cyklon_300
Contributor
I went from wearing 12 lbs to 7 lbs when switching from a Zeagle back-inflate to an AL BP/ 27 lb wing.
Finally did it
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hantzu701
Contributor
getting in and out of the bp/wing is different from a jacket style BCD.
I was taught to get in and out of a jacket style BCD by putting one arm through one side, then the other to put it on.
You can do the same with a bp/wing, but it can feel tight and uncomfortable. I noticed that I had real problems with getting in and out of the bp/wing on the surface and underwater. I find that flipping the entire rig over my head is the best way to do it. (something I was taught by a commercial diver in a college scuba class). This method works well on the surface and underwater.
You probably have to worry about a weight system too since you no longer have your integrated weights. Some people thread the weights onto the harness or put pouches to put the weights into. Personally, I still like the concept of being able to drop weight, so I wear my weight belt under my harness as I use a 7mm wetsuit and a dry suit. When I take off the bp/wing, I don't have the tendancy to shoot to the surface.
I was taught to get in and out of a jacket style BCD by putting one arm through one side, then the other to put it on.
You can do the same with a bp/wing, but it can feel tight and uncomfortable. I noticed that I had real problems with getting in and out of the bp/wing on the surface and underwater. I find that flipping the entire rig over my head is the best way to do it. (something I was taught by a commercial diver in a college scuba class). This method works well on the surface and underwater.
You probably have to worry about a weight system too since you no longer have your integrated weights. Some people thread the weights onto the harness or put pouches to put the weights into. Personally, I still like the concept of being able to drop weight, so I wear my weight belt under my harness as I use a 7mm wetsuit and a dry suit. When I take off the bp/wing, I don't have the tendancy to shoot to the surface.
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hantzu701:
You'll probably get into some interesting discussions with crews if you do this on charter boats...
WW
MonkSeal
Contributor
hantzu701:
Maybe it would be more appropriate to wear weight over harness when wearing wetsuit.
FredT
Guest
WreckWriter:
Generally they just move WAY back!
BTW heavy plates are available up to about 19 pounds negative in ~3 pound steps.
Some ballast will be lost due to the loss of flotation inhernet in most jackets/ back inflate BCs. I've had several reports of people shaving an additional 3 pounds of lead off the belt over what was expected from the plate rig weight numbers. Some of this is trim help, but most is the positive buoyancy of the pack and shoulder strap padding.
FT
Yep - most BCs have some inherent buoyancy, and its not uncommon at all for it to be in the 2-3lb range.
My g/f is of small stature and I couldn't figure out why she needed as much weight as she does - until I tried sinking her BC, with nothing on it, in the pool. That "enlightened" me.
My g/f is of small stature and I couldn't figure out why she needed as much weight as she does - until I tried sinking her BC, with nothing on it, in the pool. That "enlightened" me.
Scuba_Vixen
Guest
"I find that flipping the entire rig over my head is the best way to do it."
If you can do this easily in double 104's, remind me NOT to *piss you off* lol ....
If you can do this easily in double 104's, remind me NOT to *piss you off* lol ....
Captainsea
Guest
If the crew is on top of things then they would prevent him from slinging it over head and help him put it on. Actually he might get interesting comments from the other divers..
But IMHO, if its that hard to put on then it isnt for me.. but then again, I'm a fair water diver here in Fl. and don't have the luxury of chipping a hole in the ice to go diving either. hehe
Cliff
Plan your dive and dive your plan..
But IMHO, if its that hard to put on then it isnt for me.. but then again, I'm a fair water diver here in Fl. and don't have the luxury of chipping a hole in the ice to go diving either. hehe
Cliff
Plan your dive and dive your plan..
It ain't that hard to put on. I dive a BP+W and its no more difficult than a BC. I use a big Igloo cooler on my big boat as a "gear-up" station - lift rig onto cooler, sit down, slip arms in, stand up, buckle belly strap and go. The protocol is not to be pokey - once you have your kit on the cooler, you have to be prepared to slip in the arms and get outta there, as there are usually others waiting to do the same.
Works real well.
On the little boat I'm going to have to figure out the same kind of thing. There's a starboard cutting board on one covering board aft - I think that'll end up "the place", and although its a big high for the job I think it will work. We'll see.
Works real well.
On the little boat I'm going to have to figure out the same kind of thing. There's a starboard cutting board on one covering board aft - I think that'll end up "the place", and although its a big high for the job I think it will work. We'll see.
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