Starting out tropical BW&P

[OTGav]

Having tried a hire plate in Thailand I'm pretty much sold on converting to diving with a plate.

At home I dive single tank tropical waters, but may convert to some double diving in the next 18 months. It's mostly reef with some wreck - 5mm wetty all year.

Having never rigged a harness myself, or worked out a set up I'm a bit lost knowing exactly what I need.

If anyone knows of a good article or way to compare very equal looking lumps of ally, steel and long lengths of webing it would be great.

Thanks

[chace_nicole]

Here is an article titled BP/W 101

Back Plates & Wings 101

And here is a link to a video Scubatoys put together on how to rig it all

YouTube - Threading a Backplate System


Hope this helps you out!

[freeski4ever]

Once you go BP/W, you'll never go back!!

[Lj82]

Originally Posted by freeski4ever

Once you go BP/W, you'll never go back!!

I have to agree with that

[RoyN]

Originally Posted by freeski4ever

Once you go BP/W, you'll never go back!!

Hey! How come my old BC doesn't have this metal plat that would help my trimming....

[doczerothree]

Originally Posted by OTGav

Having tried a hire plate in Thailand I'm pretty much sold on converting to diving with a plate.

At home I dive single tank tropical waters, but may convert to some double diving in the next 18 months. It's mostly reef with some wreck - 5mm wetty all year.

Having never rigged a harness myself, or worked out a set up I'm a bit lost knowing exactly what I need.

If anyone knows of a good article or way to compare very equal looking lumps of ally, steel and long lengths of webing it would be great.

Thanks

Back plate: Industry has 2 major types Aluninum (2lbs) and Stainless steel (6lbs) Webbing can be bought individual or are a "harness" which comes with D-Rings. Equipment Configuration | Global Underwater Explorers this may give you so imformation. BP/W are the way to go IMHO. Threading a harness is not that difficult. Some on this site ST gives a video demo. Good luck!!

[OTGav]

Watched the thread vid that Scuba Toys made - looks easy enough, well within my DIY skills

Sounds as though what most of you are saying is that once you have chosen Ally or Steel a plate is a plate - no matter who's made it.

Then it's a harness or webbing choice. A wing that can lift 20+, but not so much more.

And some add on gear - possibley pockets, STA if needed (depending on wing).

That all sound about right?

[Vercingetorix]

Originally Posted by OTGav

That all sound about right?

You can buy packages which have all you need. For instance, the GolemGear pkg contains a 35# wing, plate (SS or LA...your choice), harness w/D-rings, and waist band buckle. My set-up is a SS plate from HammerHead (got good reviews) and AL plate and wing from GolemGear.

Some wings have an a rubber bladder surrounded by an outer cover; others combine the two. The GolemGear is the former. Therefore, if it is punctured and I cannot return it to the factory (it has lifetime guarantee), I can repair the bladder with an bicycle inner tube repair kit. The wing covering is very rugged and almost impossible to puncture unless you really try. Sometimes GG has a sale to reduce the cost.

I dive without any weight belt with the SS plate, a 3mm wetsuit, AL80(neutral) tank in freshwater. That 5.5 pounds of steel plate are all I need. I'm 150 lbs

[tonka97]

Originally Posted by chace_nicole

Here is an article titled BP/W 101

Back Plates & Wings 101

And here is a link to a video Scubatoys put together on how to rig it all

YouTube - Threading a Backplate System


Hope this helps you out!

Thank you!

Thank you Scubatoys!!!

When I purchased my BP/W I wasted nearly a day trying to read instructions, illustrated poorly-you couldn't tell which side of the plate was up or down....

I posted a query on the other scuba oriented board...received replies such as "it will do you good to figure it out yourself!"

That is a key reason I moved to this helpful and friendly forum.

The Scubatoys video is clear, helpful, and very welcome!

[Vercingetorix]

Originally Posted by tonka97

I posted a query on the other scuba oriented board...received replies such as "it will do you good to figure it out yourself!"

You gotta be kidding?!?!?!?

Morons...

I'm sorry you were treated like that. Nobody deserves that B.S.