Types of BC's

[Stu S.]

Page 1 of the thread...

Yes, so sorry. Well, I read 100% of Walter's posts, anyway.

Looking at the family BC's, the one that's a "jacket" is pretty much a back-inflate. There is no air space in front of the diver. Unless it is filled up all the way, the air is on the back around the tank. It might should be called "back inflate, plus kidneys".

The old types that wrap air around a guy and squeezes like a blood pressure machine are mostly gone now. Many Florida spear fishermen still use them.

 

[Walter]

Page 1 of the thread...

We have 18 more posts before I leave page 1...

what the diffrence beween a bp/w and a wing or are they one and the same?

BP/W means backplate/wing. A wing is part of a BP/W.

There is no air space in front of the diver

.

With a vest, that depends on your body position. When you swim on your back, air moves to your front. When you are upright, air will be front and back.

The old types that wrap air around a guy and squeezes like a blood pressure machine

If a BC is doing that, it's way over inflated.

 

[Teamcasa]

Back to basics.

My system does not trap air, streamline, versatile and can do everything a simple plate and hog harness can do, and more.

Agreed.... and I should clarify. There are many good or great configuration options available. I just believe that a minimalist BP/W approach is the optimum, not the only, choice.

BP/W does everything that any diver could ever ask of it...fills every niche...but does it with less. Less clutter, less expense, less stress, less weight.

Just adding a point of clarity. The Apex WTX is a BP/W as well - but with a few more features.

As for the "minimalist BP/W approach is the optimum" statement; One could make the case that any competent person could drive a nail into wood with a simple hammer and why would would you want any more than that.
However, add some claws and you have made a nice improvement, add a magnetic nail holder and you have improved it still more.

There is nothing wrong with a simple BP/W, some of us just like claws on our hammers as well.

 

[rstofer]

You can construct a very cheap BP/W is you are prepared to shop around. Here is what I did....

Backplate. Ebay etc is great for these. No worries about their condition... a safe 'second hand' buy. If you are patient, you can could to get one for $50.

Harness. Construct your own HOG harness. $10 for the webbing. $20 for the metalwork. Plenty of advice online on how to thread it together and size it.

Instructional video HERE

Wing. A quick search online will produce numerous options and special offers with suitable single-tank wings in the sub-$200 region. For instance, a Dive Rite Rec Wing is HERE for $159.

Total price for doing that would be $239. That's one hell of a set-up for a price that would buy you a very flimsy entry-level (rental spec) jacket BCD.

You left out the tank bands and good bands, like DiveRite, are expensive ($76/pr at DiveGearExpress). But still, it's more than that $200 BC and the BC is click-and-ship. Low end, to be sure, but easy to get. I'm not so keen on the Rec Wing, either. My wife has one. I prefer the DSS LCD-30 for streamlined profile. The Oxycheq Mach V has a nice profile, as well. The HOG wing is a little more bulky but I think it is 38# instead of 30# like the others.

Of course, if a person is willing to spend the money, they can get a great BP/W from a number of sources. I would highly recommend that approach. It just turns out that my BP/W's tend to cost in the high $400's or low $500's. Still, highly competitive with high end BC's.

Richard

 

[rstofer]

There used to be jacket style BCs where the bladder kind of floated on the harness/rigging. My old SeaQuest ADVi is like that. Even if you fully inflate the bladder, it doesn't necessarily 'crush' you. Sure, you have feel some compression, but not very much. This is so because the bladder inflates outward, away from the rigging.

So, this old argument that jacket BCDs crush you just isn't necessarily true. Another good thing about jackets is that the bulk of the flotation is low, just over the hips. As a result, you can float much higher in the water while waiting around for a boat. This is due to the fact that the flotation doesn't rise above the water level and lose its efficacy. There is some loss because there is some flotation in the shoulder straps and around the back but the vast majority of the lift is still submerged.

One thing missing from that jacket is a crotch strap. This allows the BC to float up and leave you hanging from the shoulder straps. This only happens when the bladder is fully inflated but I should have just added a crotch strap.

Yes, I dive with a very nice DSS BP/W and I have no intention of going back to a jacket style BC. Nor do I envision going to a rear-inflate BC. Why would I? But I am not going to say that my old jacket BC was a worthless piece of junk. I liked it when I used it and I still like it. It has a separate internal bladder so it's not one of the newer one-piece designs. It also has a molded plastic backplate that keeps the tank in one place. It only has one tank band but it works pretty well. It's a nice BC. I could see diving it again...

Richard

 

[scubadada]

I personally won't buy a BC or back-inflate that doesn't have two tank bands. Having a tank slip at depth is just a problem I don't want to consider (again).

The single tank strap on my Scubapro Knighthawk is extremely stable. I've never had a tank slip, even a little. Before that, I had a Scubapro Glide Plus, same reliability. To each their own.

Good diving, Craig

 

[Teamcasa]

The single tank strap on my Scubapro Knighthawk is extremely stable. I've never had a tank slip, even a little. Before that, I had a Scubapro Glide Plus, same reliability. To each their own.

Good diving, Craig

Agreed. I had a Seaquest Malibu with a single strap. It never came loose.
My brother still dives it!

Gear does not make a diver good, skill and experience does.

 

[Sasquatch]

I'm in the market right now for a BP/W system and I've enjoyed this discussion very much. Thank you everybody!

Smith

 

[AaronB]

Glad your enjoying it - i'm finding it very helpful =)

With a BP/W system the ones i've seen people are always using twin sets, and normally at least twin 10's! Now i like the idea of twin sets and will probably move over to them at some point but with a BP/W can you use a single cylinder and is it possible to use smaller twin sets - twin 7's for example?

Sorry if this sounds stupid but my experience of BP/W is pretty much limited to seeing it in a shop and going - that look shiny!

 

[it_mike]

Yes Aaron, I use my bp/w with a single most of the time.

Depending upon the plate and wing, you may or may not need to utilize a STA (single tank adapter). You may also choose to use one, even if you don't need it, as you experiment with doubles. It allows you to remove the tank bands with just two wingnuts, rather than trying to re-thread everything.