Building my BP + Wing setup...

[willo]

Ok, So I've got a Dive Rite stainless backplate, standard harness, and some rec wings sitting in front of me.

Man this is gonna sound a bit silly.
How am I supposed to attach the wing to the backplate?
I'm stuck with mailorder around here...

I noticed some flat stainless bolts at some places online. I'm guessing I need to buy more hardware. Building the harness is pretty straight forward.

Should the harness only pass through the backplate, and attach the wing on top of that?
Or should I run the harness through the slots on the wings?

Somebody got a good reference site for me?

 

[mossym]

you need the bolts, not sure what size they are, i can look when i go home and let you know if someone doesn't come along with the answer

the harness only goes through the plate, not the wing, that way you can change the wing whenever you need.

 

[RDP]

Ok, So I've got a Dive Rite stainless backplate, standard harness, and some rec wings sitting in front of me.

Man this is gonna sound a bit silly.
How am I supposed to attach the wing to the backplate?
I'm stuck with mailorder around here...

I noticed some flat stainless bolts at some places online. I'm guessing I need to buy more hardware. Building the harness is pretty straight forward.

Should the harness only pass through the backplate, and attach the wing on top of that?
Or should I run the harness through the slots on the wings?

Somebody got a good reference site for me?

You need a single plate adapter, or if using doubles the bolt kit for the bands. The wings are sandwiched between the backplate and the adapter or double bands. Have a look at http://www.diverite.com or http://www.diveriteexpress.com

 

[barc802]

Do you have doubles or a single tank adapter?

 

[The Kraken]

Normally the bolts are 5/16-18 stainless steel.

It may be possible to secure the wing to the backplate simply using the tank as the restraining object with out bolting the wing to the backplate. It's just that I've never felt that this is a very secure method.

Bolts passing through the wing will move the tank to one side or the other if one isn't using an STA.

the K

 

[mossym]

Normally the bolts are 5/16-18 stainless steel.

It may be possible to secure the wing to the backplate simply using the tank as the restraining object with out bolting the wing to the backplate. It's just that I've never felt that this is a very secure method.

Bolts passing through the wing will move the tank to one side or the other if one isn't using an STA.

the K

yeah i never noticed he didn't mention having an STA...

 

[willo]

This is about what I figured.
Reading up on webbing the thing made it clear you don't use the harness to attach the wing.
So can I just hunt down standard stainless stuff or should I find special ones?

you need the bolts, not sure what size they are, i can look when i go home and let you know if someone doesn't come along with the answer

the harness only goes through the plate, not the wing, that way you can change the wing whenever you need.

 

[The Kraken]

Standard stainless steel from the local Ace Hardware store or Home Depot will be just fine.

 

[willo]

Nope, I'm not really planning to use an STA.
Yes, I'll mostly use single tanks. No, I don't want an STA. The DR plate has slots for the tank straps. I figure I can make a spacer to fit on the straps that will cover the bolt heads and keep the tank centered.

yeah i never noticed he didn't mention having an STA...

 

[ae3753]

How am I supposed to attach the wing to the backplate?

Assuming you're diving singles
1) Sandwiched between a single tank adapter (STA) and the backplate. Requires you to buy an STA.

2) Held in place by tank. Cam Strap is weaved through the cam slots in the backplate and wing, and when you have a tank, the wing gets locked in place.

3) Small bolts (ex. Dive Rite 'sex bolts'). Personally haven't tried this method, so I don't know if it works well or not. But the concern is that the bolts would protrude too much and not provide a stable area for the tank to rest and induce tank rock.

Should the harness only pass through the backplate, and attach the wing on top of that? Or should I run the harness through the slots on the wings?

Harness only pass through the backplate:

gasdiving.co.uk: Webbing a Harness / Backplate
http://www.gasdiving.co.uk/pages/misc/kit/harness_2.htm

dir-diver.com: Adjusting the backplate/harness
http://www.dir-diver.com/en/equipment/backplate_adjustment.html

baue.org: How to Size a Backplate
http://www.baue.org/faq/backplate_sizing_inline_images.html