Why do I need a better BC

[jmps]

I agree that It is frustrating to not be able to try many BCs prior to buying in most cases. Having just gone thru the BC purchase process I would suggest at a minimum that you rent a back inflate BC before you buy. This will allow you to see if you like jacket or BI better. I found I like BI much much better than jacket but never would have known that if I hadn't rented first. I was actually shocked at how much better it was for me in terms of trim and freedom.

If you like BI better then you might consider a BP/W set up. If you don't then it comes down to finding a jacket style that fits and that has the features you like and doesn't have more than you want.

That method of elimination worked for me. If you like BI I ended up with a SeaQuest Balance.

 

[aabond]

I bought a seaquest balance and love it. It's a great bc, but I'm thinking of buying a bp/w just because I cant customize it exactly the way I want it.

 

[cummings66]

I started with a Mares V1 and found it fit well and had integrated weights. The only thing I didn't like about it was my weights had to be up high and I couldn't put much weight in the ditchable pockets because my trim would be so far off that I couldn't stay horizontal without moving forwards, which caused a higher SAC rate.

I bought a DSS BP/W and found that with a weightbelt my trim was almost right on the money the first time and it's more comfortable to me than the wrap a round BC was, regardless of brand.

The Mares was cheaper than the BP/W, and I wish now I had gone the BP/W the first time round because it's so much more comfortable. I migrated to the BP/W because I now have a purpose in diving beyond getting better skills, I have things I want to do and part of it is made easier by using a BP/W.

 

[CWMurf]

I started with a jacket style bc and a weight belt. I found that at depth my neoprene (and my personal thermal protection) would compress and the belt would slide around and even fall off if I raised my shoulders.

I switched to a rear inflate with weight integration. I swore I would never go back to a weight belt. I did have to zip-tie two pounds to each shoulder to get the trim right but that set-up was outstanding. It took some getting used to not being able to feel the squeeze as the air went into the bc, but once I got used to it it was way more comfortable than the jacket and allowed more freedom of movement and flexibility.

I then tried a bp/w and wished I'd just started with it when I first started diving. It felt much more ballanced and secure right off the bat. The flexibility of configuration is great. I added 12 pounds of lead to the recess in the plate and took that out of the pockets, the thing is outstanding!

Everyone has their own preferences but if I knew then what I know now I'd have started out with bp/wing with integrated weight and saved myself alot of time and money.

Best of luck to you!

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Greetings..

In my OW course I used a weight belt and a couple of different non-integrated BC's with seperate Octo... Everything felt to me un-natural like it wasn't put together as a system. The BC's only had one tank strap so the tank felt like it was moving (Yes I checked and my buddy checked it was really tight. I was wearing 7mm neoprene so at 15' I had to adust weights etc...

My wife took the course with me and lost 2 weight belts so we bought her a Weight integrated Zeagle Ranger the purpose for this selection was that the top can be changed to fit me when she isn't diving.

I dove with it one time and discoverd the difference so I had to have one of my own. I'm not sure about the other brands of BC's but the Zeagle is very adjustable (The top is removable). The BC I bought (Slightly used) also came with an Octo+ which is an integrated Otco and BC inflator (One less hose) and it breathes great. I breathe out of my Octo underwater now and then just to check it (Not necessarily every dive).

I would also take into account what you can get serviced.

I would like to try a BPW setup sometime. I haven't heard anyone say anything negative about them?

 

[Darnold9999]

Just for some balance - the BP/W is less forgiving on the surface. I find I have to be on my back to be totally stable. If I am trying to swim or stay vertical I have to fight the tendancy for it to pitch me face forward into the water. Not difficult, but I have managed to get a mouthful of water or two when I least expected it when surface conditions were less than ideal. Never had that problem with a jacket style BC. Also no pockets for odds and ends. I also find the BP/W more difficult to get out of - in is no problem - out can be a pain particularly if I am very tired.

On balance I prefer the BP/W, but I learned to dive with something very similar so felt comfortable with it from day 1. Never did like the jacket - always felt too enclosed and encumbered with them, but do like the way they prop you up on the surface.

Really looking forward to trying the BP/W in warm water with no dry suit.

 

[spectrum]

The only BCs I've used are rental sherwood silhouette. They were very comfortable and seemed like they would do the job, and they must be durable if they are used as rentals. Other than if I want integrated weight, is there any reason I should purchase a more expensive BC?

Short answer: In order to safely make single tank recreational dives, NO.

As for integrated weight here are some thoughts...
For cold water diving you will end up with more weight than you want to have in your BC. In fact you may have more than it can even handle. From what you say of your built you would probably make it especially with a steel cylinder. The problem is that your BC becomes a heavy pig. The advantage to this is that the weight and buoyancy are in the same item so if you inflate the BC at the surface it holds the weight for you instead of trying to hold you which the weight is hung from. In other words it's less likely to ride up on you. This isn't a big deal and a well fitting BC or BP/W will control this.

Another reason some like an integrated weight BC is that they have no hips and fear loosing their weight belt. Adding suspenders to your belt or getting something like a DUI Weight & Trim harness as much better solutions IMO. I went with the DUI W&T for my drysuit, it also gives me much more range for balancing my trim.

In milder water integrated is convenient. When I dive summer time fresh water at the pond I wear my 5mm fullsuit and just add 2 4 pound weights to my BC, no belt, free and easy. You can see where this may be attractive as you venture south.

With a weight integrated BC you will probably have the ditchable pockets (generally 2 @ 10 pounds each) and 2 non ditchable pockets up on your back,( Generally 2 @ 5 pounds each.

To get my trim right I need two 3 pound weights in my trim pockets. This effectively puts about the same weight over my lungs as a common stainless steel backplate. I then have a 3 pound weight in each of my ditchable pockets. For fresh water I leave these out. I then wear a very comfortable 14 pound (hard) weight belt. Distributed like this with my 7/7 suit I have nice trim and nothing is too heavy to handle.

The point of the last paragraph is that you may not want to stuff all your weight into a weight integrated BC but it does provide some handy placement options. Alternatives include straping trim weights to your tank with an extra cam band, and clip on weights on D rings. Using some of these methods your Silhouette will do fine. I did some of my pool work in that Sherwood model, it was fine.

I know some divers who are diving 7/7mm suits and aluminum 80s who need to have some weight in their BCs just to keep the belt reasonable in weight. I dive exclusively steel cylinders in home water.

As for back inflate, wings and all of the rest.. Let me offer an observation. Virtually any jacket BCD has a fair portion of the air cell on the back side. If you are properly weighted you will not be diving with a huge amount of air in your BCD hence the bubble you do have (or the majority of it) will be on your back and you will hang nicely below it.

I have not tried a BPW but I have tried several back inflate BCDs. Inflated reasonably they did not plant my face and it was easy enough to rock back into a raft mode. What you wear for a wetsuit, where you place your weights and what you dive for a tank all play into this balancing act. As you read posts and comments realize that you must understand that divers configuration and diving to put the comment in perspective.

Now to your question...
Do you own the Silhouette or is this something you have been renting? If you own it and like it then I'd say dive it untill you have other gear in place. If you don't own it then try as many rigs as you can. By the time I finished my cert dives I had used 6-8 different BDS some in the wrong sizes and I realized I just wasn't that fussy. I've been very happy with my Sherwood Avid.

Here's what I saw in the rig:
http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=1142032&postcount=2

The bottom line is you want something you are comfortable in. Take your time ask a lot of questions come to understand this crap. I honestly belive that truly understanding your gear choices is far more difficult than becoming certified. There is no one right answer. We are all different as is our diving, budget and passion for this sport. Take your time and make smart choices.

Pete

 

[BSea]

If you end up diving for many years, you'll probably end up with several differant types of gear. I personally love weight integration in a bc. Everything's in 1 unit, which makes it easier. And if I was only going to have 1 system, I would probalbly go with a weight integrated BC. The 2 larger dive shops around here (Little Rock, AR) have pools and encourage people to try before they buy. If that's available to you, it can save you making an expensive mistake that you end up selling on E-Bay.

 

[pelan-pelan]

Initially I used rental gear because I wasn't sure whether I would continue diving. It was mostly Sherwood Silhouette and I never had any trouble. Then rental gear seemed to change and BCs that looked really smart and were comfortable to walk in (jetties, beaches etc) were uncomfortable and downright dangerous in water. Particular hate for BCs with high chest strap which damn near garotted me on giant stride entry.

So - you can't tell from the fit on land. So tried every BC I could wherever I was and swore I would buy whatever fitted. Thought this could get expensive! Turned out that the best fit was from cheap Aqualung Waves. Which is not unlike the old Sherwood Silhouette and is used, like the old Silhouette, for hire gear.

Moral of the story - should have bought a second hand Silhouette in the first place and used it until I wanted to spend out for something better - would have saved a fortune in rental.

Integrated weights - surprised that no-one here has commented on how the weight in the pockets can pull a tank and jacket over when it is being set up on a bench - that's a broken foot if you're lucky. Yes - of course you lie the gear down when it's set up - but before then. So - if you don't put the weights in til you put it on - the ones I've seen need a three man team to pack the weights in afterwards.

Anyway - good luck - don't settle for anything that's not right. Just keep trying them. But why not get second hand Silhouette for the time being and sell it on afterwards? That will be less of a money loss than buying something new that ends up not being right.