Rebreather World - View Single Post - New backplate system and my perfect personnel setup

depth · 31st March 2008, 20:01

Hi all
I have no owned my Megalodon rebreather for 1½ years. The unit is all i expected it to be, but I have had many setup problems because of my small size (175cm and 63kg).
This results in a list of issues:

Extremely cluttered chest area
Large CL volume
Heavy unit
Chest and hip d-ring being very close causing problems handling BO cylinders
Extremely hard getting in and out of rig

To solve this, I did a number of things, but it was far from perfect:

I changed the can from a standard to a cave version
I changed from 3l. tanks to 2l. ones
Mounted an armadillo
Had ISC modify my CL
Added a QR buckle

I helped, but I still had problems:

Armadillo but plate was much too long, no way I could reach the sliders
Still had problems getting in and out of the rig

So last night, I locked the door to my garage and told my girlfriend that I wasn't coming out until I had found a solution. She promised me to slide a pizza under the door if she had not heard from me within the next 12 hours

Yesterday I did a test dive with my friend, and believe it or not, it was perfect!!! My setup was spot on, and on top of things, the water was superb (for Danish conditions), no current, 8-10m viz and 4 degrees Celsius.
So I thought I would share what I have done, maybe other can use some of my ideas.

Armadillo problem

I needed to shorten the armadillo, but I didn't want to destroy a brand new armadillo but-plate by cutting new holes, so I cut a piece of plastic from one of my gear boxes and moved the SS parts (picture #1 & #2)
I also attached a large boltsnaps on the two bungee cords for easier donning of my BO tanks (picture #3). I can now reach the bungee with the Rebreather on and attach it to the chest d-rings. The armadillo system rules, I now dive with 2x80cf BO tanks and sometimes I forget I brought them with me!

Donning problem

I had this problem ever since I sold my normal BC and started using a harness. Using the armadillo, I do not use my hip d-rings any more. So I made a small destructive modification on my SS backplate. Firstly I cut out the material between the two webbing holes at the hips. Secondly I welded a solid 8mm SS rod in the center of each of the rectangular holes (picture #3, #4 & #5).
This modification makes the webbing slide very easily through the bottom of the backplate. So when I don my Rebreather I pull the shoulder webbing making them 30cm longer than normal in each side and I simply slide in the harness like butter. To tighten the harness, I simply pull the waist webbing and lock it in position with the standard weight belt buckle. When I un-don the RB I simply open the buckle again, I pull the shoulder webbing, lengthening it the extra 30cm and slide out of the harness.
Hope someone can use any of this

Safe diving

/Christian