Trim problem, too front heavy..

[Tim Greaves]

I am trying to balance my rig out but the problem is that im too front heavy.. If I get completely horizontal in the water and stop swimming then I sink forward head first.. I have moved my bands on my doubles up as far as they can go but it still happens..

Should I try moving my backplate up so im using the next lower set of holes on it for where the band bolts mount to the backplate? This will make my rig sit lower on me thus shifting the weight of my rig aft..

Besides this, anyone else have any other ideas?

 

[JeffG]

Alum Backplate
Trim weight

 

[David P]

first off, this is totally normal in doubles! If your back plate has two sets of holes, move the plate up on the doubles, however just to make sure try this in a pool to make sure you can still reach your valves. Stretch you legs out more to add weight further away from you head.
I always thought I was odd (most people would agree with this) in that I am leg heavy instead of head heavy in my doubles. I recently was so bored under water waiting for a partner to actually kick his fins rather than coast with the current, that I just zoned out and ended up face down in the sand, I was so startled that I started seeing if I could duplicate it... turns out I was extremely head heavy and just over compensating. I moved the tanks down and got rid of a channel weight for a weight belt (now that I have a weight belt I was able to do a weight check the very next dive and discovered that I dont need any weight...) and am no longer head heavy (well now I have to check again with no lead...)

 

[FIXXERVI6]

Need more info, what tanks, size, etc

dry, wet?

SS or AL plate?

what fins?

can light?

Salt, fresh?

your height?

 

[Tim Greaves]

Need more info, what tanks, size, etc

dry, wet?

SS or AL plate?

what fins?

can light?

Salt, fresh?

your height?

Viking drysuit with thick undergarments
OMS SS backplate w/ scubapro 72 pound wing
Tusa x-pert zoom fins
No can light
Fresh water
Height is 5'9"
Weight is 190 pounds
Tanks are LP95 steel doubles

 

[JeffG]

Viking drysuit with thick undergarments
OMS SS backplate w/ scubapro 72 pound wing
Tusa x-pert zoom fins
No can light
Fresh water
Height is 5'9"
Weight is 190 pounds
Tanks are LP95 steel doubles

Alum Backplate
Trim weight

 

[Tim Greaves]

first off, this is totally normal in doubles! If your back plate has two sets of holes, move the plate up on the doubles, however just to make sure try this in a pool to make sure you can still reach your valves. Stretch you legs out more to add weight further away from you head.
I always thought I was odd (most people would agree with this) in that I am leg heavy instead of head heavy in my doubles. I recently was so bored under water waiting for a partner to actually kick his fins rather than coast with the current, that I just zoned out and ended up face down in the sand, I was so startled that I started seeing if I could duplicate it... turns out I was extremely head heavy and just over compensating. I moved the tanks down and got rid of a channel weight for a weight belt (now that I have a weight belt I was able to do a weight check the very next dive and discovered that I dont need any weight...) and am no longer head heavy (well now I have to check again with no lead...)

Ill try moving the backplate and using the lowest set of holes on it.. I do have problems reaching my valves and im working on that..

 

[TSandM]

Move the bands up (you've done this).

Move the wing up, if you have multiple mounting holes in your wing.

Put the tanks as low in the plate as they'll go.

Switch to an Al backplate and move the four or five pounds lower, either as an asymmetric V-weight or onto a belt.

Loosen the harness until the valves are as low as you can reach them -- tighten the crotch strap to make up for the slack. (I did this last move this weekend, and it finally allowed me to balance absolutely flat, rather than pitched up about ten to twenty degrees.)

 

[FIXXERVI6]

Buy you some Jet or Turtle fins

Put a can light on your right hip

And best of all, ditch those 95's and go to 108's

Wings like the dive rite superwing with the gusset control cord will also all you to shape the wing to adjust trim

 

[Tim Greaves]

Alum Backplate
Trim weight

Where would I place the trim weight at then?