BP/Wing w/o STA Question

[mahjong]

I've been diving BP/W/STA rigs for years. The constant has been my Scubapro SS backplate, and I have juggled wings and two STA's (Halcyon and Oxy Travel). I now want to put together an optimal travel rig without an STA, which means buying a new BP, as my Scubapro plate has no cam band slots.

Based on how I envision things working, it seems that the tank would be resting directly on a pile of two grommets and a bolt head at the top and one grommet and a bolt head at the bottom. In other words, two tank touch points that are not exactly flat and not even (the top being slightly higher than the bottom given the extra grommet). Even using wings with built-in stabilizing bars, it's hard for me to imagine this being a stabile tank base--strikes me as rather clumsy. Am I missing something here?

 

[ptyx]

I think the trick is that the cam bands aren't attached to the plate by a single point.

Unless the bands slip around the tank or in the plate slots, the tank rocking motion is limited by the elasticity of the piece of 'free' webbing between the plate slot and the point of contact with the tank. Admittedly it is a big lever - slots aren't that far apart, and tank is pretty wide and heavy - but it seem to work well enough.

(I'm using a dive rite wing without a STA. The tank rests on thin plastic bolts. However, it's rock solid.)

 

[tech3324]

I use this Koplin travel plate Oxycheq SS Travel Backplate [ROWB-01-04] - $136.00 : Cave Adventurers!, We will NOT be undersold!!! with a matching very minimal sta http://caveadventurers.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8_37&products_id=372. My experience with sta-less rigs has not been positive. I like the secure feeling of an sta. The Hammerhead 2-piece sta could be another option Hammerhead Scuba - Hammerhead II Backplate

 

[cmburch]

Know a machinist? Have them cut out the slots and save some money.

My Dive Rite cam bands have a rubber piece to protect the tank from the grommets/screw or bolt heads.

Some have cut a little rubber piece that flips over screw head to protect tank.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I've been diving BP/W/STA rigs for years. The constant has been my Scubapro SS backplate, and I have juggled wings and two STA's (Halcyon and Oxy Travel). I now want to put together an optimal travel rig without an STA, which means buying a new BP, as my Scubapro plate has no cam band slots.

Based on how I envision things working, it seems that the tank would be resting directly on a pile of two grommets and a bolt head at the top and one grommet and a bolt head at the bottom. In other words, two tank touch points that are not exactly flat and not even (the top being slightly higher than the bottom given the extra grommet). Even using wings with built-in stabilizing bars, it's hard for me to imagine this being a stabile tank base--strikes me as rather clumsy. Am I missing something here?

Nope. The grommets (wing and harness) and the bolt heads are the primary contributor to tank rock when direct mounting.

DSS approached this problem by eliminating both the grommets and bolts, and by including a elastomeric tank cradle in the middle of the wing.

Tobin

 

[CardShark]

>>> DSS approached this problem by eliminating both the grommets and bolts, and by including a elastomeric tank cradle in the middle of the wing.

Tobin, can the cradle be purchased separately, or is it not quite that simple ?

 

[cool_hardware52]

>>> DSS approached this problem by eliminating both the grommets and bolts, and by including a elastomeric tank cradle in the middle of the wing.

Tobin, can the cradle be purchased separately, or is it not quite that simple ?

Not that simple. For starters our cradle is sewn onto our wings, and our cradle is based a particular back plate geometry, and tank offset.

By tank offset I am refering to everything that is between the plate and tank. Using wings with metal grommets and or harnesses with metal grommets can increase this offset by upto .4"

Using the DSS wing on a DSS plate the max offset is only about .15" and our cradle is designed to not add to this value.

Tobin

 

[CardShark]

When I first started with BP/W, I used an STA. I disliked the reg / tank weight's feel when pushed away from the BP.
I ended up selling my old BP & buying a BP with cam slots, which is more stable & compact.

 

[cheeko8080]

I have the Oxycheq Mach V on a Dive Rite SS plate with ScubaPro Super Cinch cam bands and I get no rocking at all...it feels completely stable to me in the water.

 

[mahjong]

I have the Oxycheq Mach V on a Dive Rite SS plate with ScubaPro Super Cinch cam bands and I get no rocking at all...it feels completely stable to me in the water.

Do you stack two grommets (wing and harness) and bolt head on top and one grommet (wing) and bolt head on the bottom?