OMS Wing Configuration

[Bantam]

I've bitten the bullet and while at 'ver Warehouse this weekend availed myself of an OMS Wing and SS backplate, currently with Cam Bands for my single cylinder with pony, but with a view of getting the twinning bands and bolting my 2 12l together and bolting them to the backplate!

The only question I have is the harness. It's adjustable, but not very, if you know what I mean (unless I'm missing a trick here). I've got the one with only the single QR buckle on the left hand side, so do I need to put on my drysuit and tighten it so it's as tight as possible, or what?

Any tips chaps and chapesses?

Thanks,

mark.

[beanie]

<font color='#8D38C9'>ah well that depends on how you like it

some like it tight some like it loose

best way is to have a play with it and find out how slck (tight) you like it

[Bantam]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (beanie @ Mar. 15 2004,09:55)]best way is to have a play with it and find out how slck (tight) you like it

Thanks for that.

That's pretty much what I thought, although it does no harm to check you're actually doing what you think is right!!

When I first got it, I didn't realise the straps crossed over at the top of the backplate - I thought it was misconfigured to pulled it all apart and redid it, only to look on the website and find that it was right all along, so I had to take it off and do it back again, but maybe that was a good thing - that way I know how it all fits together now.

On a similar vein, though, I have read others talking about using the waist strap (which has a handy Quick Release weight belt-type buckle) as a weight belt and threading the weights onto that. Doesn't that potentially mean you don't have any way to quick release (although that may not be a bad thing).

Also, what other way can I have weight on a wing / backplate? I've been diving for 18 years but have been really only stuck with the stuff I knew so far. This is a whole new area for me, thus the quizzing of you knowledgeable peeps!

Thanks for your help,

Mark.

[beanie]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Bantam @ Mar. 15 2004,16:42)]When I first got it, I didn't realise the straps crossed over at the top of the backplate - I thought it was misconfigured to pulled it all apart and redid it, only to look on the website and find that it was right all along, so I had to take it off and do it back again, but maybe that was a good thing - that way I know how it all fits together now.

<font color='#8D38C9'>you can have the staps either way
this depends on whether you'vr got broad or narrow shoulders
my OC kit was crossed my YBOD is uncrossed

as for weight if your using twins (can't rember if you are) you can shove a V weight in the gap

I have 2kg on my waist belt
personally I &nbsp;wouldn't go for anymore on the wasit belt

[Digger]

<font color='#000080'>If you put the weight on your harness you'll find it can get in way of other stuff you want to put on there, you might be better off making a V/P weight, which keeps you uncluttered, but still with weight roughly where you want it.

I don't use QR weight, but my weight is still ditchable. It's in a pocket, but no QR setup. In your suggested configuration you'd have a right load of trouble getting rid of weight if you had to on the surface for example. Might be better to either wear a weighbelt with it, or find other places for it. And you're not going to be popular Rib diving, as all your weight is coming off at once to be lifted. On hardboats this is much less of a problem.

There are loads of websites with ways of riggint he harness and backplate. THe DIR way is illustrated at www.gasdiving.co.uk, there are pages on UKRS that show a couple of options, and most people customise to some extent based upon these.

HTH

Digs.

[Bantam]

At the moment (i.e. pre-OMS) I usually dive with a single 12l or 15l with a pony, plus between 8 and 10kg weight on shotbelt dependent on fresh/salt, although I'm sure I'm overweighted.

My current next dive config will be the OMS with SS backplate, 12l and pony. I'm not sure how much weight I'll need, so I'm gonna have to do a weight test to ensure I'm just right.

I want to get used to the wing first before I spring for the last part which is the twinning bands and the manifold. (I will have to change my pillar valves because they're both non-manifoldable) so I'll then have dual 12l config.

I agree with your points about RIB diving and integrated weight - I used to use Integrated Weights in my Zeagle Wing, but after a while I found it uncomfortable and quite awkward to pull out of the water on a rib, therefore unfair for my compatriots.

I think I'll;

1: Get a load of individual weights and play around with the amount until I'm happy with the level / trim.

2: Measure the weight of that belt, and then adjust my shot belt to be the same.

That way I know that I have, say, 5Kg I need to use, so I could have 2kg on my belt and maybe 3Kg or whatever as a V-Weight, and so on.

Thanks for the tips - I have some light reading to do!!

Mark.