New travel rig design?

[nitro-bubbles]

Hi all,

First post from a casual lurker.

I'm a warm water vacation diver interested in getting a travel friendly BP/W. So far I've always rented BCDs at the destination. I have an idea for a different approach to a single tank travel plate and I'm looking for feedback.

It's based on the shoulder and lumbar plates of a side mount harness, but the lumbar plate is the width of back plate, and the upper cam band is attached to the spine webbing. So the lumbar plate provides sway stability for the tank (i.e. prevents it from rolling left to right across your back); it's only tall enough for the cam slots and the harness slots. Since the upper cam band is attached to the spine webbing just below the shoulder plate, this keeps the tank aligned vertically, and not tilting sideways like a metronome. Otherwise, it uses a Hogarthian harness.

This lumbar plate design is smaller than a soft plate so it fits into your luggage easily, and is also very light. Given its small size, it can be rigid and still packable, so may provide better stability than a soft plate (but I'm speculating here as I've never used one). I guess another way to describe this lumbar plate is like the bottom part of a dog bone plate.

One thing I wonder about is if a dive shop will have any qualms about taking me out with this unconventional setup.

Curious to hear your thoughts!

 

[lowwall]

How about a sketch? I can't visualize this at all.

 

[inquis]

The wing far outweighs a standard AL plate & harness. I don't think you're saving much.

 

[happy-diver]

I mean tanks used to be mounted top, and bottom, with just webbing so why not

Here is a later version of your design with all the missing pieces of metal filled in

Imagine that bottom bit twisting around when there's only webbing for a top bit

The why not is stability

and it is far more practical to take a larger matchbox, to pack your travel stuff in

 

[rongoodman]

Standard backplates travel just fine, even the SS ones.

 

[-JD-]

I had seen the sidemount rig as a singles rig concept a while back and it got me thinking too (Can anybody ID the components in this ultralight S-BM/SM harness & wing?)

At a certain point when you add the "STA" to the lumbar plate you are getting pretty close to a dog-bone plate, at the potential trade for significant stability.

SubGravity doesn't appear to be making the Golem Stream plate since they bought the line, but it was unusual in having a built in single tank cradle, while being usable for a twinset too.

Golem Stream Backplate - SubGravity

Inspired by expedition divers’ minimalist needs and designed by traveling rebreather divers. This stainless steel backplate weighs only 2 lbs. and due to it’s unique reversed design it will accommodate rebreather scrubber canisters as well as single tanks without the need for cumbersome and...

sub-gravity.com

Why they have the pic rotated 180, I don't know ...

With a little ( ) work, it can be made to work with independent doubles using just 2 sets of cam bands.

Using back mount doubles as single tanks

I custom re-machined my backplate to support single, banded-double, or independent-double setups (singles and IDs with only cambands required - no adapters or STA). Do you mind attaching a couple of pictures?

scubaboard.com

 

[nitro-bubbles]

JD,

After reading the thread you linked, it sounds like you were onto the same approach as I am but didn't actually assemble one? (red/yellow rig here: Backplate and wing - Wikipedia) The lumbar plate appears to have an M bend in it like the Golem plate, providing roll/sway stability and it looks about as wide as a soft plate, putting the waist belt slots ~8" apart.

That's what I want.

Did you make any progress with this setup, or find out any more info on it?

 

[lowwall]

What are you gaining over an AL dogbone plate?

Aluminium Dog Bone Style Lightweight Backplate "Color: Blue"

Brand new to Piranha is our dog bone type aluminium backplate We have the 3 top center holes with our slotted bottom for fitting double quickly without the hassle The plate is 3.0mm thick This lightweight plate weighs in at 1lb 3oz!.. Perfect for travel and yet strong enough to support your...

www.piranhadivemfg.com

If you aren't going to use it for doubles, you can flatten out the wings to make it a little more comfortable and lower profile.

 

[-JD-]

JD,

After reading the thread you linked, it sounds like you were onto the same approach as I am but didn't actually assemble one? (red/yellow rig here: Backplate and wing - Wikipedia) The lumbar plate appears to have an M bend in it like the Golem plate, providing roll/sway stability and it looks about as wide as a soft plate, putting the waist belt slots ~8" apart.

That's what I want.

Did you make any progress with this setup, or find out any more info on it?

I did not end up pursuing the ultra-minimalist approach, at least yet. I could see it as part of a travel backpack setup but that is a big custom build project and not really necessary for me now.

The modified Stream plate lets me use one harness and plate for just about any diving I might do just by adding\removing cambands and choosing an appropriate wing. Not as comforatble as my Freedom Plate, but more versatile (FWIW, Eric's plate had a date with the mill too to add some mounting holes).

 

[happy-diver]

Yeah there's rigs for divers for diving and rigs for travellers for travelling, that can't afford a bigger suitcase

But then there's also that scary sidemount that like Morlocks, should never be permitted out of their caves

Stainless cam and waist buckles drings and triglides and other doohickeys and bungee extra! Free Postage!


Do you feel like you can reach into the photo and flop it all around. I do, even though I don't really have to