Ignorant question about bp/w and sta

[berick]

On a singles rig, if your backplate has tank cam band slots and your single wing has slots, is there any reason (other than perhaps adding weight to the plate) why you would want to use a Single Tank Adapter ?

I'm curious because I'm a new diver looking at BC options but I've never seen a bp/w firsthand. I'm just trying to figure it out in my head.

 

[Uncle Pug]

An STA can add stability especially if the wing were not designed to be used without one. The STA-less design of the Pioneer wings from Halcyon have plastic rods in their spine to hold the tank in position. They work very well if used with SS cam-band buckles that allow plenty of tension to be put on the cam-bands. For single tank diving I use a Halcyon 27# Pioneer wing and no STA with a steel 104 tank. Actually, I don't have my cam-bands over tightened and the tank is still rock solid.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Opinions vary on the value of STA's. As UP says, if the wing is designed for use without one, it can be quite stable without one. If not, in my experience, the tank tends to move from side to side a bit which I find annoying.

An STA will add a couple pounds of weight, which may or may not be desired, and will carry the tank a half inch or so farther away from the diver, which may or may not be an issue with you. Personally, I think both traits help your center of bouyancy on the surface and make it easier to float upright on the surface.

The STA also keeps the wing sandwiched nicely against the backplate and consistently positioned, so I think tank changes are a bit faster with one.

 

[berick]

An STA can add stability especially if the wing were not designed to be used without one. The STA-less design of the Pioneer wings from Halcyon have plastic rods in their spine to hold the tank in position. They work very well if used with SS cam-band buckles that allow plenty of tension to be put on the cam-bands. For single tank diving I use a Halcyon 27# Pioneer wing and no STA with a steel 104 tank. Actually, I don't have my cam-bands over tightened and the tank is still rock solid.

Is Halcyon the only wing maker with a STA-less design?

 

[cool_hardware52]

Is Halcyon the only wing maker with a STA-less design?

No there are others. Try the link in my signature.


Regards,




Tobin

 

[Uncle Pug]

That used to be the case but I'm not sure anymore.

BTW... a Pioneer wing can be *bolted* to the plate using the SS barrel nuts or even the same plastic type nuts that Zeagle uses on the Ranger. This makes tank changing just as fast as with an STA since the plate and wing are now essentially one piece.

A google search on barrel nuts will get you plenty of hits on suppliers.

 

[OneBrightGator]

An STA will add a couple pounds of weight

It CAN, my Dive Rite STA is ABS and weighs nearly nothing.

I prefer to use an STA for the reasons DA posted.

 

[jerryn]

An STA will attache the tank to the plate in a different way than cam straps -- even those with stiffeners. Look at how the plate/tank contact points are with both setups. The wing is not the issue as the plate, not the wing carries the tank. The wing is only for buoyancy. I think you will see that the STA gives more stability. You may or may not want that. Personally I like everything to be tight and I like taking 3lbs off my wt belt.

Jerry

 

[berick]

Thanks everyone for your answers/views. I appreciate it.

Bob

 

[babar]

Hey Uncle Pug
I just got a pioneer wing. when you use it without the STA, do you run the cambands throught the BP also? or do you just use the cams through the wing and then use the bolts and wingnuts to connect the wing to the BP? I havn't used this wing yet, and I'm trying to figure it out.

Babar