JamesBon92007
Contributor
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I used an old Sherwood backpack and a very old Voit swim vest (Mae West type). The middle part is attached to the backpack by putting the zipper pull through the hole and holding it in place with a cable tie and a brass washer (stainless would be a little better). I attached a section of 3/16" aluminum to the top of the backpack with four cable ties. The top of the Voit vest is held to the aluminum with Velcro. So far the Velcro seems to work just fine. The vest is attached to the tank boot (steel 72) with an old rubber strap I had laying around with a quick release. I utilized the D-Rings that were already there. Very easy. I plugged up the leaky oral inflator with some silicone sealant and attached an oral inflator with power inflator to the top of the vest. I also installed a dump valve at the top. A smaller dump valve might be a better choice as it really is only needed as an over-inflation protection device. I attached an old ScubaPro pocket to the waist strap by making two holes with a soldering iron. The vest has two snap pockets incorporated so that gives me two back pockets which are surprisingly easy to access and snap shut. And, of course, I also attached a couple of snap hooks and a gauge holder to the waist strap.
The entire backwing BC was made from stuff I had laying around. The Voit vest is in amazingly good condition, as is the backpack. I tested the lift but forgot to write it down but I think it was over 20 pounds. It is very easy to attach to a tank and fits nicely in my carry-on luggage without taking up much room. I simply will not bring as many clothes on my trips
I tested this backwing at Catalina Island last weekend and the only problem was locating the inflator by feel. I now have it Velcroed to the left shoulder strap. I put a little air in it at the beginning of the dive and never thought about it again until I let some air out near the end of the dive. What I like most about this is that the little bit of air in it (enough for four-five pounds of lift) shifts as I change position and if I'm horizontal it seems to hold me horizontal, and if I'm upside-down looking under a rock it helps hold me in that position. I have a "soft pad" from an old BC that Velcros to the top, inside of the backpack which will hold up to three, three-pound weights and will place the weight (I'm thinking of using five pounds) in such a place that it should give me excellent horizontal trim. My power inflator hose is a bit long so I need to scrounge up a shorter one.
So far I like this WAY better than any jacket BC I've used.
Questions:
What is wrong with using a plastic backpack for a backwing? I have not seen it and the standard seems to be a stainless steel or aluminum plate.
What do I do when the Voit vest wears out (it might happen but it's probably around 50 years old now)? They are not readily available and the ones I've found "no longer hold air." I was thinking about making a second backwing using an inner tube held into a more rectangular shape with straps and covered with some kind of nylon fabric or whatever. Unless convinced otherwise it will be attached to another old backpack.
Suggestions?
I currently have no need for a crotch strap because I have been recently blessed with a distended abdomen--the waist strap holds very securely below my belly.
I have read some old posts on DIY backwings which describe making the bladder and cover but didn't necessarily understand what products they were using and they were too old to respond to.
The entire backwing BC was made from stuff I had laying around. The Voit vest is in amazingly good condition, as is the backpack. I tested the lift but forgot to write it down but I think it was over 20 pounds. It is very easy to attach to a tank and fits nicely in my carry-on luggage without taking up much room. I simply will not bring as many clothes on my trips
I tested this backwing at Catalina Island last weekend and the only problem was locating the inflator by feel. I now have it Velcroed to the left shoulder strap. I put a little air in it at the beginning of the dive and never thought about it again until I let some air out near the end of the dive. What I like most about this is that the little bit of air in it (enough for four-five pounds of lift) shifts as I change position and if I'm horizontal it seems to hold me horizontal, and if I'm upside-down looking under a rock it helps hold me in that position. I have a "soft pad" from an old BC that Velcros to the top, inside of the backpack which will hold up to three, three-pound weights and will place the weight (I'm thinking of using five pounds) in such a place that it should give me excellent horizontal trim. My power inflator hose is a bit long so I need to scrounge up a shorter one.So far I like this WAY better than any jacket BC I've used.
Questions:
What is wrong with using a plastic backpack for a backwing? I have not seen it and the standard seems to be a stainless steel or aluminum plate.
What do I do when the Voit vest wears out (it might happen but it's probably around 50 years old now)? They are not readily available and the ones I've found "no longer hold air." I was thinking about making a second backwing using an inner tube held into a more rectangular shape with straps and covered with some kind of nylon fabric or whatever. Unless convinced otherwise it will be attached to another old backpack.
Suggestions?
I currently have no need for a crotch strap because I have been recently blessed with a distended abdomen--the waist strap holds very securely below my belly.
I have read some old posts on DIY backwings which describe making the bladder and cover but didn't necessarily understand what products they were using and they were too old to respond to.
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