Weight Harness & Backplate

[ardhill]

Hi

I have just got myself a nice new wing and backplate.

I was out playing at the weekend and discovered one or two problems. Problem one has been solved by the addition of a clip on the left side of my one piece (now two piece) harness.

Ok, so the second problem - my weightbelt doesn't go well with waist harness and crotch strap. And yes I do want to keep the crotch strap. But doing a rescue diver course and the rescuer can't get to release my weight belt does highlight a little bit of an issue.

I was thinking of a Bowstone Weight Harness. http://www.bowstonediving.co.uk/stor...asp?id=15-0-66
It appears to hold a lot of weight - I have 32lb on my belt ATM. It doesn't have any clips on the harness to get tangled up with the backplate harness and stick into me or unclip, but...

I was wondering about that bit at the back of the harness, does it stick into your back jammed between your spine and a metal plate? It doesn't look too comfortable.

Are the weights secure, will the quick bit release itself at the wrong time?

Is there anything else you think I should know?

Are there any better suggestions other than this harness?

I don't want to use integrated weights as I already have a pouch on one side. I don't want to use any weight system fixed to the backplate or tanks etc as I do some RIB diving and some poor person has to take the rig off me and haul it into the RIB. After a couple of times I could find that when I surfaced and went to the boat there may not be anyone 'available' to pull my kit in for me

Thanks
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[ardhill]

OK, just read this thread:
Bowstone Quick Release weight harness

Now I know that folks like them and that they don't quick release at the wrong time.

So, still would like to get your comments, but think that it has been answered indirectly on the other thread:

"I was wondering about that bit at the back of the harness, does it stick into your back jammed between your spine and a metal plate? It doesn't look too comfortable."
.

[Tricky]

I had no major problems using my Bowstone harness with a ss backplate. I did find that having the weight pouches around my hips threw off my trim somewhat though. In the end I ditched the harness and replaced it with a v-weight and a p-weight. It does mean I have no ditchable weight, but I can live with that.

[wilbo]

Originally Posted by Tricky

I had no major problems using my Bowstone harness with a ss backplate. I did find that having the weight pouches around my hips threw off my trim somewhat though. In the end I ditched the harness and replaced it with a v-weight and a p-weight. It does mean I have no ditchable weight, but I can live with that.

what he said.. the harness is just too uncomfortable (in my opinion) so I did the same. V-weights - and if you need extra weight, then a P weight as well.

(If you didn't know) V-weight or V-weight chunks sit in the channel between the cylinders and held in place by the back plate.
The P-weight sits the other side of the backplate (in effect next to your drysuit) in the groove in the backplate - secured onto plate by the two band bolts and wingnuts.
Apologies if you already knew this..

[tom]

Might be worth persevering with the weighbelt for a little while? Lots of us use weightbelts along with one-piece harnesses and manage OK. You just need to brief your buddy that the belt is under your crotchstrap, so they need to release that too (and practice doing it yourself).

I have thought about the bowstone harness myself, but it would seem to add clutter.

[wreckferret]

Hi Paul,

What type of harness and back plate did you go for ?

When you are doing your Rescue diver course use your old BCD or borrow one, much handier than a harness.
Once the course is finished go back to your plate.

There will be enough STRESS w/o having to worry about crotch straps etc etc.

[Woz]

I lurve my Bowstone harness. It would be the last bit of kit you prised out of my cold, dead fingers.

Anyway- I tried a pair of Bowstone weight pockets on the backplate harness and it was rubbish. A PITA out of the water, not too bad in.

The harness is a piece of piss to put on, can be left only lightly done up and for me, does not interfere with the wing harness although having 2 "harnesses" does look a little weird. The bit at the back is unnoticeable.

I Nice Bit of Kit if you ask me.

[ardhill]

Wilbo & Tricky - I had thought of V & P weights, but since I do some diving off a RIB, I thought better of it. Not too many people are going to be happy with the weight of the SCUBA unit and 15Kg of lead to haul up into the RIB.

Originally Posted by wreckferret

What type of harness and back plate did you go for ?

Got the Dive Rite SS plate with the wing and a single piece harness - well it is now 2 piece as I just added a clip in the left hand side below my arm.

When you are doing your Rescue diver course use your old BCD or borrow one, much handier than a harness.

Yeh, I have already started it though. The guys are a bit strict on this course - something about it being a serious course, and isn't one of those PADI 'Pay For Certification' courses. So, I think if I was going to swap now, they wouldn't let me away with it knowing that I would be immediately swapping back to the wing after using my BCD for the course.

There will be enough STRESS w/o having to worry about crotch straps etc etc.

So I have found out

I would like to do something about the weight though. My hip bones don't like that much lead pressing down on top of them - not having that much 'padding' to keep me comfortable.

The harness is a piece of piss to put on, can be left only lightly done up and for me, does not interfere with the wing harness although having 2 "harnesses" does look a little weird. The bit at the back is unnoticeable.

I Nice Bit of Kit if you ask me.

Thanks Woz

There is a NDiver Weight & Trim harness on eBay ATM, are they the same sort of thing does anyone know?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MESE%3AIT&rd=1

Thanks everyone
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[J.D.]

Originally Posted by ardhill

There is a NDiver Weight & Trim harness on eBay ATM, are they the same sort of thing does anyone know?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MESE%3AIT&rd=1

As its my one I should give you some advice, although I may be a bit biased

I briefly saw Woz's Bowstone Harness last year and from what I saw they're very similar. And it's probably going to sell for a lot less than you'd get a Bowstone one for, so would be good for trying it out to see if you get on with it.

While it's probably not quite up to the same quality as the Bowstone, i've had no issues with the quality.

I found it really useful for RIB diving because its so easy to rip the weight pockets out and hand them up to the RIB. Saying that, I never had a problem with them coming loose during the dive.

Btw, dont worry about the leg pockets, they can be unclipped, and you could cut the clips off the harness if you never want to use them.

[wreckferret]

Paul,

I have a Northern Diver harness , great bit of kit. I have cable tied the quick
release - no plans to dump lead.

I would tell your instructor : until you have weighted yourself properly you need to use your BCD , better to be safe than sorry.
If you are doing the course with Dave you will have no problems.