Jacket BCD vs. Backplate/Wing

[fjpatrum]

Wow, it's definitely flame-war day, isn't it?

To answer the question, "which is simpler?" they are both very simple. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to function either type of BC.

Simplicity has nothing to do with preference. Arguably it has a factor for some people but there is no direct correlation for all people.

Simple may mean not a lot of crap directly tied to the BC. Simple may mean, everything is available in the BC and I can't forget multiple things if I have my BC.

What's with all the hostility? Many people, rightfully or not, have issues as new divers with back-inflate BCs. I'm sure that's one of the factors for the recommendation given in the magazine. I'm sure another factor is more companies who advertise in their magazine sell jackets than bp/w. A third issue I'm sure was a factor is that most people are completely happy with a jacket. They don't want different, they don't need different, and they dive just fine with a jacket. Who cares?

 

[BoltSnap]

Would that not be a hoot to try and discuss in one thread all three topics!

Add use/not use snorkel, Mask on forehead and you will have a thread that would have at least 1000 posts. No thanks, I am exhausted already. One topic at the time.

I thought that I'd have a day off today and go diving to recover (3 weeks no diving) but, again, weather wasn't cooperating.

 

[charlesml3]

This should be good.

I assume by "good" you mean:

- Discussed to the point of nausea in dozens of threads here on Scubaboard
- Redundant
- Pointless (because nobody will ever agree here)
- Will wander off into any other inflammatory topic such as pony tanks and long hoses.
- Will ultimately turn into a religious flame-war before a moderator locks it

So yea, if that means "good" then I concur...

-Charles

 

[LakeCountyDiver]

I thought that I'd have a day off today and go diving to recover (3 weeks no diving) but, again, weather wasn't cooperating.

Hey you could always fill the bathtub then pull the plug and fight the current. I almost got to that point once with a month of no diving.

 

[bj139]

With less than 24 dives showing in your profile, have you ever used a BP/W? I am not saying that a DS wearing 41 degree water diver shouldn't consider a BP/W when researching a BC purchase, but buying something you have never actually used seems "exactly like" the trust me dives the BP/W proponents often belittle.

I have not dove any BP/W before but I have seen instructors who did. Everyone must start at <24 dives. I only meant to point out the similarities between the BP/W:BC argument and the drysuit:wetsuit argument.

I went to help out at my LDS discover scuba at a local pool and they asked if I wanted to dive since it was not crowded. I dove for about twenty minutes using their rental gear and realized equipment is just equipment. Breathing was a little harder than with my $400 regulator but breathing is just breathing. If I can breathe I am OK. I worked on my neutral buoyancy and inhaling to rise, exhaling to sink. It was FUN, JUST DIVING. The equipment was secondary. I am by nature an equipment junkie so I bought a used BP/W at a great price. If I don't like it I will sell it.

Read some of the posts about people diving without BCs of any type if you want argue. These will really provide some great grounds for bombardment.

 

[Teamcasa]

My thoughts on this seeming endless debate.

BCDs come in many shapes and designs but they all do at a minimum, two things, help with your buoyancy control and hold your tank(s) in place. Some use a wraparound air cell and others utilize a single air cell. Some have a hard backplate, some have a plastic and still others use a fabric plate. Some have crotch straps, others don&#8217;t.

Virtually all designs will fit someone perfectly if adjusted properly. Jacket BC systems work perfectly well for most of the recreational diving but sadly, most of them were never adjusted or fitted properly to its owner.

A few people, based on their own body shape, will have a very difficult time using a jacket BC due to the adjustment limitations inherent in a jacket BC. The fitting of a jacket BC is more than just yank the straps until they are tight, but again, most shops don&#8217;t know how to adjust one properly and as a result, many jacket BC&#8217;s do not perform very well. Add to this, most of these people never realize the poor performance is due to the improper fitting, not the basic design. (If they even realize that it is performing poorly in the first place.)

A BP/W configuration is more flexible by design but if poorly adjusted, it will not perform any different than a poorly fitting jacket. Add to that, BP/W will be closer to a good fit, even if fitted poorly.

Here&#8217;s the rub. Most of the divers that use a BP/W are generally more experienced divers and know how to setup a harness and plate to fit properly. Experienced jacket divers also know how to adjust their setup and are perfectly comfortable using one. It&#8217;s the inexperienced divers and even some experienced divers that have no idea what a perfectly fitting BCD (BP/W or jacket BC) is supposed to feel like.

So, why all the fuss of one system vs another? It&#8217;s an apples to oranges comparison. While they are both BC&#8217;s and both will perform perfectly if fitted properly and used within their design strengths, it&#8217;s only the BP/W that can work in a larger number of differing dive situations. However, the vast majority of diving today is clearly in the wheelhouse of a jacket BC.

Good divers will not blame the gear, they simply adapt.

 

[calicant]

These threads are always interesting, but some participants seem to miss an obvious point. Gear manufacturers that stay in business make what they can sell and the marketplace has a way of sorting things out notwithstanding advertising or distribution channels. If one system is clearly superior, it takes over. Examples abound. The diesel engine replaced the steam engine on trains, the airplane replaced the passenger ship as a way of getting from London to New York, cars replaced the Red Line in LA (no it wasn’t a conspiracy), the single hose regulator replaced the double hose, etc. Since VHS and Beta have already been mentioned, I would be remiss if I did not point out that when a truly superior device came along (TIVO) that was pretty much was the end of recording TV on VHS.

When multiple systems abound, they do so for a reason. As some have pointed out, people have different opinions about what works best.

Did you type this on a QUERTY keyboard?

 

[Blackwood]

Edit - I just saw how long this thread it. Never mind. Please delete.

 

[bj139]

I tried my BP/W in the pool for the first time. I was slightly overweighted with the 6 lb plate and a 3mm shorty wetsuit, The BP tried to invert me. The effect was not uncomfortable but was definitely there. I was using a 50 cuft tank. With a large steel tank the effect should be worse. My SAC was 0.46 mostly hovering. I have been thinking weight would be best on the chest since this would have center of mass below center of buoyancy when in horizontal trim.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I tried my BP/W in the pool for the first time. I was slightly overweighted with the 6 lb plate and a 3mm shorty wetsuit, The BP tried to invert me. The effect was not uncomfortable but was definitely there. I was using a 50 cuft tank. With a large steel tank the effect should be worse. My SAC was 0.46 mostly hovering. I have been thinking weight would be best on the chest since this would have center of mass below center of buoyancy when in horizontal trim.

The feeling that you might "turn turtle" is not uncommon for new BP&W users.

A couple things you can try.

1) Move any ballast toward your belly.

2) Keep your fin blades horizontal and spread your knees apart.

After a few dives the feeling will likely be greatly reduced or eliminated.

Good luck,

Tobin