Steel VS Aluminum Backplate

[lamont]

something that bugs me a little about this issue -- isn't your buddy's wing your backup buoyancy if you're in a wetsuit -- just like your buddy's tank is your backup gas if you're in a single tank?

 

[radinator]

I thought the "no steel tanks with wetsuit" was for doubles?

I dive a steel 100 with SS backplate and wetsuit. I have 8# of lead on my belt. I have done the test at 100 fsw depth and dropping my weight belt I can easily swim up the -13 lbs buoyancy (-8 for full tank, -5 for SS backplate), not counting the remaining lift from my not-fully-compressed wetsuit.

With my current diving 100 fsw is my target depth for this calculation. If I start diving doubles or go much deeper (which requires doubles anyway), I'll revisit the issue.

Drysuit on order though!

 

[EIGHTWGT]

I am glad I started this thread - many issues - many answers...

Plenty to make me think.

DIR or not - I believe I will be very close to correct weight with the steel 100, and SS plate in saltwater - which is where I do 97% of my diving.....

Hearing all these posts sure is helpful - and DEFINATELY a thread worth reading

Thanks everyone

 

[StSomewhere]

I thought the "no steel tanks with wetsuit" was for doubles?

As I understand it, the actual concept behind all the rules of thumb was the balanced rig, and its not possible to have a balanced rig with doubled steel tanks and a wetsuit.

OTOH, if I can dive wet with a steel plate, single steel tank, just enough total weight to be able to hold a normal safety stop, plus enough of that weight ditchable so that I can get enough positive buoyancy with a full tank to get to the surface without becoming a human torpedo, I would think that would meet the *real* requirement. I think this is essentially what Spectre was saying in his link above, but feel free to check me on this.

 

[EIGHTWGT]

This thread has taken a couple of turns - I want to re-state the original question >>

Based on :

Diving in saltwater, with a steel 100, a steel backplate

I normally dive a 3M wetsuit with an additional armless hooded vest (2 mil chest, 3mill hood)

So how does this system add up ?? I was only talking about a SINGLE tank rig...

(I was just trying to get back to one topic)

=) But what a great thread !!

 

[jonnythan]

If you're not overweighted, and you can swim the thing up from depth with a total BC failure (which you probably can) you should be fine. But you might want to check.. I'm overweighted in a 3mm wetsuit with a steel plate and an Al 80, for instance.

 

[EIGHTWGT]

If you're not overweighted, and you can swim the thing up from depth with a total BC failure (which you probably can) you should be fine. But you might want to check.. I'm overweighted in a 3mm wetsuit with a steel plate and an Al 80, for instance.

Johnny

I just read the ENTIRE thread "Aluminum vs Steel tanks" and learned a lot. I will be doing a lot of trim and bouyancy calculating (based on my rig) & testing this weekend with BOTH an aluminum 80 and a steel 100.
I am more fully aware of the final result that is important regarding having a balanced rig so should a failure of the bladder occur one can safely reach the surface and maintain bouyancy.

SPECTRE

Thanks - I read your post in the post mentioned above and must say - That was an enlightening post regarding jumpin in at 130 ' !! Point well taken.... Thank you.

JUST A BRAINSTORM - not meant to stir the pot ok guys ? I was curious why no one or company has tried the concept of permanent bouyancy on a plate.(high density foam).. I mean ROV's, small submarines use it ( I know Karl Stanley www.stanleysubmarines.com) and had his sub at my place for a year and told him where to get his HDF) it could easily compensate for 3-5 pounds of lift..... I have not put 5 minutes of thought into that - it was mearly me poppin off an idea. I KNOW it isn't DIR =) but for the user of a steel 100, or 120 that already had the steel tank, the differance between the steel and aluminum tanks could be offset is all I am saying...
It could be done safe and secure... NOT DIR... just food for thought.... =)

 

[Spoon]

i use a ss backplate and 3mm suit in warm saltwater and still need an addtl 2lb weight. i dont even wanna think of how much more weight il be needing with an aluminum bp. most people i know get the aluminum bp for travelling purposes( lighter for travelling) as opposed to actual weight when diving.

 

[BabyDuck]

please forgive me if this is a stupid question. assume there's a properly weighted diver who needs somewhere in the neighborhood of 16# in a 3 to 7mil suit with an al80 and ss bp. if they went to a steel tank, starting with that much lead and decreasing as needed (to what? maybe 12-ish#?), wouldn't that leave enough ditchable to be fine staying wet? i guess what i'm asking is - is it that the steel's incompatible with the wetsuit, or that for many divers steel means too little ditchable weight?