Why does DIR reject quick disconnects?

[SeaJay]

With respect to webbing getting torn on backplates, my Halcyon backplate seems to go through webbing moderately quickly. I've gotten about 50 dives off the current set of webbing and it's toast. What's the norm?

Gosh... I've got 350 dives on my harness, and it still looks great. It's just beginning to soften up a bit - although the place where it meets the plate is just barely beginning to show some slight wear.

In fact, I might want to replace the webbing a little early just because it's beginning to fade from all the diving.

I've got a GUTS backplate from Gary Hoadley. He deburrs and finishes the plates beautifully.

If your Halcyon plate eats harnesses early, just spend some time deburring a little... No biggie.

Last time I checked things out there weren't any *sharp* edges, but they weren't radius'd or anything either.

Yep, smooth 'em out, "radius" them, and make them harness-friendly.

 

[SeaJay]

Your server reset... I don't think it likes me

I have the audio already, can't wait to see the vids though.

Ben

I'm watching. I've got users throttled at 1 meg anyway - plenty to stream and stay ahead of the video, no matter which video you click.

I didn't see my server reset - maybe your ISP doesn't like you using all their bandwidth?

The main video is a whopping 300 megs... And is an hour and a half in length. Seeing it chapter by chapter makes more sense, and makes for easy quick-referencing for threads like this one.

You're welcome to all of it.

Did you see the music?

 

[ElectricZombie]

I understand that the DIR crowd rejects the Transpac-style harness/wings as a BC because the shoulder straps contain quick disconnects and these are considered to be a failure point. What I would like to know is WHY these are considered to be a failure point? Have any studies been undertaken that demonstrate that these connectors are less safe, or more prone to failure, or was theire rejection based more on the opinion of a few people, ro common wisdom, or anecdotal reports, etc?

I've seen them break before; it can and does happen. Those plastic buckles are tough, but they do break on occasion. I don't see the point of introducing potential failure points. It would be different if the buckles offered some sort of advantage, but they don't. I can get in or out of my gear as fast or faster than someone with quick release buckles. Why add something if you don't need it?

DIR isn't keen on the Transpac style BC for other reasons. They don't fit particularly well; certainly not as well as a backplate and a one piece harness. You can only adjust them so much and even that is limited. The backplate and harness is a custom fit for each diver.

Transpac style BCs usually have a lot of padding that doesn't serve any purpose, creates positive bouyancy, creates drag and increases drying time. The D-rings on the harness are usually not the correct type or in the right place.

Those type of BCs just create so many problems that they arn't worth the effort.

 

[SeaJay]

Great points - the padding is completely useless underwater, and only adds to the bulk of the system. The Transpac is the best of the "regular" BC, IMHO, but it still has a little padding here and there, making for bulk that is unecessary.

...But the biggest complaint I had about the Transpac was the lack of stability. Without the optional backplate, the thing felt like it just didn't hold the tank securely on my back. I much preferred the stability of a backplate.

...Then as soon as I added the backplate, I wondered why I needed the harness instead of some well-placed straps.

I went into it in an article that I wrote - http://www.DeepSouthDivers.org/homebc.html

 

[reubencahn]

Dude, I just slaughtered your bandwidth thanks to that link

Ben

Over six minutes to download with a T1--for just chapter 3.

 

[drbill]

I can't speak for the Transpac's, only the similar X-Tek. Mine fits snugly on me and doesn't shift. I've never had a problem with tank stability and I carry a 13 cu ft pony "side tied." It is such an improvement over some other BCD's I've used.

Dr. Bill

 

[SeaJay]

Yeah, I can't speak for the X-Tek... Sorry, I've never had the opportunity to try one.

Is there some sort of structure within it? Does it have a built-in backplate? I found that I personally preferred some sort of hard structure in a BC - like what's in a SeaQuest Black Diamond, for example. Many BC's don't have anything at all in there and allow the tank to shift around, which is annoying at depth and can be downright painful on the surface.

Of those BC's that DID have some sort of structure, I personally preferred those with MORE structure over those with less. To me, there was a direct correlation between the size and sturdiness of the structure and the pleasure I got from diving. Interestingly, the Black Diamond that I mentioned above had a semi-hard structure that actually wraps almost fully around the waist of the diver... Which I found comforting, but some may find restricting.

For me, picking a BC was easy... I definitely wanted a stiff, hard structure, and I needed it to handle doubles as I was planning on doing more than the average "recreational" dive. Those two requirements left only a handful of choices in the market.

The first time I tried a bp/wing, I didn't think it was all that great... I couldn't see what the hype was about. To me, it just seemed that it was a more "homebuilt-looking" type of BC that didn't really have any advantages over some of the best "regular" BC's.

After learning the skills I learned in DIR-F, though, I really became a fan of them. The weight of the plate does wonders for correct positioning and balance, and when my buoyancy skills caught up with what a bp/wing could deliver, I could not go back to anything else. Add to that the sheer simplicity and modularity (easy as pie to replace or rerig anything that gets messed up, not to mention that it has the ability to adapt to any kind of diving that I want) and it's streamlining (which I didn't really realize the magnatude of until I dove with a few buddies in a heavy current) and I was hooked.

Then I saw that the price was going to save me $150 over the price of the other "doubles-capable" BCs...

 

[Dan Gibson]

The odds are directly proportional to the distance you are from a replacement piece.

I can't argue that if the things break,
you're dive is off. But what are the true odds of this happening?

 

[Dan Gibson]

I would say the biggest complaint I heard and experienced when I owned one was the waist strap pushing up on your diaphragm. It's too high.

...But the biggest complaint I had about the Transpac was the lack of stability.

 

[SeaJay]

Yeah, the "flop" in the thing with a tank attached (and no bp) drove me nuts. In fact, I couldn't reach my valves at the surface, and I kept whacking myself in the head with the valve underwater. Because of the "give" of the TP, the tank was simultaneously too high and too low!

Did you try your TP with the optional crotch strap? I did, and it seemed to take some pressure off my diaphragm.