Narrowed my choice to 2 BP&Wing, halcyon or DR?

[scubadobadoo]

I have narrowed my choices to two rigs. I will list them and why I do and don't like them. I would love to get your opinions on my thoughts and why I might be right or wrong. Price for both is about the same with weight pockets. Thanks in advance...

1. Dive rite transplate, SS plate, SS cam bands and bolts (no sta), and the 30# venture wing. Package comes with weight pockets. I like that I don't have to use a STA as the tank is closer to me. I like that the transplate seems to be more adjustable and more comfortable with the padding and the quick release. Easy to get into and out of. I don't like that the wing is only 30# since it might not float my gear if I have to ditch it. Maybe not that big of a deal?

2. Halcyon SS plate, STA, Pinoeer 36# wing, plain harness (hogarthian style I believe?). I like that the wing gives me six more pounds of lift if I have to ditch gear in dry suit with steel tank. I like the design of the wing. Seems very compact and streemlined but so does the DR Venture. I don't like the fact that the harness seems to me less comfortable with no padding as I have a bad shoulder and fear that the harness will be a pain when diving warm water. I would also have to buy weight pouches from somewhere.

My biggest concern is the comfort and adjustability of the harness over the DR transplate when going from cold to warm suit. Any thoughts?

Again, I will NOT be diving doubles and plan to use this rig in recreational dry suit diving and warm water wet suit diving equally. I would like to keep the rig AS IS from cold to warm water use, only having to use the weight pockets, trim weight, or a belt to add more weight when diving cold water. So what do you all think? Pros, cons? Thanks again for your time and thoughts!

 

[Quarrior]

I have the DR SS plate and Transplate harness plus the weight pockets. Only difference in my setup is that I have an Oxycheq 45 singles wing. Love the whole setup. Don't let the DIR guys here you say you like padding and quick releases.

Can't really say if the 30 pound lift will be enough for your gear, since I don't know what gear you're using.

I have narrowed my choices to two rigs. I will list them and why I do and don't like them. I would love to get your opinions on my thoughts and why I might be right or wrong. Price for both is about the same with weight pockets. Thanks in advance...

1. Dive rite transplate, SS plate, SS cam bands and bolts (no sta), and the 30# venture wing. Package comes with weight pockets. I like that I don't have to use a STA as the tank is closer to me. I like that the transplate seems to be more adjustable and more comfortable with the padding and the quick release. Easy to get into and out of. I don't like that the wing is only 30# since it might not float my gear if I have to ditch it. Maybe not that big of a deal?

2. Halcyon SS plate, STA, Pinoeer 36# wing, plain harness (hogarthian style I believe?). I like that the wing gives me six more pounds of lift if I have to ditch gear in dry suit with steel tank. I like the design of the wing. Seems very compact and streemlined but so does the DR Venture. I don't like the fact that the harness seems to me less comfortable with no padding as I have a bad shoulder and fear that the harness will be a pain when diving warm water. I would also have to buy weight pouches from somewhere.

My biggest concern is the comfort and adjustability of the harness over the DR transplate when going from cold to warm suit. Any thoughts?

Again, I will NOT be diving doubles and plan to use this rig in recreational dry suit diving and warm water wet suit diving equally. I would like to keep the rig AS IS from cold to warm water use, only having to use the weight pockets, trim weight, or a belt to add more weight when diving cold water. So what do you all think? Pros, cons? Thanks again for your time and thoughts!

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I have narrowed my choices to two rigs. I will list them and why I do and don't like them. I would love to get your opinions on my thoughts and why I might be right or wrong. Price for both is about the same with weight pockets. Thanks in advance...

1. Dive rite transplate, SS plate, SS cam bands and bolts (no sta), and the 30# venture wing. Package comes with weight pockets. I like that I don't have to use a STA as the tank is closer to me. I like that the transplate seems to be more adjustable and more comfortable with the padding and the quick release. Easy to get into and out of. I don't like that the wing is only 30# since it might not float my gear if I have to ditch it. Maybe not that big of a deal?

2. Halcyon SS plate, STA, Pinoeer 36# wing, plain harness (hogarthian style I believe?). I like that the wing gives me six more pounds of lift if I have to ditch gear in dry suit with steel tank. I like the design of the wing. Seems very compact and streemlined but so does the DR Venture. I don't like the fact that the harness seems to me less comfortable with no padding as I have a bad shoulder and fear that the harness will be a pain when diving warm water. I would also have to buy weight pouches from somewhere.

My biggest concern is the comfort and adjustability of the harness over the DR transplate when going from cold to warm suit. Any thoughts?

Again, I will NOT be diving doubles and plan to use this rig in recreational dry suit diving and warm water wet suit diving equally. I would like to keep the rig AS IS from cold to warm water use, only having to use the weight pockets, trim weight, or a belt to add more weight when diving cold water. So what do you all think? Pros, cons? Thanks again for your time and thoughts!

I've used the DR TransPlate system ... even the Venture wing. Nice system ... but I'm not sure that you can use this without an STA. Did you check directly with DiveRite, or did an LDS sell you on this configuration? I'd be a bit concerned about cylinder stability.

To my concern, the Venture wing is an awesome singles wing if it provides you with enough lift. I'm fairly hefty, and had to trade up to a larger wing ... like Brian, I went with an Oxycheq 45# wing. But I sold my Venture to a friend who's considerably smaller than me (and uses smaller cylinders) and she absolutely loves it. If you do decide it's not enough wing, consider going with another "donut" design, rather than something like the DR Trek ... my experience is that they provide a lot more stability.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[gfisher4792]

This seems to be a popular setup, as I also have they Oxycheq 45# and Transplate (still adjusting to it), but with a S&W Hammerhead plate.

 

[scubadobadoo]

Thanks for your quick response gang. I am about 185#'s and medium build all around. In my heaviest moments (cold salt water, dry suit, steel 85ish tank) I wear about 28-30#'s of weight and in my lighter moments (2mil, salt water, al80) I wear about 10-12 pounds. I don't carry HEAVY lights, cameras, or knives. Strictly recreational, single tank diving. So, I believe the venture wing will do the trick in all cases. I would like to have had a little more lift for cold water but this shouldn't be a problem.

I like the transplate for now, since this is my first BP & Wing, and figure that if I do decide I don't like/need the padding or the quick release I can always trade to a hogarthian style harness in the future for very little $.

As for the STA, I have been told that the Venture wing doesn't require it. Many people say you don't get tank roll, but some do say that is this case without the STA. Your guess is as good as mine. I will find out soon. I decided on the DR package. Great deal. $449 for SS plate, 2 SS cams and bolts, Venture wing, integrated weight pockets, and transplate harness.

 

[ChickenBone]

As for the STA, I have been told that the Venture wing doesn't require it. Many people say you don't get tank roll, but some do say that is this case without the STA. Your guess is as good as mine. I will find out soon. I decided on the DR package. Great deal. $449 for SS plate, 2 SS cams and bolts, Venture wing, integrated weight pockets, and transplate harness.

Scubadobadoo,
I've actually been looking at the same exact system. If you don't mind my asking, where did you find such a great deal? I was looking at about $580 for the same setup.

I was also concerned about the 30# wing, but I only weigh 165 and will be wearing a 7mm wetsuit. I don't carry much "stuff" other than a knife and a light. I figure 30# ought to be plenty. I'll find out either way, and I can always go to the Oxy 45# wing if not.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Yep ... that's a very good price ... for a nice setup.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[scubadobadoo]

Hey Bob. I just wanted to let you know that your past and very detailed (thanks for that) reports of the DR transplate harness helped me with my decision. It seems the happy medium between the hogarthian diver and the standard BC diver. People actually do searches on this board and those detailed reports do help. Thanks all for you time!

Jason

 

[scubadobadoo]

Got it from North East Scuba Supply. They are located about one hour away from Dutch Springs in Penn. The price is listed under "monthly specials" on the web site. Plus, they ARE an authorized dealer. DR said they were the largest in the US. Just take away the spaces and add a .com to the name and away you go.

Doug and Jeff have been really helpful. I have spent way more than two hours with them on the phone and they haven't told me to bug off yet. Someone else PM'd me and told me that when they called they said that shipping was going to be free too next week. Can't beat that deal. They will give you a choice as to what wing and harness you want too for the same price. BTW, I don't work for them and have never even been in the place. Somebody on this board mentioned them and I visited the site and saw the special.

Jason

 

[ChickenBone]

Got it from North East Scuba Supply. They are located about one hour away from Dutch Springs in Penn. The price is listed under "monthly specials" on the web site. Plus, they ARE an authorized dealer. DR said they were the largest in the US. Just take away the spaces and add a .com to the name and away you go.

Doug and Jeff have been really helpful. I have spent way more than two hours with them on the phone and they haven't told me to bug off yet. Someone else PM'd me and told me that when they called they said that shipping was going to be free too next week. Can't beat that deal. They will give you a choice as to what wing and harness you want too for the same price. BTW, I don't work for them and have never even been in the place. Somebody on this board mentioned them and I visited the site and saw the special.

Jason

Jason,
Thanks for the info - I was very close to buying the same rig, and these guys by and far have the best DR deal i've seen anywhere. I had found their link in another thread somewhere and called them. they were very helpful as well.
it was a tough call for me to make, but I went with the oxycheq setup. Let me know how your dives go with the DR setup.