It's amazing how everyone requires such different trim. I have a set of twin LP85 (13l) and the thought of having a spine weight on an already very back negative set would leave me turtled. That's with a composite plate and zero additional lead. Arguably I could use a couple kg up front for trim and the stop. Undivable in a wetsuit being so neg and as I have long surface swims a wing failure without a backup means ditching the whole thing.
Newer wings as well as backplates have a lower vertical slot to give you much more flexibility in how you position everything for optimum trim, and so you can best reach the valves. I think you also need to swap out that rusty hardware and, while you're at it, set those cylinders parallel again. Incidentally, to avoid paying inflated prices you can buy M8 A4 marine stainless steel nuts, washers and long bolts from non-scuba suppliers for a fraction of the cost (eg: www.accu.co.uk/en/hexagon-nuts/7913-HPN-M8-A4). Perhaps you could also do a video on how everything else on the twin-set is put together, if only to demonstrate that it's also actually much simpler than it looks.
I use a 60 lbs wing I get all kinds of lectures from the “experts” how it’s too big but I am a less floaty guy that is pushing 300 lbs. I sink like a stone
Those look like our LP50s, in general a 30lb single tank wing is probably enough lift. But most 30lb wings are too narrow for LP50 doubles, and would be squished by the tanks, so a small 40lbs doubles wing is typically recommended.
Great video! I was wondering if yall had any leads on companies that made extended length backplates? I'm pretty much exactly 2 meters tall and have been struggling to find a company that makes a good SS backplate in longer sizes.
Halcyon. The long backplate isn't super common as most people can get by with a normal backplate. Even Extreme Exposure, the GUE shop in High Springs, which is down the street from Halcyon's factory, doesn't list the long plate on their website.
Oh, that’s not the biggest ones. Where I’m from we call twin 18s “Norwegian RB”, but there are 20 l cylinders that people twin up as well. Personally I think that’s taking it a bit too far.
How much does a complete unit like this weigh? If you‘ve got issues with your back or knees, this might be over the limit for a shore dive. Also, I would like to see a deep dive about the first stage configuration of a twin set. #askmark
I'll give you a breakdown of mine. 2xApeks 12 litre steels 27kg; backplate 1kg; wing and harness 3kg, regs, hoses and gauges 3kg, cannister battery 1kg, v-weight and trim weight 6kg. Total 41kg. I also use a dry suit and 2 kg on a weight belt. So yes it is a load on the body and you need to have the strength and fitness to dive with it. But I (age 63) manage it quite well and I'm built more like a runner than a wrestler! Unfortunately, if you want to take more gas with you that means another cylinder and all its associated kit. However, there are always smaller cylinders (eg twin 7s) or you can go for sidemount where it's possible to get into the water and then attach the cylinders one by one taking advantage of their buoyancy. Hope this helps.
@@timgosling6189 Hi Tim, thanks, great answer! So, that’s what happens when you switch from running to diving because you‘re sick of sweating while doing sports? Someone should have told me! 😉 Seriously, I could do it, but my favourite dive buddy (aka my girlfriend) definitely couldn’t.
@@leopoldbloom4835 Once you're in the water of course you are neutral, actually hanging under the wing, so it's very comfortable, although the inertial mass doesn't go away. But I agree there is no point in getting in the water with twice as much air as your buddy, except you can do 2 dives without changing or re-filling your cylinders.
Depends on the working pressure. Since 232 bar steels are more common, according to my European friends, those are pretty much HP100s. 300 bar would be about 120 cuft. Though according to my European friends those double as boat anchors.
I too thought this was a video on assembling the doubles with bands. That would be a great topic too.
It's amazing how everyone requires such different trim. I have a set of twin LP85 (13l) and the thought of having a spine weight on an already very back negative set would leave me turtled. That's with a composite plate and zero additional lead. Arguably I could use a couple kg up front for trim and the stop. Undivable in a wetsuit being so neg and as I have long surface swims a wing failure without a backup means ditching the whole thing.
Thought this was how to assemble the set not the backplate and wing. Can you do a video of assembling the valves, and bands.
Newer wings as well as backplates have a lower vertical slot to give you much more flexibility in how you position everything for optimum trim, and so you can best reach the valves. I think you also need to swap out that rusty hardware and, while you're at it, set those cylinders parallel again. Incidentally, to avoid paying inflated prices you can buy M8 A4 marine stainless steel nuts, washers and long bolts from non-scuba suppliers for a fraction of the cost (eg: www.accu.co.uk/en/hexagon-nuts/7913-HPN-M8-A4).
Perhaps you could also do a video on how everything else on the twin-set is put together, if only to demonstrate that it's also actually much simpler than it looks.
I use a 60 lbs wing I get all kinds of lectures from the “experts” how it’s too big but I am a less floaty guy that is pushing 300 lbs. I sink like a stone
Maby a stupid question.. Do you really need a bigger bladder if you Go diving with a double 7 or is a bladder for a single tank good enough?
Those look like our LP50s, in general a 30lb single tank wing is probably enough lift. But most 30lb wings are too narrow for LP50 doubles, and would be squished by the tanks, so a small 40lbs doubles wing is typically recommended.
Great video! I was wondering if yall had any leads on companies that made extended length backplates? I'm pretty much exactly 2 meters tall and have been struggling to find a company that makes a good SS backplate in longer sizes.
Halcyon. The long backplate isn't super common as most people can get by with a normal backplate. Even Extreme Exposure, the GUE shop in High Springs, which is down the street from Halcyon's factory, doesn't list the long plate on their website.
You can also go get them custom made.
@@sameermohideen4913 Thats what I was figuring. I would like something heavier as I'm about 220 and wear a 7mm wetsuit for most dives.
It would be great if you could always mention the cubic foot equivalent to liter.
12 litre tanks are 100cu/ft at 232 bar (3300 psi). 12litre at 300 bar (4500psi) is 120cu/ft. He didn’t say if it was a LP or HP tanks.
1:28 twin 15's !?
Oh, that’s not the biggest ones. Where I’m from we call twin 18s “Norwegian RB”, but there are 20 l cylinders that people twin up as well.
Personally I think that’s taking it a bit too far.
How much does a complete unit like this weigh? If you‘ve got issues with your back or knees, this might be over the limit for a shore dive. Also, I would like to see a deep dive about the first stage configuration of a twin set. #askmark
I'll give you a breakdown of mine. 2xApeks 12 litre steels 27kg; backplate 1kg; wing and harness 3kg, regs, hoses and gauges 3kg, cannister battery 1kg, v-weight and trim weight 6kg. Total 41kg. I also use a dry suit and 2 kg on a weight belt. So yes it is a load on the body and you need to have the strength and fitness to dive with it. But I (age 63) manage it quite well and I'm built more like a runner than a wrestler! Unfortunately, if you want to take more gas with you that means another cylinder and all its associated kit. However, there are always smaller cylinders (eg twin 7s) or you can go for sidemount where it's possible to get into the water and then attach the cylinders one by one taking advantage of their buoyancy. Hope this helps.
@@timgosling6189 Hi Tim, thanks, great answer! So, that’s what happens when you switch from running to diving because you‘re sick of sweating while doing sports? Someone should have told me! 😉 Seriously, I could do it, but my favourite dive buddy (aka my girlfriend) definitely couldn’t.
@@leopoldbloom4835 Once you're in the water of course you are neutral, actually hanging under the wing, so it's very comfortable, although the inertial mass doesn't go away. But I agree there is no point in getting in the water with twice as much air as your buddy, except you can do 2 dives without changing or re-filling your cylinders.
12 liters ? What is that in cubic feet?
Depends on the working pressure. Since 232 bar steels are more common, according to my European friends, those are pretty much HP100s. 300 bar would be about 120 cuft. Though according to my European friends those double as boat anchors.