BP&W Research and Setup

[bc214]

Hello All,

First off, thank you very much for the assistance so far in my past few questions as I get through my OW certification. I have assembled a decent amount of equipment, including a hand-me-down Seaquest back inflate BCD. It is ok, but after messing around with an old BP&W, I see the benefits and I'm thinking of putting one together. One of the major benefits outside of the ones being in the water, is the size and packability (if that is even a word). I plan on taking my equipment with me traveling, and my Seaquest BCD is HUGE in the bag. The backplate: not so much. Being that I will be flying, aluminum appears to be the way to go. I have seen several good used backplates with harnesses in the classified section, including a nice Hollis for what looks like a good price.

Before I pull the trigger, I'm wondering a few things about setting up a BP&W rig.

(1): Can someone actually list what is required for a full kit? It looks like I will need the BP, Wing, STA, Tank Straps, Harness, D Rings, and some type of weight pockets. Am I missing things?

(2): Weight system. Are there weights that attach to the backplate itself? Or do they go on the weight belt only? Cam straps? What is the best way to go for something universal to various water temps/exposure suits?

(3): Dove-tailing off of that: I want to put something together that can be used in the colder waters of NJ as well as when I am in tropical locations while on vacations. So wing size/lift as well as weight options becomes my questions. I'm sure a 25lb lift hollis would work great for vacation, I am less than positive it would be a good choice for a 7mm suit with boots, gloves and hood. Hollis' next size is 38lbs of lift, which seems a bit much, especially when in tropical waters. Do you think that a 30lb lift wing of another brand would be a good in-between that would work for both? Also, would variously located weight pockets allow for me to load them with a necessary weight depending on the circumstances?

(4): Are backplates and wings interchangeable as it relates to brand. If I pick up a Hollis BP and harness, and put a different brand wing on it, will I have issues?

Is there anything else I might also be missing as it relates to setting up a BP&W?

Thanks, as always.

BC

 

[robertarak]

1) Here is a picture of the basic harness with all the required accessories. Some plate/wing systems require a STA, others like the HOG do not. All systems allow you to use a STA if desired.

2) Weight pockest are fairly universal as you can add or subtract weight as needed and the weight is kept ditchable.

3) I have found that a stainless steel plate and 30# wing work for my single tank diving in all water temps. That is me, your mileage may vary.

4) Hard to make general statements.

Fot the record, you don't have to assemble it yourself. You could buy a complete kit, assemled and ready to go!

 

[CT Sean]

(1): Can someone actually list what is required for a full kit? It looks like I will need the BP, Wing, STA, Tank Straps, Harness, D Rings, and some type of weight pockets. Am I missing things?

You need:
-plate
-wing
-STA is only necesary if the wing doesn't have slots for the cam bands or the plate and wing slots don't line up (possibility if you mix brands) or the plate just doesn't have slots. You can certainly use one anyway if you want a little extra weight. I personally don't use mine anymore.
-tank straps
-harness - any harness should come with d-rings and triglides. you would need to get hardware separately if you just bought webbing though. Most basic harnesses are cheap enough that it would be silly to buy webbing and hardware separately - unless you REALLY want a red harness.
-crotch strap - technically optional, though most prefer them - may or may not be included with a basic harness.
-weight pockets are optional but it seems a lot of people use at least a pair of trim weight pockets (myself included - mine are on my upper tank strap)

(2): Weight system. Are there weights that attach to the backplate itself? Or do they go on the weight belt only? Cam straps? What is the best way to go for something universal to various water temps/exposure suits?

DSS brand plates have a weight plates that attach to the backplate, not aware of any others. Other weight carrying options are a weight belt (my preference), weight harness (see DUI weight & trim system), integrated weight pockets that usually attach to the plate which the waist straps loop though - very similar to standard integrated weight BCs. You can also use a combination of the above (my wife does)

(3): Dove-tailing off of that: I want to put something together that can be used in the colder waters of NJ as well as when I am in tropical locations while on vacations. So wing size/lift as well as weight options becomes my questions. I'm sure a 25lb lift hollis would work great for vacation, I am less than positive it would be a good choice for a 7mm suit with boots, gloves and hood. Hollis' next size is 38lbs of lift, which seems a bit much, especially when in tropical waters. Do you think that a 30lb lift wing of another brand would be a good in-between that would work for both? Also, would variously located weight pockets allow for me to load them with a necessary weight depending on the circumstances?

I use a Hollis 25 for the same exposure protection but I don't dive deep locally - If I did I might need to consider a bigger wing. It all depends on your gear configuration. If i was diving deep and had perhaps a very large capacity tank or was carrying all my weight as integrated, I'd want a bigger wing.

(4): Are backplates and wings interchangeable as it relates to brand. If I pick up a Hollis BP and harness, and put a different brand wing on it, will I have issues?

With an STA pretty much any plate becomes compatible with any wing but in the absense of an STA, it's possible that plate brand A doens;t work with plate brand B. The Hollis wing for example has very "short" slots for the tank straps (just tall enough to allow a 2"strap to pass through). If the wing slots don't line up exactly with the plate, they couldn't be used together - without an STA. A dive-Rite wing on the other hand had enormous holes in the center section of the wing. They likely line up with any plate that has slots for tank straps.

 

[bc214]

DSS brand plates have a weight plates that attach to the backplate, not aware of any others. Other weight carrying options are a weight belt (my preference), weight harness (see DUI weight & trim system), integrated weight pockets that usually attach to the plate which the waist straps loop though - very similar to standard integrated weight BCs. You can also use a combination of the above (my wife does)

Thanks for the reply. If using an aluminum plate that will undoubtedly need weight added, I am interested in the other options beyond a weight belt. Can I add some of the non-ditchable pouches to the cam straps or somewhere else on the wing for trim. A pound here, a pound there, etc. and then carry the majority of the weight in "ditchable" pouches on the waist strap of the harness?

If this is an option, I could carry all pouches empty while traveling and load them with boat weights according to my weight checks in the logbook. And when home, I could simply load them with my weights, obviously much more due to the exposure suit, and be good to go on both fronts.

It seems to make sense to me, if that is an option.

---------- Post added July 7th, 2014 at 01:36 PM ----------

1) Here is a picture of the basic harness with all the required accessories. Some plate/wing systems require a STA, others like the HOG do not. All systems allow you to use a STA if desired.

2) Weight pockest are fairly universal as you can add or subtract weight as needed and the weight is kept ditchable.

3) I have found that a stainless steel plate and 30# wing work for my single tank diving in all water temps. That is me, your mileage may vary.

4) Hard to make general statements.

Fot the record, you don't have to assemble it yourself. You could buy a complete kit, assemled and ready to go!

Thanks, I'll check out those sites. I'll probably put it together myself so that I can acquire the parts over some time, and get to know the equipment as it comes together.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[fire_diver]

If you are using an AL80 tank, use a SS backplate. It offsets the positive buoyancy of an empty tank. BPW gear is almost universally interchangeable. I prefer my oxycheq wing because it has built-in anti-roll tabs. My plate has cam-band slots (2 sets) so I have zero need of a STA.

You can always use a weight-belt instead of worrying about plate weights, etc. I have a small weight pouch on each cam-band for trimming weight.

 

[TSandM]

You know, by the time you run around finding a used stainless plate, good quality stainless hardware (stuff from outdoors stores won't work, I've tried it), good nylon webbing, and an appropriately sized wing, you will have spent nearly as much money (and much more effort) than you would just buying a Deep Sea Supply backplate and 35 pound wing

 

[The Laconic]

If you are using an AL80 tank, use a SS backplate.

If you mix metals like that, and then jump into salt water, you risk electrocuting yourself. It totally happened to this guy my friend knew. :sarcasm:

 

[bc214]

I will most likely be using an AL80 while on vacations, but I was looking to buy an aluminum plate for better airline travel. Are there any major drawbacks in adding weight pockets to the harness/cam straps instead of buying the heavier steel plate?

 

[diver 85]

If you mix metals like that, and then jump into salt water, you risk electrocuting yourself. It totally happened to this guy my friend knew. :sarcasm:

10 to 1 he was trying to unplug an electrical appliance---UW.........

 

[decompression]

I will most likely be using an AL80 while on vacations, but I was looking to buy an aluminum plate for better airline travel. Are there any major drawbacks in adding weight pockets to the harness/cam straps instead of buying the heavier steel plate?

Not really but if your traveling you are most likely using AL 80's......and a shorty or more.....well that's about 6 lbs positive.....same as a SS BP.....nice to be neutral huh?


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