Couple Back Plate Questions

[CWSWine]

I got to try on a back plate and wing today and I like the feeling of the openness of the harness. It was not adjusted to me but it belongs to guy with a very similar build. I could reach over my shoulder and touch the top of the plate with the tips of fingers so I understand that is the correct position of the plate on my back. My first question is where should the waist strap cross your stomach – should it cross your navel or should be at your belt line? If I keep the waist belt level with the floor it runs just above my navel. I’m longer in the torso than average person and have to purchase wetsuits that have a lot stretch to get them to fit.

I notice that some back plates have more holes in the center rib to allow different locations on the plate to mount your wing - either high or lower on the plate– is the useful for fine tuning trim?

This guy uses SS back plate for travel. What he did was take a standard camping backpack and cut the straps off and installed some eyelets and uses sex bolts to attach backpack to his back plate. He also made a carrying handle out of some 2 inch webbing that he bolts to the top of plate. He put his wing, wetsuit, mask, light and etc in the backpack and carries it on the plane like a backpack.

[WaScubaDude]

If your back plate allows options for higher or lower mounting of the wing you can use this to help with trim issues.

Your buddies back pack convertable is a brilliant idea to save weight and space when traveling.

[fireflock]

You don't say how tall you are, but if you are tall or have the torso of a tall person, you should consider a long backplate. That will put the waist straps in a more comfortable position. There aren't many manufacturers who make them, but www.deepseasupply.com is a good one.

https://www.deepseasupply.com/index.php?product=115

They are expensive to buy as a stand alone plate, but not bad as part of a package deal.

I dive a long plate and the difference in comfort is like night and day compared to a standard plate.

[MSilvia]

Yes, multiple holes allow you some freedom with adjusting trim. I agree... making the plate a part of your carry-on pack is a great idea! My waist strap is just above my navel too, which is good, because it keeps it clear of my weight belt.

[skdvr]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

This guy uses SS back plate for travel. What he did was take a standard camping backpack and cut the straps off and installed some eyelets and uses sex bolts to attach backpack to his back plate. He also made a carrying handle out of some 2 inch webbing that he bolts to the top of plate. He put his wing, wetsuit, mask, light and etc in the backpack and carries it on the plane like a backpack.

That is a great idea... I would love to see some pics if we could...

Phil

[mm_dm]

Here's a link that has some info on fitting the harness/plate:

DIR-diver.com - Adjust the backplate

[DMWiz]

Originally Posted by fireflock

You don't say how tall you are, but if you are tall or have the torso of a tall person, you should consider a long backplate. That will put the waist straps in a more comfortable position. There aren't many manufacturers who make them, but www.deepseasupply.com is a good one.

https://www.deepseasupply.com/index.php?product=115

They are expensive to buy as a stand alone plate, but not bad as part of a package deal.

I dive a long plate and the difference in comfort is like night and day compared to a standard plate.

How tall are you? I actually spoke to Tobin about the DSS Long Pattern plate, which is 17.5 inches long as opposed to the typical 13 to 15 inches long.

I'm 6'5" and wonder if the 2 inch difference from the Long Pattern plate to a regular plate makes a difference. I know you said it's night and day in comfort, could you expand on that? What plates have you used? etc.

I looked into a DSS rig, but I like the Oxycheq wings better so I'm still undecided

Wiz

[Skuttle]

I'm 5'2 and went with the standard dive-rite stainless steel backplate. My waist strap sits just below my navel ( which is comfortable for me). Don't wear a wet belt, have my weights integrated into my harness ( if that makes sense).

[fireflock]

Originally Posted by DMWiz

How tall are you? I actually spoke to Tobin about the DSS Long Pattern plate, which is 17.5 inches long as opposed to the typical 13 to 15 inches long.

I'm 6'5" and wonder if the 2 inch difference from the Long Pattern plate to a regular plate makes a difference. I know you said it's night and day in comfort, could you expand on that? What plates have you used? etc.

I looked into a DSS rig, but I like the Oxycheq wings better so I'm still undecided

Wiz

I'm 6'6-6'7" The 2 inches do make a difference. There is the length of the plate, which feels better, and there is also the fact that the top and bottom slots for shoulder straps are further apart. The extra length here makes it soooooo much easier to get longer arms in and out of the harness. More often than not, it's taller divers who complain that a BP/W with 1 piece webbing is hard to wiggle in and out of.

I had a standard DiveRite steel plate before the DSS plate. The waist band was up too high, it was harder to get my arms in and out of the harness, and the whole thing just felt little on my back. The tails on the long plate means that it sits on my back instead of digging into the middle of my back. The long DSS plate feels right.

I had the DiveRite plate for a couple of years, but didn't dive it much because I didn't like the fit. My BC has not seen the water since buying a DSS long plate. I think I've been diving it for 2 full years now.

Rich

[mm_dm]

Tobin's large plates are 16" and designed for divers that are 6'0 to 6'3. The long pattern described above is for divers 6'3 to 6'8, at 6'5 that sounds like a better fit.