The BP/W is calling me...must resist

[Tewesy]

Gday all

I was planning on buying a Zeagle Brigade, but after reading many forum posts (knew that was a bad idea) I have come across the numerous good things about BP/W setups.

Either next year or the year after I plan to need two tanks for deep diving, and hence a BP/W seems to be the best idea for that. I like deep and I like wrecks...guess where!

I need help, the Brigade seems the best way to go now, but the simplistic and modular nature of hog harness on backplates is very appealing for future use. I understand that you can take part's of the ranger harness into a wing, does that include the belt/weight system?

Big question, how much compatibility is there between the various manufacturers (eg Zeagle wing on a dive rite plate etc). Also, what Zeagle STA's are there?

Currently rec diving in warm/cool water with a single tank, on both reef and wreck. I am a photographer but I dont like hauling around stuff I don't need, perhaps why I dont like jacket BCD.

[fire diver]

Don't resist...... Give in to the dark side, we have cookies!

first, sorry I can't answer to the Ranger question.

Second, All the plates that I am aware of are interchangable with wings. they are built with the same mounting specs. Only issue you might run into (and doesnt even affect everyone) is that the cam-band slot on the plate MAY not allign to a differnt make of wing. This only applies for single tank diving if you don't use a STA. So again, it doesn't affect most users.

Regardless of warm or cold water, the BPW is usefull everywhere. If you are tired of poodle jackets, then you will probably love the BP/w system.

[lund0485]

I use a bp/w exclusively for single tank rec type diving. As fire diver mentioned you want to make sure that the cam bands will go through both the plate and the wing if you want to go without the sta. An example would be the popular mach 5 oxycheq wing.

[Tewesy]

Gday

You get cookies? No one said anything about cookies...damn the conscience, sign me up!

Thanks for the advice, looking at the different brands, while the various side holes and shape are different the basic premise is the same, so many choices.

Looking at an aluminium bp (i travel fairly often) with a 35lb~ wing, and a hog-style harness. Is an STA pretty much essential for single's or are tanks stable just with cam bands direct to the plate. Anyone have "BP/W for dummies" photos?

Cheers

[LCF]

Some wing manufacturers make systems that stabilize the tank without an STA -- Deep Sea Supply does, and I believe Oxycheq has a stabilizer system as well. Camband slots may not be compatible between plates and wings from different manufacturers. This is not a problem with doubles, where all you need is holes on 11" centers, but can be a problem with a single tank setup.

A backplate and wing assembly is a lovely rig for recreational diving, and if you do suspect you are going to want to move on to any sort of technical diving, I would highly recommend simply purchasing one now. You will enjoy it for your current diving, and it will grow with you as you go. There is no reason for an intermediate step.

[fire diver]

Just for your information... I use an Oxycheq MachV Signature wing. It DOES have an anti-roll feature built in. The hammerhead backplate slots line up perfectly with the Oxycheq wing.

To answer your question, no, the cam-bands alone will not stabilize a tank. It will hold it in place, but you will feel it wobbeling. If you choose a wing without an anti-roll feature built in, then you need a STA.

[Black-Gorrilla]

im not a person to say "search" to anyone, but there are like 6 bp/w threads just this week... it's getting kinda ridiculous now. out of the 3 threads under this one, 2 are the same as this. all the bp/w info is already here, just needs to be read.
I believe we need a Sticky about this.

and by the way, i never got my cookies!!!


Plates follow a pretty standard layout, you have 11'' spaced holes for the wing screws (or doubles band screws), most have the cam band slots in them, and for the most part, everything seems to work with everything else... DSS stuff apparantly only works with DSS stuff (unless you use an STA, then you use the 11'' spaced holes, and the STA holds the cam bands)

[kjvander]

I picked up one of the Zeagle Ranger LTD's on closeout and can say that I like it so far. I like the back inflate aspect to the BC and also the accessories with it. However I will say that as i progress and get to doubles and drysuit and that kind of stuff....i will probably pick up a BP/W as well. I do know that my ranger is very bulky to pack and when i do start traveling a lot more a BP/W will come in very handy...

[Lj82]

There is no need to resist....join the dark side.
Since you already decided that bp/w will be the best option for you as you progressed to doubles next year, why not get them now?

I only dive singles and am very happy with the bp/w option.

[mocepts]

Hey, someones been reading my avatar!!



<----

Originally Posted by Tewesy

Gday

You get cookies? No one said anything about cookies...damn the conscience, sign me up!

Thanks for the advice, looking at the different brands, while the various side holes and shape are different the basic premise is the same, so many choices.

Looking at an aluminium bp (i travel fairly often) with a 35lb~ wing, and a hog-style harness. Is an STA pretty much essential for single's or are tanks stable just with cam bands direct to the plate. Anyone have "BP/W for dummies" photos?

Cheers