New Gear, Trim Issues...

[Superlyte27]

Guys:

I just got a new Transplate with Stainless Back Plate. I'm using the Classic Wing from a couple of years ago. I'm diving LP95's and can't afford to go with 104/108's at this time.

I can't get this thing trimmed. I've got the tanks all the way down on the bands (bands are at the very top of the tanks). I'm still aimed head first at neutral buoyancy/ stationary. I'm wearing Hollis F1 fins, which are already pretty heavy.

What's the best way to trim this. Should I weight the tanks some? If so, how? I'm already missing the three bolt holes on my transpac.

[Webmaster]

Did you try moving the wing up?

[Superlyte27]

Clearly, I'm a dumb-arse. LOL... not sure why I didn't think of that. Thanks, been a long day. Daggnabbit, back to the pool.

[cavemark]

When I dive my 95s with an ABS backplate and Classic wing I put the bolts through the lower holes in the wing. I don't have the bands all the way to the top of the tanks (down about 2") and I trim fine. The tanks are so heavy that I don't think it would matter much moving the bands up. Do you really need the Steel plate?

[Superlyte27]

Yes, I need the stainless plate. When wearing a drysuit, It's alot of work to get down below 15' with drysuit and wing completely deflated. I was given an email about moving the wing. Positioning the wing up, will only help when there's air in the wing. It won't work when the wing is empty. So, I think I'm going to sell my LP95's and get 108's

[Line Squirrel]

Something else is going on. SS backplate with double LP95's. Drysuit and Wing totally deflated and your having trouble getting down? You should be sinking like a rock.

Fresh water or salt?
Height and weight?
What type of undergarments?

I'm thinking you may have air in the lower portion of your wing and don't know it. You wouldn't be the first person that swears their wing is completely empty only to find out with a littel help they still have a enough gas in their wing to cause issues.

That might be a reason for butt up/head down and having trouble getting down.

[Superlyte27]

Ok, to clarify...
The reason I went with the Stainless is because when I'm diving a drysuit... I'm slightly buoyant. I'm 5'11" and very fluffy. Fluffyness floats. Yesterday, I was diving a wetsuit and was head down feet up. I haven't even tried the drysuit with this new gear yet. Trust me, no air in my wing. I dump from both valves, top and bottom.

Oh, just re-read your post...
More clarification... I just replaced a transpac (the soft pack) with a Transplate. When diving the transpac and Steel 95's wearing my drysuit, I had buoyancy issues. That's why I bought the stainless steel pack. It was an extra 6lbs negative (I'm told) and I knew it would overcome the slight buoyancy I had in the drysuit. I haven't dove the drysuit with the Steel Back Plate yet, but I know i'll have enough weight to get down, when diving the wetsuit I sink like a stone when I empty my wing. As far as undergarments, I'm usually wearing sweats, sometimes whatever I wore to church that morning, so I can go back to church that afternoon.


Fresh Water
5'11" 240lbs
Sweats, Church Clothes, Jeans & T-Shirt, Whatever I got on that day.

[Line Squirrel]

Ok, to clarify...
Trust me, no air in my wing. I dump from both valves, top and bottom.

One more thing to check next time in the water....

I've seen this a number of times. Not saying this is happening with you but something to at least look at:

You can use the shoulder dump and the bottom dump and still have air in your wing, especially in an older horseshoe shape wing like the older Classic.

The air gets trapped on one side, the opposite side of the bottom dump valve especially if your butt up/head down. Next time in the water, reach back with your hand and give the wing a squeeze near the bottom, especially the side opposite the dump. If you're head down and there's gas in the wing, you'll feel it.

You may have to go slightly head up and roll to one side to get the air to migrate up and around the channel behind your neck to get the trapped gas to the side with the dump.

Hope this helps.

[TONY CHANEY]

If you have had no training or time on the suit you amy have too much air in the suit?

[Line Squirrel]

If you have had no training or time on the suit you amy have too much air in the suit?

As I understand it, he thinks he's got the drysuit buoyancy issue worked out going from a TransPac to a SS plate (added about -6lb which sounds about right) but still having a trim issue in both the dry and the wet suit.