Looking for a Solid/Upgradable BC

[ColinCB]

I'm looking to make an educated purchase of a BC in the upcoming months.

I'm currently an OW diver with about 25 dives. I weigh approximately 200 lbs/91kg and I am 6' 2", or 188cm. I dive in all cold water ranging anywhere from 39F to 60F/4C-15C. I currently dive AL80's however, I'm looking to upgrade to steel sometime later on. I wear a 7mm suit.

I am looking to purchase a high quality BC that's that will grow with me, experience wise. Back inflate is a must, and the ability to switch to doubles would be a huge plus.

I'm currently looking at Hollis, Scubapro, Mares, Dive Rite, and Aqualung. I can't tell from looks, but I really like the HD100 from Hollis.

 

[it_mike]

If you're planning to dive doubles, you're basically looking at a backplate and wing (BP/W) assembly.

I use OxyCheq, but hear great things about DSS here at SB.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

SP, Mares, and AL do not really make upgradeable bc's. they make bc's that you are pretty much stuck with. Dive Rite and Hollis both make good gear and the upgradeable bc you are looking for. It is called a back plate and wing and is a simple steel or al plate with a one piece harness, 3 or 4 d rings, a crotch strap with a scooter ring and d ring on the rear near the plate. Wing size is determined by your size, amt of weight you need, type of exposure suit, and single or double tanks. I personally use a Deep Sea Supply set up for singles and one for doubles. Many who get into doubles go ahead and get a seperate set up for them. Go and read some threads in the Hogarthian or DIR forums here for more info.

 

[ColinCB]

If you're planning to dive doubles, you're basically looking at a backplate and wing (BP/W) assembly.

I use OxyCheq, but hear great things about DSS here at SB.

Thanks.

SP, Mares, and AL do not really make upgradeable bc's. they make bc's that you are pretty much stuck with. Dive Rite and Hollis both make good gear and the upgradeable bc you are looking for. It is called a back plate and wing and is a simple steel or al plate with a one piece harness, 3 or 4 d rings, a crotch strap with a scooter ring and d ring on the rear near the plate. Wing size is determined by your size, amt of weight you need, type of exposure suit, and single or double tanks. I personally use a Deep Sea Supply set up for singles and one for doubles. Many who get into doubles go ahead and get a seperate set up for them. Go and read some threads in the Hogarthian or DIR forums here for more info.

I've been reading a lot lately, and it seems to me like a BP/wing/harness setup maybe getting a bit advanced [ie. technical]? I'm not entirely sure. I like the idea of integrated weights, however it seems most if not all BP/wing/harness systems are not able to be weight integrated. I dive with 20-30 lbs of weight and I am unsure the weighting systems on a BP/wings/harness setup. As for singles vs doubles I may just stick with a singles route since doubles my be too far in the future to plan for.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

I've been reading a lot lately, and it seems to me like a BP/wing/harness setup maybe getting a bit advanced [ie. technical]? I'm not entirely sure. I like the idea of integrated weights, however it seems most if not all BP/wing/harness systems are not able to be weight integrated. I dive with 20-30 lbs of weight and I am unsure the weighting systems on a BP/wings/harness setup. As for singles vs doubles I may just stick with a singles route since doubles my be too far in the future to plan for.

Your current 20-30 lbs. lead weight requirement will decrease if you move to a BP/W setup.
Follow my reasoning here...
Conventional jacket BCDs can have about 4 lbs. of positive buoyancy which needs to be compensated for by wearing an additional 4 lbs. of lead. A typical stainless steel BP will be 6 lbs. negatively buoyant. By switching to a BP, you carry 4 lbs. less lead and you shift 6 lbs. of your remaining ballast to your back positioned directly over your lungs (which is a "good" place to position ballast for trim purposes). That's 10 lbs. less you will have to carry around your hips. In most cases, this will make it much easier for you to trim out horizontally.

FWIW, BP/W setups can be fitted with ditchable weight pockets if you desire. Another option is to add non-ditchable weight in weight pockets mounted on the tank cambands.

BP/Ws are used by many single-tank recreational OW divers. I'm one of them. I don't think I'd call the BP/W a more "advanced" gear configuration either. I'd describe it as being "simpler," though.

Admittedly, not everyone likes the BP/W setup. I'd recommend trying it out first before purchasing anything.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

BP/W is actually the simple choice, nothing "advanced" about it, versus the complexity of many current BC's. The BP/W is modular, upgradeable, and one-size-fits-almost-all. It eliminates the things you do not really need on a BC (pockets, padding, cummerbund, excess D-rings, etc.) and optimizes the things you do need.

I use a BP/W for singles diving. I love it, and will not willingly go back to a "regular" BC.

As far as integrating some of your ballast weight, the BP/W will allow that. I am not a fan of integrating all of your weight into any type of BC (although in warm water,some divers may not need any ballast weight at all). For cold water diving, a stainless steel BC moves some of your ballast weight up onto your back (rather than at your hips), and this is more comfortable and makes proper "trim" in the water much easier. You can add additional "fixed" ballast weight to a BP/W; one easy way is by using weight pouches on the tank cam straps.

You do need to keep enough weight "ditchable" in the event of a wing failure, and this ditchable weight is typically worn on a traditional weightbelt, or on a weight harness.

Best wishes.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

You need to get with a good mentor who will let you try different set ups without pushing you in any one direction. If you were near me I put you in the pool with a jacket bc, back inflate, and a BPW and let you figure out what worked best. I'd also advise you based on your weighting, types you plan to do and your skill level.

A BPW is NOT a technical bc. It is in fact one of the simplest designs and has less to go wrong. If you are actually needing 30 lbs of weight putting it all in a BC is less than optimal anyway. It makes the rig heavy as hell, most will not allow you to distribute that much weight effectively, and if you do indeed manage to stuff the pockets and one comes loose or you need to ditch a bit of weight I do not want to be in your line of ascent. All of this should have been covered in your OW class. ALL the different bc types, weighting, etc.

 

[PvtStash]

I'm jus' under 6' 3", 260lbs... and live in the Great Lakes area, I also wanted a "buy it once" type BC that would do anything I wanted it to do from Rec to Tec...

My LDS is an AquaLung shop and carries the Apeks WTX , which is what I ended up getting... solid construction, festooned with D-rings, crotch strap, back inflate, velcro-pocket for a backplate to allow doubles (you dont need a STA for singles, I've used 80's and 121's), sure-lok ditchable wt. pouches... I've got over 200 dives on mine and am very happy with it... (although I would've like a pocket or two)...

 

[ColinCB]

BP/W is actually the simple choice, nothing "advanced" about it, versus the complexity of many current BC's. The BP/W is modular, upgradeable, and one-size-fits-almost-all. It eliminates the things you do not really need on a BC (pockets, padding, cummerbund, excess D-rings, etc.) and optimizes the things you do need.

I use a BP/W for singles diving. I love it, and will not willingly go back to a "regular" BC.

As far as integrating some of your ballast weight, the BP/W will allow that. I am not a fan of integrating all of your weight into any type of BC (although in warm water,some divers may not need any ballast weight at all). For cold water diving, a stainless steel BC moves some of your ballast weight up onto your back (rather than at your hips), and this is more comfortable and makes proper "trim" in the water much easier. You can add additional "fixed" ballast weight to a BP/W; one easy way is by using weight pouches on the tank cam straps.

You do need to keep enough weight "ditchable" in the event of a wing failure, and this ditchable weight is typically worn on a traditional weightbelt, or on a weight harness.

Best wishes.

Your current 20-30 lbs. lead weight requirement will decrease if you move to a BP/W setup.
Follow my reasoning here...
Conventional jacket BCDs can have about 4 lbs. of positive buoyancy which needs to be compensated for by wearing an additional 4 lbs. of lead. A typical stainless steel BP will be 6 lbs. negatively buoyant. By switching to a BP, you carry 4 lbs. less lead and you shift 6 lbs. of your remaining ballast to your back positioned directly over your lungs (which is a "good" place to position ballast for trim purposes). That's 10 lbs. less you will have to carry around your hips. In most cases, this will make it much easier for you to trim out horizontally.

FWIW, BP/W setups can be fitted with ditchable weight pockets if you desire. Another option is to add non-ditchable weight is to place weight pockets on the tank cambands.

BP/Ws are used by many single-tank recreational OW divers. I'm one of them. I don't think I'd call the BP/W a more "advanced" gear configuration either. I'd describe it as being "simpler," though.

Admittedly, not everyone likes the BP/W setup. I'd recommend trying it out first before purchasing anything.

From what I can tell, in order to start I would need a Harness, a steel backplate, wings, and a new weight system. Right now I'm using solid lead instead of shot, which was a poor oversight since the solid lead weights are ungodly uncomfortable on the hip bones.


Info:
Less weight needed to become negative
Better trim/streamlining
Simpler system


If I were to use doubles and I theoretically own my own tanks, I would only need to change the backplate from a strap system for a single tank to a bolt system for the double tank bands? Also I'd need to ensure the wings supply enough lift, but that would be when I dive doubles [reason for two sets of BP/w systems? Since doubles requires a larger wing?.

I do notice that when I am in the water I am tilted up, especially at the end of a dive. So I can see how a BP/W system would help with trim weight.

Lets say I'm diving an AL80 in the cold ocean. Right now I'd probably use around 26 pounds, which is probably a bit heavy. That's all on the hips on a weight belt. With the BP/W system I'd probably lose 4lbs with the steel plate, so 22 to deal with right there. Then maybe 8 on harness and then the other 14 on the belt in lead shot. Would this be appropriate? And how do you determine the amount of dump-ready weight in a system?

 

[Bubbletrubble]

From what I can tell, in order to start I would need a Harness, a steel backplate, wings, and a new weight system.

You might not need to purchase a completely "new" weight system. Many single-tank divers using a BP/W rig will re-use the weight belt from their previous setup. A couple of weight pockets on a tank cambands might be the only extra gear you'd need.

Right now I'm using solid lead instead of shot, which was a poor oversight since the solid lead weights are ungodly uncomfortable on the hip bones.

That's OK. Solid lead weights might actually work better in trim weight pockets and threaded onto the waist strap anyway.

Worry about the appropriate doubles setup later.

Lets say I'm diving an AL80 in the cold ocean. Right now I'd probably use around 26 pounds, which is probably a bit heavy. That's all on the hips on a weight belt. With the BP/W system I'd probably lose 4lbs with the steel plate, so 22 to deal with right there. Then maybe 8 on harness and then the other 14 on the belt in lead shot. Would this be appropriate? And how do you determine the amount of dump-ready weight in a system?

First of all, you should do a weight check to ensure that you are properly weighted. You need to do this whenever you change your gear configuration, right?
The next thing to do would be to figure out how to optimally distribute your ballast. You have a lot of options available with a BP/W. Better to address them once you try out a BP/W for yourself. Personally, I find that a weight belt with 6-10 lbs. on it is very comfortable and easy to manage. The rest of your lead can be placed in trim weight pockets on cambands or threaded onto the waist strap. Getting everything squared away will take some trial and error. Be patient with it.