Help with BP/W Setup and Size

[Cobra8472]

Sorry for all the questions :shakehead

Anyways, I was looking into a BP/W BC instead of getting a regular Jacket Style wich I used doing my cert. I've never dove a BP/W setup, but from what I've heard, it's worth the investment. I've looked at DSS systems, and noticed they have a 'Rig Builder' section on their website. I'm having trouble picking sizes though. I'm very skinny and tall (male) so I really don't know what to go with.

Also, what size should the Wing be? Someone mentioned 30pounds in the other thread I believe, but need some additional input. I'll be doing both warm water and cold water diving (not very cold though), and I weigh in at 55kg (yes, I know.. ) What about harnesses?

I set this up;

Single Tank Rig

Pro Fit Stainless Steel Backplate (Should I go with the Hybrid Kydex?)

Backplate Small (I'll post my measurements in a minute)

Pro Fit Harness (Should I go with Hogarthian?)

LCD 30 Single Tank Wing (Should I go with another one or with a 22mil bladder?)


My measurements will follow as soon as I find the paper I wrote them on. Any help is greatly appreciated, sorry for all the questions again >.<

 

[headonkey]

This question has been asked a TON but I'll help you out seeing as I just pieced together my rig. I like the idea of a SS backplate because it takes weight off of your weight belt and helps with your trim since it is placed directly under the wings. You'll have to determine your bp size but I was guessing a medium tall. Some companies don't really have sizes but oh well. You should definitely go with the hogarthian rig because its way more adjustable/easier to replace and cheaper. You also don't want the added failure points of the quick releases. The should pades aren't needed because you'll be wearing a wetsuit anyways.

A 30 lbs wing should be just right. I've heard great things about the LCD. I just ordered the Dive Rite Venture wing since they were on sale but they're all gone. I'm going to dive it for the first time next weekend so I really can't say how great it is yet.

The most important part of this is to contact Tobin at DSS. I've never ordered from him but he gives great advice and really cares.

 

[Cobra8472]

This question has been asked a TON but I'll help you out seeing as I just pieced together my rig. I like the idea of a SS backplate because it takes weight off of your weight belt and helps with your trim since it is placed directly under the wings. You'll have to determine your bp size but I was guessing a medium tall. Some companies don't really have sizes but oh well. You should definitely go with the hogarthian rig because its way more adjustable/easier to replace and cheaper. You also don't want the added failure points of the quick releases. The should pades aren't needed because you'll be wearing a wetsuit anyways.

A 30 lbs wing should be just right. I've heard great things about the LCD. I just ordered the Dive Rite Venture wing since they were on sale but they're all gone. I'm going to dive it for the first time next weekend so I really can't say how great it is yet.

The most important part of this is to contact Tobin at DSS. I've never ordered from him but he gives great advice and really cares.

Thanks for the advice!

I'll email Tobin about my concerns.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Sorry for all the questions :shakehead

Anyways, I was looking into a BP/W BC instead of getting a regular Jacket Style wich I used doing my cert. I've never dove a BP/W setup, but from what I've heard, it's worth the investment. I've looked at DSS systems, and noticed they have a 'Rig Builder' section on their website. I'm having trouble picking sizes though. I'm very skinny and tall (male) so I really don't know what to go with.

Also, what size should the Wing be? Someone mentioned 30pounds in the other thread I believe, but need some additional input. I'll be doing both warm water and cold water diving (not very cold though), and I weigh in at 55kg (yes, I know.. ) What about harnesses?

I set this up;

Single Tank Rig

Pro Fit Stainless Steel Backplate (Should I go with the Hybrid Kydex?)

Backplate Small (I'll post my measurements in a minute)

Pro Fit Harness (Should I go with Hogarthian?)

LCD 30 Single Tank Wing (Should I go with another one or with a 22mil bladder?)


My measurements will follow as soon as I find the paper I wrote them on. Any help is greatly appreciated, sorry for all the questions again >.<

I need:

Height

Current BC

Current Tank, please be specific.

How much Lead currently used with your heaviest exposure suit.

Where you plan to dive, i.e. cold and warm, or just cold, or just tropical etc.


Tobin

 

[Cobra8472]

I need:

Height

Current BC

Current Tank, please be specific.

How much Lead currently used with your heaviest exposure suit.

Where you plan to dive, i.e. cold and warm, or just cold, or just tropical etc.


Tobin

Hi Tobin!

Was just in the process of emailing you actually. Thanks for chiming in and helping out

178cm in height. I grow very fast, and it's been 3 months, so I think it may be closer to 179 now. 178-179 sounds right.

I do not own a BC of my own. I've only used rental equipment. As remembered it was the typical, run of the mill BC - from a generic brand (SP maybe?). Jacket style, quite small to fit my body.

Heh, alot of questions I can't answer. I've only done my OW cert, and a few extra dives aswell as a checkup dive. Here's the tank I used for all my dives.

I don't know what it was I'm afraid, I never asked. We didn't learn much about such specifics of equipment during our course

I believe, though not 100% certain I was using about 6kg of weight. I can't confirm this, but it sounds about right for what I can remember. I weigh in at 55kg, weighed about 52 back then. I think I was using a 5mm 2 piece suit, or could've been 3mm.

I plan on doing both types of diving. I go on vacation in the summer, tropical diving, also tropical in the winter. I also plan to do diving here in Sweden during the summer, wich is colder. I might be interested in a drysuit course aswell, but haven't decided on that yet.

Sorry about being so sparse with my information :/ I realize it's not that much help and would love to offer more. Thanks, anyways, for all the assistance, and hopefully you can offer some advise.

Million thanks.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Cobra,

To size a wing I need to know how buoyant your wetsuit is. If I know the tank, BC and how much ballast you carry I can estimate the buoyancy of the suit.

I can't tell froma picture what tank that is. Can you call whoever you rented the tanks from?

Alternatively if you have the wetsuit you will be using, throw it in the water and add lead until it just sinks, then weigh the lead.

Without better information you are asking me to guess on the correct size wing. If you were to be diving exclusively in one environment then I can make an educated guess, but if you want to be able to use this gear in both warm and cold water then we need to be careful not select a wing that's perhaps a little too big for cold water, because it will be WAY larger than required for warm water diving.

If I have good complete information then I can confidently recommend the smallest practical wing for cold water. That means when you travel you won't have a wing that's twice the size you need.

Tobin

 

[Cobra8472]

Cobra,

To size a wing I need to know how buoyant your wetsuit is. If I know the tank, BC and how much ballast you carry I can estimate the buoyancy of the suit.

I can't tell froma picture what tank that is. Can you call whoever you rented the tanks from?

Alternatively if you have the wetsuit you will be using, throw it in the water and add lead until it just sinks, then weigh the lead.

Without better information you are asking me to guess on the correct size wing. If you were to be diving exclusively in one environment then I can make an educated guess, but if you want to be able to use this gear in both warm and cold water then we need to be careful not select a wing that's perhaps a little too big for cold water, because it will be WAY larger than required for warm water diving.

If I have good complete information then I can confidently recommend the smallest practical wing for cold water. That means when you travel you won't have a wing that's twice the size you need.

Tobin

Thanks for the reply. It's getting late here in Europe, so atm I cannot call the dive centre that rented the tanks. I am fairly certain that it is a 10 litre tank however. I will call them tommorow and ask. I have the tank number from my video so they should be able to specify what type of tank it is. I'll call them first thing in the morning.

I really appreciate the effort to help - you will definately be getting my business.

I also, very stupidly, forgot to mention that I will be diving with a small pony bottle, if it has any impact. 6cf or 12. If it has any impact I'll decide on a model right away so you can take that into account.

Who thought buying scuba eq. would be so tricky

Thanks Tobin!

 

[cool_hardware52]

Thanks for the reply. It's getting late here in Europe, so atm I cannot call the dive centre that rented the tanks. I am fairly certain that it is a 10 litre tank however. I will call them tommorow and ask. I have the tank number from my video so they should be able to specify what type of tank it is. I'll call them first thing in the morning.

I really appreciate the effort to help - you will definately be getting my business.

I also, very stupidly, forgot to mention that I will be diving with a small pony bottle, if it has any impact. 6cf or 12. If it has any impact I'll decide on a model right away so you can take that into account.

Who thought buying scuba eq. would be so tricky

Thanks Tobin!

You might want to rethink the pony. It can be accomodated, but pony bottles are not optimal in my view.

Tobin

 

[Cobra8472]

You might want to rethink the pony. It can be accomodated, but pony bottles are not optimal in my view.

Tobin

Do you recommend anything else as an alternative air source? I'd really feel much better if I had a second air source I could use if shat really hit the fan. SpareAir?


I'll post the cylinder size and fabrication tommorow.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Do you recommend anything else as an alternative air source? I'd really feel much better if I had a second air source I could use if shat really hit the fan. SpareAir?


I'll post the cylinder size and fabrication tommorow.

Never a spare air.

Your teammate is your alt air source. Careful teammate selection is key.

Ponies can provide a false sense of security, and can lead to additional risk taking.

Ponies are often poorly maintained, and often to avoid the need to refill them ponies are not routinely test breathed.

All that can lead to the diver taking risks they should not, and then finding their pony doesn't work when they need it most.

The alternative, an attentive teammate is not only an alternative air source, but can also help with a variety of problems.

I recognize that almost every diver has had a buddy seperation problem at some time, and very few have had real equipment emergencies. This experience leads people to value more equipment over buddies. IMO the best solution is teammate with the same goals as you. Hard to achieve, but worth it.

Tobin