Need help with 1st BP/W setup

[PharmDMark]

Hello,

After reading alot I've decided to switch from a very bulky BCD to a BP/W. I am looking for a warm water setup only, 3mm full or shorty. I'm 6'2" and weight #170. Of all the possibilities, I'm leaning toward an Oxycheq A-pac lite with either an #18 or #30wing. Trying to sort out all the options on line without having seen and tried the equipment it's tough. I guess my hang up at this point is the weight issue. With my current BCD I have to have at least 14#. I'm sure I won't need that much with any of the setups listed below, but I want a setup which will put no more than about 6# on my waist or on the tank bands. I guess I need to know how much if any inharent bouyancy these setups have. Let me just list the setup options that seem good and mention my questions about each.

#1) A-Pac Lite with #30 singnature wing: Looks the most comfortable and travel friendly! I'm afraid, however, that without a BP that I will need to wear more weight on my waist. Will the weight moved from my back to my waist really affect my trim? Is the A-pac lite possitively or negatively bouyant by itself? Is there another creative way to add weight to the back of the harness to help maintain a good trim and keep the weight off my waist? Is the "soft back plate" on the A-pac lite the same as the A-Pac or the O-pac?

#2) Travel Plate, STA, Adj. harness with #30 wing: Looks pretty comfortable and pretty easy to travel. BP, STA should come close to solving the weight problem, though I'm still not sure.

#3) Medium SS BP, STA, Adj harness with #30 wing: Looks the least comfortable and heavist to travel. With about 6 pounds on the plate, the weight problem is solved but I can't help but think comfort might be an issue.

Thanks for helping,

Mark

 

[jonnythan]

Get the SS plate. That's 6 pounds less you have to wear on your belt.

Comfort will not be an issue. In fact, you will be significantly *more* comfortable because you will have only a couple of pounds on the weight belt.

 

[*Floater*]

Steel plate may be too much weight for you, especially if you use steel tanks and/or other heavy gear. With jetfins and a can light a steel plate is too much for me in a 3,5mm fullsuit with an AL80. Also, you probably only need about 18# of lift.

 

[jonnythan]

He's wearing 14# right now.

If he doesn't have steel tanks and decides to buy some steel tanks in the future, picking up an Al plate for $50 wouldn't be much of an issue.

 

[PerroneFord]

Agreed with Jonnythan on both the SS plate issue AND the comfort issue. I wish we could just create a FAQ sticky in the BC area that speaks to this. Everyone wonders how a metal plate could be comfy, when in fact its a lot more comfy than any BC I've ever worn.

 

[GreenDiverDown]

I wish we could just create a FAQ sticky in the BC area that speaks to this.

I second that motion.

.. and I think a SS plate/hog harness/STA would be a good start. The 30# wing will be more versatile (get the Mach V). The 18# Razor is killer for warm water/ light exposure, but it is a tool for a specific job.

18# Razor... plenty of lift for warm water, most streamlined, packs tiny.

30# Mach V... plenty of lift for most diving conditions for the average user, extra-ordinarily streamlined, takes up some room in the gear bag.

Call or email Patrick and discuss it with him...

 

[TSandM]

I used 14 pounds in a 3 mil wetsuit with an Al80 with my back-inflate BC.

I have a SS backplate and use two pounds on the cambands, and carry a can light, and my weighting is perfect. And it is exquisitely comfortable. I feel amazingly unencumbered.

 

[RJP]

Everyone wonders how a metal plate could be comfy, when in fact its a lot more comfy than any BC I've ever worn.

I think the best way that I can express this is that...

When I dive a comfortable BCD I notice how comfortable it is the whole dive, but when I dive a BP/W I don't notice it at all.

Further to the SS plate issue: as has been stated, assuming the rest of the rig stays the same a SS plate will take six pounds off the 14 the OP is wearing now.

 

[PharmDMark]

Thanks for all your input. I'm ready to try SS bp/w I'll stick with the #30 wing, as I might consider dry suit diving sometime.