BP/W questions

[Mike808]

Im still pretty new to diving but I have a few questions about bp/w setups. (ive read a lot of other threads already)

I dive in Hawaii so the water is pretty warm, I dive in a 3mm shorty. Im 6'1" and am 145lbs (Im skinny)
for backplates Im looking at either the oxycheq ultra lite back plate (too flimsy/light?) or at a standard hollis al plate.
for wings, Im pretty sure the oxycheq mach V signature is what I want but any other suggestions are appreciated.
and for the harness I like the oxycheq deluxe harness system but I havent found much info about it. Ive read good things about sxxcuba weight pockets but I would like to have as little weight on my waist as possible.

Does this sound like a good setup or would you recommend changes?

Thanks
Mike

 

[shimbob]

I'd go for option C.

Option C) DSS Large Steel plate, Hog harness, 17# travel wing.

 

[rongoodman]

Between diving in salt water and aluminum tanks, I think a SS plate makes more sense, then you can add a couple of pounds in the weight pockets if you need them. Go with the Hog harness.

 

[Mike808]

thanks. I was under the impression that a SS plate would be too much for me. Any particular reason for the hog harness? adjustably?

 

[PriusDrIVER]

How much weight do you dive with now? Just keep in mind, on a AL80 you have to plan for its empty positive buoyancy of up to 6#...depending on cylinder. The SS plates are ~6#, so that just cancels out the empty AL80. You then just need the weight to sink you and your suit.

Start with looking at what weight you dive with now, if its more than 6# then there is absolutely no reason you can't use a 6# SS plate and add a lot less "ditchable" weight. If I am in tropical waters and wear my full 3mm suit I need 15-18# when i was using a bulky/buoyant BCD...I imagine it will be somewhat less with my new BP/W.

As for the harness, I almost got a more expensive and more "adjustable" harness but currently have the standard DSS 2" webbing harness. After I got it adjusted its not as bad as I expected to get in and out of. While a quick disconnect may make it easier, it is not that much of a challenge without...and I'm sure it will be far easier in a thin wet suit than in my dry suit.

Call Tobin at DSS, he won't lead you astray. Knowledgable guy, great products and fantastic value/price.

 

[ZzzKing]

Im still pretty new to diving but I have a few questions about bp/w setups. (ive read a lot of other threads already)

I dive in Hawaii so the water is pretty warm, I dive in a 3mm shorty. Im 6'1" and am 145lbs (Im skinny)
for backplates Im looking at either the oxycheq ultra lite back plate (too flimsy/light?) or at a standard hollis al plate.
for wings, Im pretty sure the oxycheq mach V signature is what I want but any other suggestions are appreciated.
and for the harness I like the oxycheq deluxe harness system but I havent found much info about it. Ive read good things about sxxcuba weight pockets but I would like to have as little weight on my waist as possible.

Does this sound like a good setup or would you recommend changes?

Thanks
Mike

How much weight do you currently dive with? If you go with a steel plate and basic one piece harness (Hogarthian) you will probably need 8lbs or so less weight on your belt or in your pockets than you currently dive with in a typical jacket BC. If you currently dive with less than 8lbs of weight, you might be slightly overweighted with a steel plate and none of it will be ditchable. You may feel this is a problem if you're not a strong swimmer and have a wing failure. An aluminum plate will remove 4lbs or so from your belt/pockets and would thus allow an additional 4lbs that are ditchable on a belt. The soft ultralight plate would allow 2 more lbs to be ditchable for a total of 6 v the steel plate. If you're tall and skinny, you probably aren't using much weight now, right? If you're a new diver, you probably will want at least a little ditchable weight. You may look at it like this and decide what would work best for you in the majority of your diving and get that type of plate.

I have a steel, an aluminum and an ultra light plate. I don't really use the aluminum right now because the steel is better for diving with heavier exposure protection and the ultra light is better for little or no exposure protection. I use a 6lb belt with either configuration. Any other needed weight is mounted to the STA or cambands and is thus not ditchable. The aluminum plate will come in handy when I set up doubled steel tanks this next year so nothing is wasted.

I would go with the simple Hogarthian harness. It's cheaper and works just as well (some say better) as the deluxe harnesses. My Mach V wings are great but I'm sure there are others that are very nice also. I would skip the pockets. If additional weight is needed, thread it on your cambands. That will limit how much is on your belt. You can always buy pockets later if you just can't live without them.

 

[tc_rain]

I Dive a DSS S/S plate with a Hollis Elite harness (soon to go back to the HOG harness) and a 27lb wing. If I am diving fresh water in a 3mm suit, I do not need any added weight. I am just guessing here, but due to your size which is the exact oppsite of me (little to no body fat {fat floats}) I am thinking you may not need any additional weight in S/W either. If so I am sure it would only be a pound or two and the XS pockets on the waist strap would be all you need. If you go with an aluminum or light weight plate you will just need to add more lead. I think a standard SS plate would work best and help keep the lead off of you. In S/W I need to add two 4# weights in my XS pockets. As far as the harness look into just the plain HOG harness, it is the best. I just wasted $115. buying the Hollis Elite harness to only discover I like the HOG better.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

stainless plate (brand is not important), hogarthian harness, 30lb wing or less, single tank adapter (heavy version), no weight pockets cause you wont need weight, 2 tank straps and your set.

 

[tc_rain]

An STA (heavy Version) will help keep the lead off but it does add a lot of weight if you travel with the set-up

stainless plate (brand is not important), hogarthian harness, 30lb wing or less, single tank adapter (heavy version), no weight pockets cause you wont need weight, 2 tank straps and your set.

 

[Mike808]

Ok, so it looks like an SS plate with an STA and a HOG harness is the way to go. Looks like I wont have to spend as much as I thought. Thanks all for the help, much appreciated.

Mike