighted. Al BP with steel tank and 10 lbs lead on 137 lb person = overweighted. Al BP with steel tank and no lead on 137 lb person is probably still more than you need but liveable. My wife is slightly smaller than you and a SS bp with al 80 tank leaves her slightly overweighted. One of the great things about the BPW is that you can get by with less weight as you don't have a buoyant BCD filled with foam etc, that requires 4-5 lbs of lead just to get it under the water. I am 220 lbs and about 6', fairly large frame and al 80 and ss bp is all I need. If I put a steel tank on, I get rid of the ss bp and use an al backplate. By and large 99 % of people use too much weight. Good luck. Hope this helps.

thats the bit of info I was missing, I couldnt work out why the weight would be so much different if a standard BCD is a similar weight to a SS BP, but I hadnt figured that a BCD is way MORE BUOYANT...now I understand...Thanks I got it...thanks to all, so traveling id need an aluminium or kydex plate but cold water a SS would be ok. Cool.

 

[cool_hardware52]

thats the bit of info I was missing, I couldnt work out why the weight would be so much different if a standard BCD is a similar weight to a SS BP, but I hadnt figured that a BCD is way MORE BUOYANT...now I understand...Thanks I got it...thanks to all, so traveling id need an aluminium or kydex plate but cold water a SS would be ok. Cool.

If dry travel weight is the most important criteria then a lightweight plate is worth consideration.

OTOH, most warm water travel diving involves al 80 tanks. The typical 3mm suit will be a few lbs positive, 3-4, and an empty al 80 is +4. A SS plate and harness is about -6 and a reg is about -2. That means often in warm water with thin suits the an SS plate (6) and reg (2) is all the ballast the diver needs.

Of course is your home waters are cold the SS plate is prefered over a light weight plate.

Keep in mind the difference in "dry weight" between a SS and lightweight plate is about 3 lbs.

Tobin

 

[buddhasummer]

If dry travel weight is the most important criteria then a lightweight plate is worth consideration.

OTOH, most warm water travel diving involves al 80 tanks. The typical 3mm suit will be a few lbs positive, 3-4, and an empty al 80 is +4. A SS plate and harness is about -6 and a reg is about -2. That means often in warm water with thin suits the an SS plate (6) and reg (2) is all the ballast the diver needs.

Of course is your home waters are cold the SS plate is prefered over a light weight plate.

Keep in mind the difference in "dry weight" between a SS and lightweight plate is about 3 lbs.

Tobin

Thank you for your reply, i was going to PM you about your products, Ive read such good things about your products and your customer service, In Thailand i have only ever seen steels, I think they use them due to the number of new divers so they dont have to worry so much about weight, ive noticed that they tend to overweight OW students not sure why.

I like the look of your Kydex plate. Not sure yet if ill go the BP/W route, all my diving is OW single tank recreational.

By the way I notice on your wings, well from the photos anyway, it looks like the inflator is centered on the wing, why is that when all others appear to be left of center? does it not interfere with the first stage on a single rig? I guess not or you wouldnt be making then that way eh. Im not questioning you as such, Im an idiot, you clearly know what you are doing, am just wondering what the reason is.