yet another backplate question ... i've been pulling my hair out

[raxafarian]

After searching the web and various posts, I still am having trouble deciding what to purchase.

Personal info: Dive in new england and occasional trips to warm water. I wear 34lbs with 7mil suit, hood, boots locally. I wear 16lbs with shorty in warm water. I'm 5'8" 230lbs...

I will be diving singles (al80) for the forseeable future, but can see doubles at some point. Mostly shore diving taking photos. Wreck diving interests me and will be the next thing I start to learn. I don't see going deep (over 130) until I get in better shape.

I've been looking at backplates made by Halcyon, dive-rite, FredT, Koplin, and Gary somebody from canada. Gary's plate on ebay with harness seems like the best buy since most of the plates seem to be very similar.

Will most wings work with most plates? are the mounting methods standard? recommendations for wings for the type of diving I've indicated? I'd prefer to get something that will work for all my diving, but realize that I might have some tradeoffs... Also will probably invest in dry suit in near future.

I'm open to any suggestions, and any links you could send my way to further confuse myself.

as of now, I'm thinking of Gary's backplate with 27 or 30 something lb wings (halcyon) or do I need more lift with my out of shape gut and lead I'm carrying? I've been using a 'tropical' bc without much lift, but don't really even add air to it while diving... just some at the surface, and a touch here and there while u/w.

oh yea... single tank adapters... recommendations.


thanks
Ken

 

[Uncle Pug]

Hi Ken,

Will most wings work with most plates? Yes

Are the mounting methods standard? Yes

Recommendations for wings for the type of diving I've indicated? 36# Halcyon Pioneer if your weight is in a belt + the SS plate + weighted STA from Koplin... 27# if you can learn to dive with less weight and wear it in a belt + the SS plate

Gary Hoadley's plate is good... I use one on my doubles rig...
Halcyon's plate is good... I used one on my singles rig w/o STA...
Scott Koplin's plate is good... Shane uses one with weighted STA on his singles rig... but... since Scott didn't put slots you can't go without the STA and since he didn't put holes all the way on the sides you can't use the Halcyon plate pocket.

 

[Dryglove]

Also check with bob3 concerning a great wing for a decent price.Hes extremely helpful and full of knowledge.

 

[Jeblis]

What does STA mean? I've seen this a lot in reference to diving with or without (stabalizing weights???)

 

[Uncle Pug]

Backplates are designed for double cylinders and need an adapter to work with a single tank... the Halcyon wing has rods in it that take the place of a STA.

 

[cybordolphin]

Gary on Ebay also will custom make you a 3/16" S/S backplate (heavier ). As mentioned he will also slot so that you can go without the STA (Single Tank Adaptor).
He sells his BP with harness for pretty darn cheap, and kicks off the rough edges to boot.

 

[seabass]

I bought an AL plate from Gary on ebay. I felt that all the plates were basically the same (which is what is great about the bp/harness setup in the firstplace, not a lot of crap to distract you from what is important).

Things to consider:

Cost (go for the cheapest!)
All slots and holes
Weight (SS or AL)
deburred (less effort)
Harness setup (less effort)

Gary's met all of my criteria.

 

[Uncle Pug]

... doesn't have slots for cam bands.

 

[Scuba446]

I hear that Fred T's plates are pretty hard to beat at the higher Rockwell harness rating...I have a Koplin plate and am happy with it, but I am told its 304 and not 316.

If your even THINKING of going to doubles at some point - you'll want the BP and wings config.

A 'STA' is a Single Tank Adaper - somethign you'll need to attach your single tank to the backplate and wings.
Its a stainless steel 'V' plate, about 14" long say, with two (2) bolts or bolt holes in it to allow you to bolt it to the BP with the wings sandwhiched between them. You need the STA and 2ea tank straps to make it work.

By the way, I hear Halcyon has a new model wing that uses a new system that you don't NEED the STA with it - it has slots where you can just put the tank straps thru the wing and attach the tank via that way - although I can't say I have seen much (+) positive feedback on this new-fangeled system!

Good luck...

PS Backplates are backplates are backplates....to a point...they all perform the same function, albiet some slight differances like holes, slots, grade of SS or aluminum, etc.

 

[cybordolphin]

If you ask...

Gary will slot your BP for you, so that you can go the cam strap route. He drilled mine for a bolt on STA also in case I wanted to stay with the bolt on STA I have. I also had him upgrade the SS to a 3/16" instead of a 1/8". That added some needed weight to my BP. He also deburred very nicely, and preinstalled the harness for me. His harness has several "D" rings (very good quality) in all the right places, preinstalled inner tubing, and bungie, AND a bolt on crotch strap with "D" ring in front and back. He also adds some SS pieces to the webbing where the webbing goes through the backplate, so that the webbing stays VERY secure to the backplate.

The hardware Gary used on my harness was VERY high quality (including the SS buckle). Much higher quality than the OMS harness I have.

I am very pleased with the product from Gary. He sells his products on Ebay.

I found a big difference between the size and weight of my OMS backplate and the one Gary made for me. Gary's BP made my OMS look, feel like a toy. (wait a minute... IT IS!)