How to mount Dive-rite travel wing on FredT backplate?

[redacted]

Santa said I can have one. And while Halcyon looks great, I really can't justify the $$ for their 27# wing over the Dive-rite travel wing. But I saw some threads that suggested the travel wing must be used with the transpack harness. Is that the case? If not, what are my options for mounting the travel wing on a backplate?

Thanks

 

[leadweight]

It's really not a good combination. It could probably be done with some modifications to the Travel Wing, but it is a kluge. You might want to look at a Diverite Trek Wing, only 40#, so fairly streamlined and about the same price as the travel wing.

 

[redacted]

I didn't need that much lift or bulk but I guess it won't hurt too much.

 

[Rick Murchison]

The Travel wing is designed for single tanks, to be attached to the Transpac with the tank cam bands rather than bolted on like a regular wing. I suppose you could mount it similarly to the FredT, but it'd be weird.
Rick

 

[scotter]

I found this thread in the depths of the archives...

I just finished a Roatan trip a week ago with my TranspacII w/travel wings. I loved the setup, however I am feeling adventurous and would like to try a bp/w to compare.

I was thinking about purchasing a plate and diving it with the travelwing (for single tank dives). This thread pretty much said it wouldn't be a good idea but I would like to see if you could ellaborate why. I understand that the wing would not be physically attached to the plate, but IMHO, its not really attached to the TranspacII harness either... its the tank bands that hold it in place. I would imagine that this would be the same case with a plate.

My only thought would be that the spacing in between the tank bands might be the problem area.

And yes... I did try searching more, but unfortunately the search terms "transpac" , "travelwing", and "backplate" occur just a bit too frequently in the same posts.

Thanks!

 

[pdoege]

I wouldn't use it for single tanks. I have one that I used to use for single tanks. I now use a Pioneer.

The Travel Wings have a strap down the middle, right? You should be able to drill 2 holes with a 11' center and mount through the holes.

Just an idea,
Peter

 

[scotter]

I grabbed my travelwing to see how the holes would line up. With 11" spacing between the holes, I would need to cut through the center strap stitchings where they attach to the wing itself... not sure if I would want to take that risk.

Is the 11" spacing a standard with all backplates... or do different plates have different spacings (i.e. designed for other wings, etc.)?

I guess I am beginning to picture why it might not be such a good idea. I would need some way of attaching the wing to the plate and also add an STA. I reason I think an STA would be needed is that the possible mounting points of putting a bolt through the travelwing are pretty thin. I would not trust the wing to hold the tank (i.e. Pioneer 27 style... I think).

Any STA I used would need to be fairly short as to fit within the 12" cavity formed by the "O" of the wing. Otherwise the STA would pinch the bladder against the plate.

Brainstorming here... but if I were to find a STA adapter that was at a max, 12" long, I could drill a hole through the STA and plate so that the spacing is smaller than 11". I could then bolt this through the center strap at a place where it would not compromise the stitching. This way, the STA supports the tank rather than the wing. The wing's flat fabric sections (not bladder), are sandwiched in between the plate and STA.

Oh, just to clarify... the style of STA I was thinking of can be found on OxyCheq Website

I guess I am starting to turn this a DIY thread...

 

[scotter]

I bit more thinking on my part (maybe I should go get a beer to slow myself down)...is to use a 2-piece STA set. Similar to this

Hmmm... can anybody think of why this wouldn't work? Of course when its all said and done... maybe it wouldn't be that much more expensive to grab a single tank wing such as OxyCheqs or Halcyon's and avoiding the cost of a STA....

edited to fix link

 

[redacted]

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20816

But I wouldn't recommend going that route. I think you could take any BP, preferably one with few if any holes in the rib. Then drill hole wherever you need them. Put 3 holes (add gromets or a couple washers) in the dead area of the wing to attach it to the BP. Add a couple small STAs like FredTs 2-piece in the two open slots of the wing and you are ready to go.

 

[FredT]

Of course that never spopped anyone...

The options are:

1.One of the 2 piece STA sectons center mounted. Drill plate and install gromets at both ends,bolt wing to plate using whatever holes fit, or drill a few new ones and tap the plate (That keeps the hole size small and use fender washers under the screw to spread the load.)

2. Long flat 1.25" wide AL strap under 2 piece STA and over wing, Strap drilled and trimmed to fit.

3. Oxychecq 30 wing, just go for it.

If you have the travelwing it's cheaper to cludge a bit. If startig from scratch the oxycheq still needs a STA of some type.

If it was me and I had the travel wing I'd go for the plate and STA combo. Try it and see if it worked for me. If not e-bay the travel and get the oxycheq from chris @ covci.com. That's just my natural scotch nature though.

FT