Our compact plate for PRISM head and basket

jstovall

I see what you are talking about Andy. There is very little back and forth rolling off the tanks when strapped in, but there is some. The cowling actually fits pretty snug on this plate. We might be a hair wider than on the stock black plate, but we tried to get it as close as possible. We still bungee the cowling on to the tanks, but added a small delrin spacer to the bottom of the cowling that we bungee to the plate as well. I'll try to find some time to get a picture taken of the unit all together and post it.

Question though? I seem to recall a thread about using a BP & wing set up with the over the shoulder CL. As i have the unit now, I have two straps coming over each shoulder. After it is on it isn't bad. its just getting in thats a pain. Do you trust the quick snaps to hold the weight without the shoulder straps from the BP? And i assume if the top strap of the BP harness is gone, so goes the d-ring with it, if i had to sling tanks I would have to go to a side mount system--never used before--i wouldn't sling a tank to the CL. Have you used a side mount, your thoughts. I have always tucked slings under arm-easy to get at. And since I still have pre-novice ranking, have only slung a small 30 cu ft for bail. Still trying to put this all together, Thanks for your time.

silent running

Yes, sidemount seems to make sense, expecially with the Prism. As long as you don't have a lot of weight hanging off the CLs, yes I would trust the fastex clips. I've dived the Prism with a trad harness side slung setup and found it way more trouble to get into than the stock harness. I vastly prefer keeping the fastex clips as you can get into the rig just by sliding in from underneath. Instead of having to flip the loop up, do the chicken wing trying to get into the fixed web harness and then trying to lower the loop back down without getting it all twisted and smacking yourself in the face with the dsv.

I'm in the process of switching over to side mount something like either Mikes-where the main clip is hung off the waist-or Marty's where the main attachment is off the bottom of the BP. Haven't had a side mount on yet, but I'm pretty sure I'm going that way as I hate the idea of having both shoulder straps and CL straps and needing assitance doning and doffing before my 85th birthday. Take a look at the "ideas for BO thread in the Prism section"...

Oh, and is there any chance you will make your BP out of aly for those of us warm water dudes who don't need the extra SS weight?

jstovall

Thanks for the heads up to bail out thread. We put the numbers to the weight in SS vs. Aly, and there is only about 1-2 lbs shift in weight. There isn't much material, we tried to keep it streamlined for travel and as small as possible, but do the job. But Yes we have the ability to do it in Aly.

Side note-- Warm water diving in Brooklyn vs Texas coast?

silent running

Nah, no Brooklyn diving for me. I like fish, good viz and warm water more than rusty metal and cold green water. If I lived in TX, I'd dive local. I travel for all my diving, that's why I asked about making the plate in Aly.

Good to know it's possible to do it in Aly. What made you choose SS over it?

jstovall

Got to say, with so little time in the unit, we were just trying to get rid of all added weight. We were using an adapter plate we made that attached to the stock black plate supplied by SM. With that, a SS BP harness system. I still had about 3 lbs in each CL and 2lbs Zip-tied to the black plate up by the tanks. even with that i was still feet down a bit, easy to keep horizontal if moving but once you stopped, feet would drop. Thinking is to get all weight on and around that large air pocket we call a scrubber canister, and maybe trim out a bit and be more level in the water.

Still havn't been in the water--work, holidays, cowboys game the other day, too much else going on. In addition, water is cold now (for southern diver that is). Still don't have enough time in the unit to go with drysuit with confidence yet. Thoughts are for travel as well. if for some reason Rebreather took a cow sh*t, could still use SS BP and wing system with OC and not have to wear a weight belt. Just take single tank adapter we made of Aly and off we could go. We may findout there is too much weight, but i'll wait and see. Will get the unit in the water some time in the next week, going on a dive to the Mighty "O" mid January, need to see how it will work. Will keep you informed. Question, do you still use the 1 inch fastex clip on Cl or do you just use the 2 in. As i am set up now i am just using the 2 in, haven't seen much movement in CL while diving, but have only a few hours with that set up. You think I should try to find a place to attach the 1 in fastex clip? To BP or waist strap? Thanks for all the advice and knowledge.

James

silent running

Thanks for the info James. The 1 inch clips come off the side of the CLs at an angle, right? I'm not home right now, can't see how big they are. The 2 inch ones are the ones that fasten the CLs down to the cumberbun or waist strap if you're BP/webbing it. I always appreciated the comfort of the 1 inch angled side straps, but they're not necessary. Most people I know who go with a BP don't bother with them, I haven't decided yet. But I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to stitch some male clips to the right spot on the waist belt if you're using a BP/webbing. In fact, if you decide to go with a side mount using main D-ring attachment point on the rear of the belt ala Mike, the 1 inch tied in to the belt might be helpful in keeping the the belt from sagging with all the BO cyl weight on it...

As for the weight, I don't doubt that you could use more weight. But for me as a traveling diver who prefers to take his whole rig minus cover and cyls in carry on (never been refused yet) every lb counts if a cranky airline employee insists on weighing it. It's almost always over the weight, but how much will determine whether the employee will let me go through or try to make me check it-a disaster. Some airlines carryon weight limit is now down to 15 lbs. I usually don't have a problem as the unit fits in the dimentions of carry on limit. But if it looks heavy, they will ask you to weigh it. Even if you check the unit, it's still better for it be as light as possible as I and many others who travel will be bringing sorb and close to the limit of the checked bags as well. Bottom line for me, I much prefer to add whatever weight at the destination. A few SS plumbing bands and a 2 kilo weight on the bottom of each cyl and I'm good to go...

jstovall

I see your point. Once i get the unit finished out i'll weigh it and let you all know what the weight is for travel. Our unit fits nicely in the carry-on, overhead storge luggage most people take on trips. Even have room for CL and DSV. it'll be interesting to see what the unit weighs when packed up for travel. Again thanks for the info. We'll get back to you soon.

James

silent running

Looking forward to hearing more about it. Assuming no major revisions in the design, how long would it take to get one?

DaveC

Hi James

Been diving the Prism now for a little while (70 hrs and counting) and switched to the BP/Harness system at about 10hrs. Found that those 1" clips weren't needed and all you had to do is create a small 2" soft webbing strap that went from the bottom of the CL to the waist strap. This with the use of the 1" clip in the middle (which is where I also clip off my secondary) keeps everything in place. I started to criss cross my CL straps but found even that wasn't necessary.

Dave

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Dave

Any day in the water is better then any day in the office.

dive2dive2000

Hi James,

If you find the plate heavy or not balanced you can use Aluminum and make a custom lead weight for the top. I used a piece of channel for the mold. Very nice plate very innovativative. Have some green!

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Safe Diving,
Martin

"but what's the fun of getting what you need, instead of what you want?"