Urgent question for BP/wing Gurus

[reefrat]

Urgent because I need to buy this for a Belize trip coming up soon!

I was posting earlier about choosing between a Transpac and a Zeagle BCD but now I'm considering a BP/Wing and I like the sound of the DSS single rig.

I've been told that a BP/Wing works best with a SS backplate because the weight is between the lungs and the wing and gives good horizontal trim- makes perfect sense. However stainless steel is out of the question for my travel (really it is!).

So...If I bought a DSS single rig with the Kydex backplate for use mostly with aluminium 80 and 95's and put a weight pocket on the upper tank strap with maybe 2lbs in it and 6 to 8lbs on a weight belt would I be able to get good trim with a 3mm steamer wetsuit by adjusting the position of the tank?

Or is it pretty hopeless trying to get good horizontal trim with the Kydex backplate on a single ally with a weightbelt?

Really appreciate any help you guys can give.

 

[Rainer]

Um, the medium DSS SS backplate is almost 5 lbs. How is this too much weight? The Ranger you were considering getting weighs more than this! I just don't see how this can be "out of the question". If for whatever reason, this really doesn't work, you could still get trimmed out fine, would just mean playing around with your weighting.

 

[hunter991]

I would not discount aluminum for a travel backplate. It is lightweight and makes for a great system. I personally travel with my stainless plate, but I am sure I travel differently than you do.

Brent

 

[PerroneFord]

Get the DSS. It's fine. Depending on what weight you're wearing now, you might need any additional weight anywhere. In fact, with my singles setup (not a DSS) but with the SS plate, I am TOO head heavy. I have to work to keep my head up on the dives.

 

[GreenDiverDown]

Well...

He has asked us to accept the travel weight issue and comment on his specific question.

I'd say that you should ask Tobin. If anyone can answer your question about Kydex plates and trim he can. I would think that he would have had some feedback from his users.

That being said... I would suggest using more than one trim pocket on the cam bands. That way you could still travel light but still be able to add a significant amount of weight up over your lungs. You could play with it until you have it dialed in.

I would recommend the Halcyon cam band pockets. They cost more but I think they are worth it. If you are budget restrained then go for the XS scuba pockets... but I had trouble getting them to fit the way I wanted them to on my DSS rig.

 

[Wayward Son]

The Zeagle AL plate weighs 2 lbs, their SS plate about 5.5. Rapidiver is an authorized dealer & sells a real nice package here (and really takes care of customers):

http://subseasports.com/store/product1.html

I have one with an AL plate, very happy with it. he also has other stuff, look off the main page:

http://subseasports.com/store/

But with most bands, an AL plate will be about 2 lbs, an SS plate about 6. You're not talking about massive amounts of weight here. The Zeagle plate works fine with single tanks without needing an STA, wich is typically another 2 lbs.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Urgent because I need to buy this for a Belize trip coming up soon!

I was posting earlier about choosing between a Transpac and a Zeagle BCD but now I'm considering a BP/Wing and I like the sound of the DSS single rig.

I've been told that a BP/Wing works best with a SS backplate because the weight is between the lungs and the wing and gives good horizontal trim- makes perfect sense. However stainless steel is out of the question for my travel (really it is!).

So...If I bought a DSS single rig with the Kydex backplate for use mostly with aluminium 80 and 95's and put a weight pocket on the upper tank strap with maybe 2lbs in it and 6 to 8lbs on a weight belt would I be able to get good trim with a 3mm steamer wetsuit by adjusting the position of the tank?

Or is it pretty hopeless trying to get good horizontal trim with the Kydex backplate on a single ally with a weightbelt?

Really appreciate any help you guys can give.

Achieving effortless horizontal trim is the goal. The solution varies for every diver. In most cases, when using a single tank if a SS plate is appropriate based on your total weigthing needs it will help with getting horizontal.

If a SS plate will over weight the diver, then it is usually also a hinderance to achieving horizontal trim.

These are not universal truths, but most often are the case.

Is it possible to achieve horizontal trim when using a lightweight backplate, when a SS plate might have been more appropriate, based on weighting?

It can be done. Bullet weights, or weight pockets on the cambands, running the tank a little higher and adding weight to the weight belt, or even wrapping an ankle weight around the tank valve are all possible solution.

Most of the time divers travel to warm sunny places where they don't need much weight anyway. With little exposure suit adjusting trim is typically pretty easy.

I do not recommend using a lightweight plate in cold water conditions that need the weight of a SS plate.


Tobin

 

[Damselfish]

I think you can get trim in pretty much anything within reason. (Even a jacket BC! )

6# is a lot to most traveling divers nowadays. If there's an easy opportunity to save the luggage weight why not, it all adds up. And as mentioned, for some people that 6# will overweight them.

 

[JeffG]

So...If I bought a DSS single rig with the Kydex backplate for use mostly with aluminium 80 and 95's and put a weight pocket on the upper tank strap with maybe 2lbs in it and 6 to 8lbs on a weight belt would I be able to get good trim with a 3mm steamer wetsuit by adjusting the position of the tank?

Thats what I do with my Alum plate in warm water. Works great and saves 4lbs of luggage.

 

[*Floater*]

Or is it pretty hopeless trying to get good horizontal trim with the Kydex backplate on a single ally with a weightbelt?

Really appreciate any help you guys can give.

Works fine for me. If you have a problem which you probably won't, then either move some weight up (attach the weights to the tank with cam straps for example) or shift the wing down, or if you use heavy jetfins and frogkick, then keep your knees more bent and your feet closer to your butt between kicks.