Wing and STA Placement

[TN Traveler]

Santa brought me a new BP/W system (aluminum plate) and now I am trying to figure out where to place the wing. The setup has a STA, also

I am 6'2" 220# and have been diving with a back inflate BC with integrated weights. I am "leg hearvy" and use negatively bouyant fits to help the problem. With a 5 mil wetsuit, in fresh water, I use 16 lbs total weight - 8 in the trim pockets and 8 in the dumpable pockets.

What I noticed with the BP/W is there are 4 holes (2 pair) in the BP and the same in the wing.

I am using this for tavel, so switching to a SS plate is not a good option and I would like to stay away from adding weights to the cam-bands. I have 2 small weight pockets on the belt strap and will be using a DUI harness for carrying any additional weight (I have no hips, so a traditional weight belt winds up around my ankles).

My question is: Which set of holes in the wing do I match up to which set of holes in the BP - in order to get me as horizontal as possible. Do I mount the wing as low as possible on the BP or as high as possible - or should I just start in the middle??

And what about the STA position?

Thanks for your help.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Santa brought me a new BP/W system (aluminum plate) and now I am trying to figure out where to place the wing. The setup has a STA, also

I am 6'2" 220# and have been diving with a back inflate BC with integrated weights. I am "leg hearvy" and use negatively bouyant fits to help the problem. With a 5 mil wetsuit, in fresh water, I use 16 lbs total weight - 8 in the trim pockets and 8 in the dumpable pockets.

What I noticed with the BP/W is there are 4 holes (2 pair) in the BP and the same in the wing.

I am using this for tavel, so switching to a SS plate is not a good option and I would like to stay away from adding weights to the cam-bands. I have 2 small weight pockets on the belt strap and will be using a DUI harness for carrying any additional weight (I have no hips, so a traditional weight belt winds up around my ankles).

My question is: Which set of holes in the wing do I match up to which set of holes in the BP - in order to get me as horizontal as possible. Do I mount the wing as low as possible on the BP or as high as possible - or should I just start in the middle??

And what about the STA position?

Thanks for your help.

Take notes. Start somewhere, i.e. wing as far up the plate and STA as far up, for example. With a single tank the main player is the tank, and the tanks position relative to the plate. Unless you very short tanks like a HP 80 you will have a considerable range of tank positions available without repostioning either the wing or the STA.

I'd suggest locating the tank high enough that you can reach the valve, then make all other adjustments required for horizontal trim.

If you are head down, then moving the wing up can help a bit. If you are head up you can move the wing down relative to the plate, and slide the tank up a bit.

No way to tell 'till you try it, just keep notes so you know what you've tried already, and what helped and what did not.

I advise new BP&W users to first find out what their "total weighting" needs are. This is most often done hanging off the edge of the pool, or swimstep or whatever. Add or remove weight 'till you are eyelevel with no gas in the wing.

Once you know the total weight you need you can move this weight around for best trim.

Changing two this, i.e. both total weight and trim weight placement leads to frustration. While you are figuring this out try to use the same tank, and note where the tank is secured relative to the top of the backplate.

Good luck, have fun,



Tobin