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Post by hgslick on Jun 8, 2021 17:27:04 GMT -8
Guys, i know the best backplate to use with DH regs is the VDH one, but has anyone had good luck with any other type of backplate? I love the DH but im not a full vintage diver.....
thanks
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Post by james1979 on Jun 8, 2021 18:18:43 GMT -8
If you want a super cheap option, the plates I cut from a $5 cutting board with hand tools works out great. Both my boys and I use them, single or double hose. I can send you the layout if you want.
Respectfully,
James
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Post by hgslick on Jun 8, 2021 18:30:17 GMT -8
Sure, that would be great
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Post by herman on Jun 9, 2021 2:27:37 GMT -8
The VDH plate is not just for vintage, it works fine with anything but doubles.
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Post by james1979 on Jun 9, 2021 4:29:46 GMT -8
As Herman noted, the VDH plate (if you can find them) works fine for single tank single hose as well. Same with my cutting boards. PM me your Email and I'll send you the template for mine... I'm having file hosting issues with it, and the forum won't let me attach the PDF. here's pics of my teenagers rig assembled, and a pic of me using the prototype so you can see can placement:    Respectfully, James |
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Post by hgslick on Jun 9, 2021 4:43:04 GMT -8
Herman - Thats for sure, but since they are not available .....ever..... I need another option
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Post by james1979 on Jun 9, 2021 8:57:12 GMT -8
I sent the template to a couple people now... if any of you have better luck with getting a pdf to post to the forum (or the JPG version), feel free to post it up here. Imgur is just kicking my butt!
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Post by technidiver on Jun 9, 2021 15:03:48 GMT -8
Herman - Thats for sure, but since they are not available .....ever..... I need another option You can use a normal backplate with your double hose. I use an Apeks WTX aluminum plate with a diverite voyager wing. Never had a problem with my DAAM. Anybody who says you *NEED* a VDH plate to dive a double hose is full of sh*t. TD |
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Post by technidiver on Jun 9, 2021 15:05:34 GMT -8
As Herman noted, the VDH plate (if you can find them) works fine for single tank single hose as well. Same with my cutting boards. PM me your Email and I'll send you the template for mine... I'm having file hosting issues with it, and the forum won't let me attach the PDF. here's pics of my teenagers rig assembled, and a pic of me using the prototype so you can see can placement: Respectfully, James James is that a MOLLE pouch on your waistbelt? Great idea, those things are super handy. It’s also a lot cheaper to use military surplus than buy new pouches haha. TD |
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Post by james1979 on Jun 9, 2021 15:12:51 GMT -8
Yep... If you have them laying around, it turns out the grenade pouch works great for trim weights!
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Post by herman on Jun 10, 2021 2:31:31 GMT -8
Herman - Thats for sure, but since they are not available .....ever..... I need another option You can use a normal backplate with your double hose. I use an Apeks WTX aluminum plate with a diverite voyager wing. Never had a problem with my DAAM. Anybody who says you *NEED* a VDH plate to dive a double hose is full of sh*t. TD It depends on what you mean by "needs". Any BC will work with a DH reg, you can breath off of it and dive but if you want the best performance out of the reg, then it must be positioned properly. Unless you adjust a standard BP so that it rides very low on the body the reg will not be placed for optimal performance. The top edge of standard plates hits the cans requiring the plate to be lowered. The problem with doing this is the waist strap ends up very low on the body and once under water, the rig wants to ride up placing the cans way too high on the body. The VDH plate is cut out at the top to accommodate the cans and the waist strap slots are moved to better locate the plate on the body and at the same time positioning the cans for best performance. I suppose a tall person may can adjust a standard plate to work well but not most of us. I don't see why I would want to tweak a reg to it's best performance then place it on a BP that does not allow it to perform at it's best. |
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 10, 2021 8:17:34 GMT -8
You can use a normal backplate with your double hose. I use an Apeks WTX aluminum plate with a diverite voyager wing. Never had a problem with my DAAM. Anybody who says you *NEED* a VDH plate to dive a double hose is full of sh*t. TD It depends on what you mean by "needs". Any BC will work with a DH reg, you can breath off of it and dive but if you want the best performance out of the reg, then it must be positioned properly. Unless you adjust a standard BP so that it rides very low on the body the reg will not be placed for optimal performance. The top edge of standard plates hits the cans requiring the plate to be lowered. The problem with doing this is the waist strap ends up very low on the body and once under water, the rig wants to ride up placing the cans way too high on the body. The VDH plate is cut out at the top to accommodate the cans and the waist strap slots are moved to better locate the plate on the body and at the same time positioning the cans for best performance. I suppose a tall person may can adjust a standard plate to work well but not most of us. I don't see why I would want to tweak a reg to it's best performance then place it on a BP that does not allow it to perform at it's best. I agree with Herman here, although I don't dive a back plate. I have several doubles with a "military" harness, and that to me is the best for positioning the double hose regulators.  IMG_1761 by John Ratliff, on Flickr  Marion Yaquina Bay Dive UW-1 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Here, a home-made military-style harness for doubles allows the lower positioning of the double hose regulator. My buddy Marion Fisk designed this harness. I also have several single tank units, and use some of the commercially-available harness systems on them. The plastic harnesses act like Herman states, and I have modified them to accomodate my own design for the Para-Sea BC. This design does not have a waist strap, and does have my own design for hip connectors which tie into the parachute harness that I designed for the Para-Sea BCD. I also have a rectangular harness that Healthways designed and marketed in the 1960s which accomodates double hose regulators very well.  IMG_1447 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Some of the commercial backpacks can be positioned so as to allow the double hose to be lower on the back.  IMG_1181 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Another example of lowering the regulator's position with relation to the backpack.  IMG_8668 by John Ratliff, on Flickr The Healthways backpack that allows the double hose to be lower on the back. John |
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Post by snark3 on Jun 10, 2021 13:41:50 GMT -8
The VDH plate is not just for vintage, it works fine with anything but doubles. Herman why don't the VDH plates work well with doubles? |
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Post by hgslick on Jun 10, 2021 16:35:12 GMT -8
Yes Herman. Thats what i was asking, is there another plate that works almost as good as the vdh plate. Obviously im aware that anything will "work" but my question is specific to alternative backplates with similar or close to similar performance to vdh
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Post by fishnbeer on Jun 10, 2021 17:49:37 GMT -8
Hi hgslick
Check out my thread "My DIY backplate" posted last February on this board. Like james1979, I made a vintage style backplate out of cutting board like material to make a double tank backplate. I based it on the my VDH aluminum single tank plate which works great as a single plate, but I needed a double tank version.
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