c-monkey:
I think I have it figured out by reading some other threads and will probably just put the extra weight needed on my cam bands rather than have to pack an extra 6.4 lbs in my luggage. However, just for building my knowledge and future reference:
I use a small plate.
I am weighting for an AL80 since thats what I will be using on this vacation (not the 130 I sometimes use at home).
I am weighting for a 5mm suit since thats what I will be using on this vacation (not the various other suits I sometimes use).
In this setup I use 12 lbs total, which means 6 on in my pockets in fresh water, so will prob only need another 2-4 lbs for salt water not the 4-6 lbs I previously stated...
C, When you say you use 12 lbs I assume that in addition to the ~5 lbs of plate and harness, and ~2 lbs or regulator. Thats a total of 19 lbs of ballast. About 3 of this is required to offset the buoyancy of a al 80 @ 500 psi, the balance, 16 lbs should be the buoyancy of your 5mm suit.
16 lbs for a 5 mm on a small person in fresh water is on the high end.....
You will need to add 1 lbs of ballast for every 40 lbs of
diver and gear when you move from fresh to salt. I doubt that you and your gear are only 80-120 lbs. A typical singles rig is about 60 lbs alone. (tank, reg, plate, suit, fins mask weight belt etc.)
You still should be fine with a 20 lbs wing. A full al 80 is ~-2, reg -2, plate and harness ~-5. With out adding any ballast to your rig your at about -9. I would not recommend adding more than about 6-7 lbs to the rig. That maxes your rig at about -16. A 20 lbs wing will float your rig.
Your 5 mm suit is most likely about 12 lbs positive, so you have enough wing to offset a fully compressed suit.
I'm not a big fan of weight pockets on the cambands. If they are mounted low (close to the plate) they may interfer wit the wing fully inflating, and if you mount them high (away from the plate and wing) you will raise you center of mass.
Tobin
