Buddy Trident

[NeilB-UK]

Gents of a Techy nature.....

The Buddy Trident wing.....can I fit a metal backplate to it? Is it any good for manifolded twins?

I know it comes with twining bands so I can twin indies but how about real techy diving?

ps...don't tell me I should have got a Halcyon or Zeagle.....I didn't pay for it so I am just looking to use it.

neil

[Helen F H]

I dived one of these for a few years.

I dont think you can put a metal back plate into it. The best way to think of it is as a buddy commando type body without the pockets on the side. The backplate is plastic, but copes well with twins. Mine were always indies used with the cam bands and i never had any problems but i cant comment on a manifold from experience. However i do know a guy who does dive a trident with manifolded twins, so it obviously can be done. I think you need to drill a couple of holes through the plastic backplate to mount the bolts from the bands.

Hope that helps

[MATTBIN]

I dive a Tekwing, which I assume has the same plastic b/p. If you want to use a manifolded set with s/s bands you drill two holes through the b/p where the depressions are (not std centres) and use CD mushroom bolts, actually they are more like nuts as they have a female thread. They go through the plate and the head stays person side and is below the plate general surface.
Having said that I replaced my wing b/p with an ali one and a one piece harness, using the existing clips, D rings etc. You can but direct from CD or Woz has some very fancy ones too.

Rgds
Matt

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by NeilB-UK

Gents of a Techy nature.....

The Buddy Trident wing.....can I fit a metal backplate to it? Is it any good for manifolded twins?

I know it comes with twining bands so I can twin indies but how about real techy diving?

ps...don't tell me I should have got a Halcyon or Zeagle.....I didn't pay for it so I am just looking to use it.

neil

Hi Neil.

Yes, you can have a metal back plate in the trident. Mine was custom made for me.
I did use twin manifolded 12's on it for a full summer, but never got on with the things , so went invert indies.

If you need a back plate... get in contact with Kent Tooling, if he hasn't already got the pattern, he can use mine for a template or what ever the clever little fecker does

You can the same things with a TRIDENT as you can with the other wings , and thats DIVE, I'll never change mine for another model and always said " the day mine gives up the ghost will the be the day i hang up my fins ".

Andy

[Helen F H]

Andy, just out of interest, what harness did you use? Did you continue to use the "jacket" style one, or have one made to attach to the backplate?

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by Kelda

Andy, just out of interest, what harness did you use? Did you continue to use the "jacket" style one, or have one made to attach to the backplate?

The one it came with,basically all i did was replace plastic for stainless..... just had the plate slots cut to the same as the plastic buddy one. The waist strap was s/s riveted in place.

THIS WAS HOWEVER HAD TO BE DONE, after some drilling in the plastic back plate and filled with concrete.

I just love my rear pockets and the tummy bag

[Helen F H]

The kangaroo pouch was the dogs bollocks Could fit a buddy DSMBi and kent tooling little reel in there, plus the kitchen sink

And a spare SMB in the pockets on the body.

Very nice bit of kit.

[NeilB-UK]

Hi All,

Sounds all very promissing then. Have to admit that my twins aren't ready yet - one is still being tested and painted, and I am in the UK, so nowhere near all my kit.

Thanks for the advice Andy....I will have a look at the plastic backplate (I presume the same as the Comando I have had for years) and if I can't modify that then I can get a metal workshop to cut me a SS version.

Will make attaching stages so much easier!

Neil

ps....one very used Comando for sale, only 18 years use....still works perfectly!

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by Kelda

The kangaroo pouch was the dogs bollocks Could fit a buddy DSMBi and kent tooling little reel in there, plus the kitchen sink

And a spare SMB in the pockets on the body.

Very nice bit of kit.

LEFT BACK POUCH = 65kg lift bag complete with BIG goody bag.
RIGHT BACK POUCH = DSMB and above it 2 smaller goody bags, reel underneath.
TUMMY POUCH = spare knife ( cable tied to front flap ), Q 40 torch, shears, heliograph,flare/surface marker dye,an old pair of tights,carton of OJ.

[Juz]

Blanaid used to dive twin 12's on her commando with stages.

The 12's were banded with a manifold.

All she did was put one LONG camband on the jacket that went around both tanks.

Worked well for her. Don't see why it wouldn't work on the trident. Then if you switch to a wing, your twins are already banded and ready to go.

Digger has some ST. Steel bands for sale I think.

Juz