BP&W Research and Setup

[Michael Guerrero]

(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 may or may not need the STA. Depends on the setup and it adds weight.

(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?

Yes, yes, and yes. You have to feel this one out for yourself. A weight belt is easy to not bring in warm water and don in cold water. I use a tail weight for my gear. It clips on when I need it, and isn't there when I don't need it.

(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 would be comfortable with a 30# wing for all the single tank diving you've described. I use a 30# for my single tank diving warm or cold.

(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?

They are mostly interchangeable. Deep Sea Supply has a different mounting mechanism for its wings, but for the most part, if you have cam strap slots for your wing, and holes in the top and bottom for bolts, it will fit most backplates. I have a HOG stainless steel backplate and a Hollis aluminum backplate, and they have the same standard holes for all my wings.

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

Don't forget the bungies on the shoulder straps to hold your backup lights. And you need the crotch strap and drings. I use 45 degree d-rings on my shoulders and crotchstrap to make it easier to clip things off. Divegearexpress has a good writeup on how to thread your harness and piranhadivemfg.com has good prices on webbing, masks, hardware, etc.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't mention DiveRightInScuba.com (DRIS). They have great BPW packages ready to go and their customer service is unmatched.

Enjoy diving!

 

[dmoore19]

I bookmarked the page with the assembled setup. I will be saving my pennies for something like that. I bought the Kraken doublehose reg and will want to get something to put it on. I ordered the Kraken with red hoses, that would look really sharp I think. Right now my dive budget is maxed out as I also have a trip coming up in 2 weeks. I will be using what I have for this trip.

Thanks for posting it!

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!

 

[USFpsychDiver]

With my steel plate I have two XS-scuba WB101-V velcro weight pockets, one on each cam band, in case I need extra weight. On my travel BC, which uses a kevlar plate (Zeagle Express Tech) I again have an XS-scuba WB101-V on each cam band and an XS-Scuba WB101 weight pocket on each shoulder strap pushed right up against the plate and held in place with tri-glides so that they ride just behind my shoulders. Each pocket can hold up to a 5 lb weight, although I rarely put more than 2 lbs in each. Trims out great. Note that these are not readily ditchable so it's the diver's responsibility to be properly weighted so they can swim the rig up in the event of BC failure.

 

[Ricky B]

For a way to attach some weights to the straps of the harness with bungee cord, check this thread, post #7 in particular:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/sidemount-diving/477659-can-you-show-me-pics-how-you-attach-hard-lead-rig.html

If you put a three-pound weight on each strap, that's six pounds off your waist. That might help with trim.

With a knife sharp enough to cut bungee cord, the weights would even be ditchable, though IMO there should be other weight that could be ditched first and more easily.

 

[bc214]

I am looking at a bp&w setup, specifically a hog 32# wing. The inflator hose seems to be not very well restrained, and as it comes up from behind looks as if it could easily be "lost" over the shoulder of the diver. Do people generally restrain the inflator hose by zip tie, velcro strap, or bungie cord similar to how it is on a jacket style bcd? If not, what keeps it from swinging around to the back?

 

[fire_diver]

I am looking at a bp&w setup, specifically a hog 32# wing. The inflator hose seems to be not very well restrained, and as it comes up from behind looks as if it could easily be "lost" over the shoulder of the diver. Do people generally restrain the inflator hose by zip tie, velcro strap, or bungie cord similar to how it is on a jacket style bcd? If not, what keeps it from swinging around to the back?

No, you are over-thinking this. You don't need it to be tied down. In five years I have never lost my inflator behind me after I started the dive. I have occasionally left is trapped between my body and wing before a dive, but even that isn't common and is a quick fix.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

I am looking at a bp&w setup, specifically a hog 32# wing. The inflator hose seems to be not very well restrained, and as it comes up from behind looks as if it could easily be "lost" over the shoulder of the diver. Do people generally restrain the inflator hose by zip tie, velcro strap, or bungie cord similar to how it is on a jacket style bcd? If not, what keeps it from swinging around to the back?

The LPI hose is generally held to the corrugated inflator hose by a couple of rubber bands, and then that assembly is held in place at the left shoulder d-ring by either a loop of bungie (older approach) or a large rubber ring (newer approach) placed in the same keeper/webbing as the d-ring...example below. It's not going anywhere.

 

[scubastingray]

I thought a bungee loop on the left chest d-ring was standard for tucking in an inflator. That's what I use, and it works great.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

I thought a bungee loop on the left chest d-ring was standard for tucking in an inflator. That's what I use, and it works great.

The bunige approach offers the pros of being something you can put in place without taking apart the rig (just ease the webbing a bit, pass it through, tie it, and pull the webbing tight) and of allowing you to get a tighter grip on the LPI assembly than the one-size-fits-all rubber ring.

But after occasionally having the square knot in the bungie come undone on me, and never being 100% happy with where the knot goes, I've embraced the overpriced Halcyon rubber ring depicted above. If I broke the ring, though, I'd probably just tie in a bungie loop before I took apart the harness to replace the damn thing.

 

[divad]

The stiff-rubber-LP hose-with-memory will keep the corrrugated hose more or less in place, even out of the loose D-ring loop.