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I got a Dive Rite steel plate with 50 lb rec wings to replace my Seaquest ProQD about 6 months ago. My only regret is that the dive shop where I got certified 5 years ago didn't tell me all the benefits of backplates when I was buying my gear!
I just bought a new Dive Rite TransPac II with Rec Wings...weight integrated pockets...etc. Great improvement over the old jacket style bc...the Dive Rite stayed glued to my back...great bouyancy...great hover...great integrated system. It is certainly something I would use in all environments. A few adjustments here and there...works like a charm.
I have the transpac with the rec wings...and was considering going with a Steel BP setup...How much would it cost me to change out the transpac for the steel bp?
Do you use it with a single tank? I am about to buy the same setup because the lds carries dive rite. But I have been warned about using double wings for single tanks, that's why I am wondering.
Now this is the first time I have ever used a Backplate and wing BUT....
My dive rite rec wing worked perfectly with a single Al. 80 tank-I couldn't be more satisfied.
I have a Fred T. backplate(heavy, short) with a heavy STA. At the surface I am perfectly perpendicular with the water. With the Rec wing fully inflated my chin is about a foot above the surface of the water and still perfectly perpendicular-not at all being forced face face down.
So comfortable.
I couldn't detect any air trapping/shifting or wrapping of the wing around the tank underwater. I left the gusset controls where they were when I received the wing from LeisurePro. I thought I might have to make the wing smaller for a single tank but I am very happy with the trim characteristics in the water-better than any BC I have ever used. And the handles lasered into the sides of the Fred T. backplate-brilliant! I would not buy a backplate without those handles. The plate/wing setup can become quite heavy, with thick plates and STAs. Having a handle makes it easy to lift and maneuver.