Do we need to use the butt plate.

Teller · Jan 22, 2012

I normally dive with Faber 85's and I dont ever notice them getting positive toward the end of a dive but recently I dove with a set of AL80's and once they got down to about 1500 psi the bottom of the cylinders began to float. I understand this is a common issue but during the dive I decided to just clip off the bottom of the cylinders to my waist D-ring and they rode great throughout the whole dive. This left me wondering do I even need a butt plate?

Tigerman · Jan 22, 2012

NVM, I was just thinking out loud..

karstdvr · Jan 22, 2012

I hate the butt plate and prefer old school for the reason mentioned. I like the carrbiner attachment at the waist like was standard for sidemount,which always kept the tanks in place,no matter what the bouyancy level was like. One day,sidemounters will discover this,and as they say,what goes around,comes around.

Teller · Jan 22, 2012

I am considering removing the butt plate all together. Does anyone see any reason not to?

DevonDiver · Jan 22, 2012

If your tanks trim ok from a waist d-rings, then why not?

I move mine (al80/100) down there when they to around 2400psi anyway.

wmperry · Jan 22, 2012

Seems easier than trying to attach small weights like I have seen some SM divers do between dives. and you can do it mid-dive if necessary. I'll have to try moving them to the d-rings next time I use aluminum cylinders.

Tigerman · Jan 22, 2012

As the al80 tanks are "top heavy" (and "bottom floaty") wouldnt having a bit weight at the bottom be handy if you need to unclip them for example for going through restrictions? (Where thats an issue of course)

billgraham · Mar 1, 2012

I have done some dives with A-80's on trips and I needed weights on the cam bands. You can rotate the weights to the inside to minimize the line trap.

madstop · Mar 21, 2012

There is no need for a butt plate on SM configuration. Using a waist D-ring is more than adequate. I know some divers who have two waist D-rings and they switch to the second towards the end of the dive. Still others strap a weight to the bottom of the tank on the CAM band before diving. I've not known anyone to attach a weight to the tank mid-dive but stranger things have happened.

DevonDiver · Mar 21, 2012

madstop:
I know some divers who have two waist D-rings and they switch to the second towards the end of the dive.

I've seen the waist d-ring secured with a non-toothed retainer - allowing the d-ring to be re-positioned during the dive. As the tanks get more buoyant, just slide the d-ring forwards on the waist strap. It worked well.

Do we need to use the butt plate.

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