BP+Wing Mating Questions

[Jason B]

If you don't order a STA, make sure the cam band slots in your plate will line up with your wing. I just received my halcyon pioneer 36 yesterday, luckily I ordered a STA from dive rite also which arrived yesterday. My dive rite backplate has slots for cam bands so a STA is not needed, and the pioneer wing has cam band slots so a STA is not needed. Unfortunately the cam band slots on the plate and wing aren't even close, so make sure that isn't going to be an issue. I would have been screwed this week-end had I not ordered a STA.
Congrats on your decision and enjoy!

Jason

 

[jonnythan]

Two more things:

1) Simply emailing DSS is probably the best way to get a definitive answer.

2) I eventually put an STA on my Pioneer and prefer having the tank a little farther from my back.

 

[Jason B]

We might should start a sticky post at the top of this forum with measurements from different plates and wings so others won't run into this problem.
The dive rite backplate cam band slots are 5-5/16" apart.
The halcyon pioneer 36 wing cam band slots are 3 inches apart.

Jason

 

[cool_hardware52]

Thanks for the info. Where do thes plugs fit onto the wing? There seems to be just a large empty panel where the hump of the backplate goes.

Jonnythan,

The photos on our website are not the best. Our wings do have low grommets at 11" centers, but we don't use a nut and bolt to secure the wing to the plate. We use a little rubber fastener. These fasteners remain in the wing grommets when the wing is detached from the plate.

Using the rubber fasteners eliminates the tank rock and potential tank scratches that can occur when bolts are used to secure the wing to the plate.

All the rubber fasteners need to do is keep the wing square with the plate until the tank is secured. With the tank straps tight there is no way for the wing to leave the plate, or even move around.

Regards,




Tobin

 

[jonnythan]

Jonnythan,

The photos on our website are not the best. Our wings do have low grommets at 11" centers, but we don't use a nut and bolt to secure the wing to the plate. We use a little rubber fastener. These fasteners remain in the wing grommets when the wing is detached from the plate.

Using the rubber fasteners eliminates the tank rock and potential tank scratches that can occur when bolts are used to secure the wing to the plate.

All the rubber fasteners need to do is keep the wing square with the plate until the tank is secured. With the tank straps tight there is no way for the wing to leave the plate, or even move around.



http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/533/28351P1010118.JPG


Regards,




Tobin

Ah, neat. That's a great idea. One of the reasons I like the STA on my Pioneer is that it's difficult to bolt the wing and plate together without an STA, and without bolting the whole floppy mess is a PITA to put on a tank. The rubber dohickeys would eliminate that.

You should sell those separately for a couple of bucks. I'm sure a lot of Pioneer users would like them

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

the oxycheq is also a good donut wing to consider. And for single tank diving, a donut is really the only option. Or at least the only good one

Well, until tonight I would've agreed with you ... but I can't anymore.

I did two dives on the DSS wing tonight, and I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised.

The first surprise was that ... in fact ... I don't need more than a 30-lb wing. I used to own a DR Venture wing, which has a similar rating. But this wing definitely provides more lift than the Venture. Our first dive started with a reasonably long surface swim, and unlike the Venture, this wing gave me all the lift I needed to stay comfortable on the surface, both for the swim and for the several minutes it took to "herd cats" with our students and get everyone organized to begin the dive.

Second surprise was how nicely it performed down under. The inflator valve is situated more like a doubles wing, with the valve centered rather than on the left side, and using the inflator hose for dumping was really quite easy. Also, the rear dump is easy to use ... I didn't notice any difficulties venting while horizontal at all. In fact, it's not noticeably different than my Oxycheq (despite the fact that this isn't a donut-shaped wing).

Now, I really like my Oxycheq wings ... and it ain't likely I'm gonna be making a big switch to DSS. But this wing is nice. It's got a more compact footprint than the Oxycheq, but it still trims nicely with the LP95 I was using tonight. I felt comfortably from the get-go, and didn't experience any noticeable performance difference between this wing and my Oxycheq.

For those who say you cannot get good singles performance on a donut-shaped wing, all I can say is you should try this wing ... it might force you to rethink a bit (it did me).

I'll be diving it on a drift tomorrow ... I want to give it a few more dives under different conditions. But I will say my first impressions were favorable.

Tobin, you've got a winner ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Mako Mark]

when mating backplate and wings, I suggest you mate halcyon to halcyon or DSS with DSS otherwise all offspring will be of mixed lineage or mongrels...:11:

(insert pre-emptive apology for morning sillyness here)

 

[Ikari]

Well, thanks to all for the input. I have decided to purchase DSS's Single Tank Rig with their Hogarthian harness. That way I don't have any worries about wings and plates not fitting correctly. From NWGratefulDiver's review, I don't think I'll be disappointed with my choice.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Well, thanks to all for the input. I have decided to purchase DSS's Single Tank Rig with their Hogarthian harness. That way I don't have any worries about wings and plates not fitting correctly. From NWGratefulDiver's review, I don't think I'll be disappointed with my choice.

Good choice, I also would recommend the Hogarthian harness ... I tried the Pro-Fit harness, and didn't really care for it. I'm not a big fan of QR's and billy rings. And for my preference, the webbing on the Pro-Fit is actually a bit too soft. I can imagine the Pro-Fit is a good harness for warm-water diving, where the soft webbing conforms more comfortably to a thin exposure suit ... and it will probably work well for a rental unit where divers need the adjustment capability. But for me, personally, the Hogarthian harness is preferable.

FWIW - I put three more dives on the system on Saturday, which included a wall dive, a drift dive, and a standard "tour". On the final dive we shot a bag from 50 feet and ascended up the line, doing stops every 10 feet. The wing vented every bit as well as my Oxycheq wing while remaining in a horizontal plane. I even made an extra stop at 5 feet ... the wing performed beautifully all the way up.

You won't be disappointed.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[OneBrightGator]

The Pro-Fit harness is only good for girlie men.