Need advice on wing / harness for single tank setup

[slackercruster]

Have been using a regular jacket BC and would like to go to wings and harness. Was told wings are better for horizontal trim.

What do you recommend and how much lift would I need for a 180 pound diver?

 

[TSandM]

The reason a backplate and wing system makes it easier to be horizontal is because it moves five or six pounds of your ballast weight up on to your back. If that is all you want, you can do the same thing using trim pockets (if your BC has them) or weight pockets on your cambands.

There are other advantages to BP/W systems, though. If you have decided you want one, I would highly recommend the DSS single tank system. If you are diving in cold water with a dry suit, you might benefit from the weight plates that Tobin offers as an option for his rigs, which adds another eight pounds to your back.

The lift you need depends on the tank and exposure protection you are using.

 

[Dtaine]

... I would highly recommend the DSS single tank system ....

I second that - just got mine and am loving the switch (although one guy at my LDS isn't so thrilled, but that's another story). Tobin can help you out with figuring out what size wing will work for you.

 

[rstofer]

I guess I'll pile on: call Tobin at DSS. I have recently bought two of his BP/Ws and they are terrific.

Richard

 

[slackercruster]

Thanks.

I'm using a 5-4-3 wetsuit with 11 pounds of lead and diving in freshwater with an 80 CF alum tank. Will the 60 pound wing be OK? I was wondering if the 100 pound wing was for double steel tanks?

 

[Colliam7]

I guess I'll pile on: call Tobin at DSS. I have recently bought two of his BP/Ws and they are terrific.

Agreed. There are a number of functional backplates, and some very good wings, out there. I cannot say that Tobin's are clearly better than any other, because I don't have hard data for such a comparison. But, I can say you will get outstanding advice and support, before and after the sale. You can also PM him at Cool_Hardware52.

 

[Colliam7]

I'm using a 5-4-3 wetsuit with 11 pounds of lead and diving in freshwater with an 80 CF alum tank. Will the 60 pound wing be OK? I was wondering if the 100 pound wing was for double steel tanks?

There are some objective ways to calculate lift requirements, and Tobin can certainly help you with that. I suspect 60 lbs of lift for your single tank diving would be at least twice what you will actually need. Even for double steel tanks, in fresh water, 100 lbs of lift would be considered by most as overkill.

 

[evil_xander]

I guess I'll pile on: call Tobin at DSS. I have recently bought two of his BP/Ws and they are terrific.

Richard

Add me to the DSS groupie list... No kinky stuff though!

 

[cmburch]

I use a TransPlate with a #40 Oxycheq Mach V Extreme.
Transplate $80
SS BP $120
STA $65
Lumbar Pad $50
Pockets $38
Tank Cam Straps $45
Crotch Strap $15
This adds up about $440

Wing $275 (with discounts/gift cert)
OxyCheq Mach V Extreme Series Wing reviews and discounts, OxyCheq
Ultimate Low Profile

Maybe consider non backplate options.
TransPac $180+.
Buoyancy Compensators | Buoyancy Compensators | Scuba BCD at LeisurePro.com

I have both the Dive Rite TransPlate and the TransPac with the Oxycheq Mach V. High quality, comfort, performance and reliability.

It all looks pretty pricey. $500-$700.

 

[halocline]

Thanks.

I'm using a 5-4-3 wetsuit with 11 pounds of lead and diving in freshwater with an 80 CF alum tank. Will the 60 pound wing be OK? I was wondering if the 100 pound wing was for double steel tanks?

You need enough lift to float your rig without you in it, and/or compensate for the loss of buoyancy from your wetsuit compressing plus the weight of the gas in your cylinder.

Lets say you have a full AL80, a steel plate, and a heavy reg plus a little more stuff; at the most you're talking about 15lbs of weight on the rig, so you need at least a 15 lb wing.

You can toss your wetsuit in a mesh bag into the pool or lake and add enough lead to sink your suit (don't lose it!) and that is its buoyancy. With the wetsuit you described sized for a 180 lb guy, probably it will take less than 15 lbs. The weight of air in an AL80 is 5-6 lbs. This means you might potentially need a 20 lb wing.

So, you can see that a 60lb wing would be way oversized. You should go for the smallest wing you can use; it's easier to vent, more streamlined, and just overall better for diving.