RJChen
Registered
Hey all, I'm new around here! Looking to upgrade into a SS BP/W setup from a back inflate BC for scientific work. Currently, I do a fair amount of scientific work in Hawaii and plan to try to get a state or NOAA job next year. I've been perusing the info about BP/W setups and have come up with a configuration, but I would love some feedback on whether or not it's feasible, compatibility issues, and etc.
My primary goal is to build a system that is usable in both cold and warm water and long term durability. Dry weight is also not a concern, since I pack light for travel and I weight lift, so a slightly heavier BC is irrelevant to me. Almost all readily available tanks in Hawaii are Al 80s, so I am not considering Al BPs.
Here's some context about me and my current dive set up:
Anatomy:
- 5'3
- 180 lbs (mostly lean, wetsuits are a pain)
- Almost negative w/ out suit in tropical seawater with a full breath of air
Current BC:
- Medium Zeagle Ranger LTD
- Minimum 6 lbs lead w/ Al80 and 5mm suit
- Generally, 12-14 lbs since most work is done on bottom
Hypothetical Rig:
*Updated* Back Plate: Apeks WTX
- Was Mares XR 6mm, I have been shown the error of my ways about weighting.
Wing: Apeks WTX-D40 PSD
- The Zeagle has 45 lbs lift already anyways, plus it's a pretty flappy horseshoe with just a single. So a 40 lbs doughnut should not be an issue.
Harness: Apeks Deluxe One-Piece Web
Concerns: Resolved. Guess I'm going full Apeks at this point. Just general feedback or pointers about individual components at this point.
A bit long-winded, so thanks for making it through! I nerd out on tech specs, so when I started looking into BP/W setups I went down a rabbit hole.
My primary goal is to build a system that is usable in both cold and warm water and long term durability. Dry weight is also not a concern, since I pack light for travel and I weight lift, so a slightly heavier BC is irrelevant to me. Almost all readily available tanks in Hawaii are Al 80s, so I am not considering Al BPs.
Here's some context about me and my current dive set up:
Anatomy:
- 5'3
- 180 lbs (mostly lean, wetsuits are a pain)
- Almost negative w/ out suit in tropical seawater with a full breath of air
Current BC:
- Medium Zeagle Ranger LTD
- Minimum 6 lbs lead w/ Al80 and 5mm suit
- Generally, 12-14 lbs since most work is done on bottom
Hypothetical Rig:
*Updated* Back Plate: Apeks WTX
- Was Mares XR 6mm, I have been shown the error of my ways about weighting.
Wing: Apeks WTX-D40 PSD
- The Zeagle has 45 lbs lift already anyways, plus it's a pretty flappy horseshoe with just a single. So a 40 lbs doughnut should not be an issue.
Harness: Apeks Deluxe One-Piece Web
Concerns: Resolved. Guess I'm going full Apeks at this point. Just general feedback or pointers about individual components at this point.
A bit long-winded, so thanks for making it through! I nerd out on tech specs, so when I started looking into BP/W setups I went down a rabbit hole.