Salvo Plate, Oxycheq Mach V; Looking for answers, advice, etc

[FrankPro1]

I'm finally making the plunge to a BP/W setup. I am currently using a Zeagle Ranger and need 14lbs of lead with my 6.5mm w/ 3mm Pinnacle torso undersuit, Steel 100cf tank. The backplate is a Salvo stainless steel and the sta is a Oxycheq stainless steel light weight. Typically how much weight will I drop with this setup? Does anyone know how much a Salvo ss plate weighs? Oxycheq lists the sta as being 10 ounces.

I will be using a Hogarthian harness and am wondering what are the pro's / con's of setting up the shoulder straps crossed v.s. a non crossed arrangement.

After moving from a Oceanic Jacket to the Ranger, achieving proper buoyancy became much easier and my horizontal trim was almost perfect. I'm hoping that I will have the same experience when switching to the BP/W. As an amateur photographer perfect buoyancy has become a goal for myself as it will allow me to get closer to my subjects without risk of damaging precious reef or its inhabitants. My buoyancy from dive one to now has increased ten fold but I still feel somewhat feet heavy and can not always hold a perfect horizontal position in the water without kicking.

If anyone has tips, tricks or advice for setting up a Hog Harness or anything else useful for a new comer to BP/Wings it would be much appreciated. I'm very excited to finally get to start diving the rig I should have purchased from day one.

Salvo SS plate
Oxycheq Mach V 30lb lift wing
Oxycheq light weight SS STA
Hogarthian harness
Dive Rite SS buckle tank bands

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

In changing from a Ranger to a BP/W, I found I had to make several dives to get the crotch strap adjusted just right. Too loose and the BP rode up high, too tight and the boys complained. To tight in the shoulder and my head banged the regulator. Seems in all the praise, BP/Wdivers forget to tell you what a PITA it is to get everything fitting just right when you start. It definitely takes some time and you can't do it all on dry land, you have to get in the water and see how it fit in use. Then tweak and repeat.

Once you get it right though it is awesome.

 

[FrankPro1]

It definitely takes some time and you can't do it all on dry land, you have to get in the water and see how it fit in use. Then tweak and repeat.

This is what I've heard time and time again. I am ready for it! I usually do 2 or more dives a week "conditions willing", so it won't be too long before I dial it in.

 

[fisheater]

Going from my Zeagle to a DSS medium SS plate, I lost ten pounds of lead.

Also, I found the BAUE instructions to be very helpful. http://www.baue.org/faq/backplate_sizing_inline_images.php

 

[Jorgy]

For me un-crossed was slightly more comfortable, my webbing is "stiff" compared to some I have seen, when crossed the webbing pressed more into my shoulders.......

I think it might have to the do with the angle top slots are cut in the BP.........

I think many people wear their tanks to low........IMO you should be able to open or close the valve by reaching over your shoulder.........

Once the harness is snug and does not shift and you can reach the tank valve then work on trim.........

Plus 1 on the crotch strap, it take a while to get it right.......

I ended up with XS scuba pouches on the top tank band........but then I use very heavy SP Lighting Jets...........

Good luck..............

Hope this helps........M

 

[FrankPro1]

Going from my Zeagle to a DSS medium SS plate, I lost ten pounds of lead.

Hey fisheater! How you been? When's the next time you coming down south to dive with us tropical divers?

Sorry :focus:
The DSS medium plate is 4.7 pounds, which after looking online at various manufacturers is about the average "is salvo out of business? because there website is completely empty of information". So with my setup, I'll probably only be using about 4lbs of lead. I like to keep 4lbs on my top cam band as trim weight.... but that would mean no ditch-able weight.... which is another debatable topic.

 

[FrankPro1]

IMO you should be able to open or close the valve by reaching over your shoulder.

Agreed. Even with a buddy in the water "most of the time:blinking:", we must all be self-reliant, self-rescuing divers.

I ended up with XS scuba pouches on the top tank band........but then I use very heavy SP Lighting Jets.

My exact setup. I have XL Jets and use the XS scuba pouch to counter act the weight of them. I think the pouch plus the extra weight of the plate will finally allow me to get the proper horizontal position I've been trying so hard to achieve.

 

[scuba_moron]

I'm finally making the plunge to a BP/W setup. I am currently using a Zeagle Ranger and need 14lbs of lead with my 6.5mm w/ 3mm Pinnacle torso undersuit, Steel 100cf tank. The backplate is a Salvo stainless steel and the sta is a Oxycheq stainless steel light weight. Typically how much weight will I drop with this setup? Does anyone know how much a Salvo ss plate weighs? Oxycheq lists the sta as being 10 ounces.

I will be using a Hogarthian harness and am wondering what are the pro's / con's of setting up the shoulder straps crossed v.s. a non crossed arrangement.

After moving from a Oceanic Jacket to the Ranger, achieving proper buoyancy became much easier and my horizontal trim was almost perfect. I'm hoping that I will have the same experience when switching to the BP/W. As an amateur photographer perfect buoyancy has become a goal for myself as it will allow me to get closer to my subjects without risk of damaging precious reef or its inhabitants. My buoyancy from dive one to now has increased ten fold but I still feel somewhat feet heavy and can not always hold a perfect horizontal position in the water without kicking.

If anyone has tips, tricks or advice for setting up a Hog Harness or anything else useful for a new comer to BP/Wings it would be much appreciated. I'm very excited to finally get to start diving the rig I should have purchased from day one.

Salvo SS plate
Oxycheq Mach V 30lb lift wing
Oxycheq light weight SS STA
Hogarthian harness
Dive Rite SS buckle tank bands

You shouldn't need more than 4lbs at most.
I was carrying 14 lbs of lead in my Seaquest Balance, 7mm wetsuit, and a Worthington HP100. That setup was still slightly over weighted.

My current setup is a Oxcheq MachV, 5lb plate, hog harness, no STA, and I dive without carrying any additional weight. I could be at 400 psi and still sink when I exhale in a full 7mm wetsuit.

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

I think you will drop 8-9 pounds off your belt. The padding in the Ranger is a few pounds positively buoyant so you will not need to offset that any more. An 1/8 inch steel plate will come in at 5-7 pounds. I’d try taking off 6 pounds and taking a 2 pound weight you can hand off to a buddy at your safety stop to check your weight near the end a dive. Ultimately you want to get the weighting spot on but while your checking things out it is better to be a few pounds heavy than not being able to control your ascent because you are too light. With 5 or 6 pounds on your belt you should trim out horizontally with no problem.

 

[fisheater]

Hey fisheater! How you been? When's the next time you coming down south to dive with us tropical divers?

Sorry :focus:
The DSS medium plate is 4.7 pounds, which after looking online at various manufacturers is about the average "is salvo out of business? because there website is completely empty of information". So with my setup, I'll probably only be using about 4lbs of lead. I like to keep 4lbs on my top cam band as trim weight.... but that would mean no ditch-able weight.... which is another debatable topic.

Been doing OK, but the conditions "up north" have varied between sketchy and downright dangerous every time I've tried to dive since just before Thanksgiving. I don't have any SoCal plans for "tropical" diving, but if this keeps up, I'll have to make some! I'd love to dive with you again.

On topic, I doubt that you'll need to put your weight on your upper cam band. If you trim out OK with a Ranger and 14 lbs, you should do just fine with a SS backplate and about 5 lbs on a belt. Remember, a lot of your weight will be in the backplate, behind your lungs and you will also be losing a bunch of BC buoyancy also around your lungs.