BP/W questions.

[cool_hardware52]

One thing to note on the DSS weight plates. I had a tough time with my trim using an AL80 and the 8 pound weight plates. I switched to a steel HP100, removed the plates and what a difference.

Weight plates, weighted STA, P-Weights, sausage weights may or may not be the answer for any given diver.

My routine advice is to get your BP&W and first determine your total weighting, i.e. tank, backplate and XX amount of additional ballast.

Once you have your total weighting nailed you can play around with positioning the XX amount of ballast for best trim. Ankle weights and soft weight with zip ties etc. allows temporary weight placement. If you find more weight up high on your body benefits your trim extra weight on the plate, weight plates etc. should be considered. If you have access to pool take advantage. Large pools with flat bottoms provide a great horizontal reference for checking trim.

If you are lucky you may find you "trim out" with all your extra ballast in a weight belt, weight belts are inexpensive.

Keep in mind that divers often are able to reduce their total weighting by more than the weight of their new back plate when converting from a Jacket BC. This is due in part to the fact that most jackets are positive when empty, some by as much as 4 lbs.

Lets say a diver is curently using a Jacket BC and 16 lbs of lead. 16 -4(inherent jacket buoyancy) -6 (SS backplate and harness) leaves about 6 lbs of weight to be placed somewhere. 6-10 lbs in a belt is easily managed, and not uncomfortable for most.

Tobin

 

[TSandM]

I'll be diving drysuit with single steel LP85 for probably the next two years. I know I'll need a good size wing when I do go doubles but if I buy the bigger wing now, won't it be overkill for the single. I should get the smaller wing now and buy the bigger wing later? What size wings if I go either way now?

You really don't want to buy a wing with adequate lift for doubles and use it on a single tank. The problem is that such a wing is wide, and will wrap up around a single tank (taco effect). The air in the wing is at the top of the "wings" of the bladder, and is therefore difficult to dump, and you have to go out of trim to do it. It is much better to have a wing which is appropriately sized -- enough lift for the gear you are using, and not more.

 

[Gil57usa]

If you are going to be diving a single tank for the next couple years, get a wing that is for singles, ie. a 30 lb +-. If you use a wing designed for doubles, it will create a lot of drag in the water and could interfere with getting a good trim.

 

[all4scuba05]

Thankyou. This has helped quite a bit.