Upgrading my crappy Dacor Rig

[zimm]

I've been diving for a few years and still pretty new at it (around 40 dives). I bought my own gear which included a Dacor Rig tech-looking BC. I wanted a heavy duty back inflation model and it looked perfect.

Well, not so perfect- the weight pockets like to drop out. The last one dropped out, I did an uncontrolled accent from 100 feet. That pissed me off so I cut off the weight pockets and now use a weight belt.

Without weight on the vest though, it rides up high and doesn't fit snugly.

I've seen a lot of discussion about the backplate/wings thing and it sounds pretty good. I want a secure, light, upgradeable, and simple setup.

Right now I only do single tank tropical dives in Hawaii, but I need to be able to gear up for southern california diving next year. I'll still do single tank dives, but will be using a dry suit and plan to explore the kelp beds and also some non-penetration wreck diving.

What setups should I be looking at?

 

[Lost Yooper]

Look into the Halcyon setup:

http://www.halcyon.net/

Personally, I would advise getting a Fred T plate, his harness package, an STA, and getting a Halcyon wing. The Halcyon wing is very well made.

I had my Halcyon setup in Hawaii for six months and absolutely loved it. It's like diving with nothing on -- delightful .

Good luck.

Mike

 

[scubeedoo]

I have a Zeagle Ranger, and it is great. When I first got it though, I didn't have any integrated weights for it, so it too rode up on me. So I made a crotch strap for it. Works great but sssshh...I have to buckle it up OVER my weight belt. Since then I bought the appropriate weights and it is fine, ditched the crotch strap. Hey, it is a cheap temporary alternative, but it makes it hard if you have to ditch your weights.
If you really want to replace it, go with a Zeagle tech, or OMS

 

[metridium]

Another vote for the Halcyon system here.

 

[GeekDiver]

Zimm,

You might want to look at the "> ranger --> ebay --> BP/Wing" thread. I've been beating at this same issue (tech styled BC vs. BP/Wing) trying to better understand why so many are so set on BP/Wings and there is a lot of good sug about why so many have switched to a BP/Wing setup.

I have a tech styled BC, and have not yet dove with a BP/wing setup. I'm not ready to change at the moment (new to diving and just droped $700 on my SeaQuest Raider) but at least you'll find some compelling reasons to consider/try out a PB/Wing.


Regards,
GD

 

[ScubaStan]

Zimm,

I posted in another thread in the General Discussion area regarding smething similar to your situation but miine was a bouyancy issue. I just removed the pockets and use a weight belt with soft weights. I am looking into a BP/Wing setup but funds are limited at teh moment and would like to know how you modified your BC to accomodate the weight belt.

My BC is a Dacor Flyt Pak which is one step down from the Dacro Rig. In fact, they use the same style of removable weight pocket. If you can, PM me and we can chat sometime.

 

[kozmonaut]

The same thing happened to me a number of years ago and I have been try to find another pocket for it, but now I am thinking that Dacor should be responsible for this. I may even consider a lawsuit. The new rig BC's have additional measures added to prevent the loss of integrated weights, they must have realized how bad the original rig was.

 

[roakey]

Wow. For a minute I thought Lost Yooper was back, but then I saw that this was a three year old thread!

Roak

 

[dbg40]

I see and hear a lot of pushing to BPW setups which are great rigs no doubt. But at six + bills a little fat for me when I never found a real reason to own one. I have made the transition from nothing to collar to jacket to my current nighthawk. I also looked into the ranger (another great rig) Personally, I love the wing over the old jacket as there is nothing in my way,more freedom.
Im of the opinion that buying high end gear before your ready may not be in your best interest. As we gain experience we often change our style or type or diving, and while having the best of the best looks good initially it can come back to bite one in the.... wallet. I do however believe in good quality gear and in 30 years have not had to replace mine all that often. and in the time since, have revisited the same places I dove with 72 twins double hose Aquamaster and no BC or computer.Am I more comfortable with my new gear? Yes, but the point is that I was able to do the same dives on a lot less gear and have a ball! Try hanging out with others who dive at diferent levels, listen to experience and see if you can rent somthing you may be interested in before buying it. You may find you dont need the latest greatest, and if you do chose to move into tech stuff your old gear will make a great back up. I still pull my old Aqua master out and soak it once in a while and I still love it.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I sold my Dacor Rig after switching to double steel tanks. I also lost two weight pouches. I had some tech-diving buddies that showed me the benefits of the BP/W and I never looked back. I bought mine new for less than $250. There are still some good deals around, including Ebay.