Robert Delfs wrote:

> The only difference I notice between the no-STA design and the older STA
rig (which was
> what Itest-dived before diving mine) is that the tank sits a little closer
on the no-STA
> plate.

I'm a bit surprised to hear you say that.  I'll I've ever had is the plate
and STA, but with the new design, I've noticed people having a lot more
trouble getting things set up.  The STA, if nothing else, seems to slip into
place properly a lot easier.  Of course some of this may be due to the fact
that I don't have the new style cam locks either.  I slide everything over
the top of the tank just as I always have.  They have to hold more than one
thing in place at the same time or lay everything down flat.  Laying
everything down flat may be fine when yo've got unlimited space, but it's
intrusive aboard a cattle boat.  For a company that claims that quick
releases on the harness are an unnecessary failure point, I find it
exceptionally odd that they don't feel the same way about one on the tank
straps they now sell.  Somebody, perhaps Dive Rite, sells a similar cam lock
that appears to easier to hook and latch.

> (2)  One problem with using the aluminum wing AND the Halycon backpack
> is that you will get dissimilar-metals-in-contact corrosion from the
> stainless steel fasteners used to attach the backpack to an aluminum
> plate.  (I've mentioned this problem to Halcyon, no response.)

It can't be (heavy sarcasm on).  This point was brought directly to the
attention of the king of all things DIR relative to the scooters he was
pushing at the time.  He denied such a thing was possible, claiming that he
knew because he'd been there and done that.  Clearly, you, I, and pretty
much every marine mechanic in the world are wrong.  OK (heavy sarcasm off),
it is a problem, but it doesn't seem to be a big one.  You just have to be
extra careful to clean everything well.  FWIW, there's no getting around
this anyway, at least not without other changes.  I use stainless bolts on a
stainless plate with a stailess STA and still have the problem.  The gromets
through my wing are chrome covered brass, still a dissimilar metal.

 > For a while, Halycon was distributing plastic fasteners, which were
useless.)

If you're talking about the ones around the edge of the plate, holding the
pocket, etc. in place, they did for a while.  Mine are plastic and fine.
Between the time I got mine and now, there was a whole batch that broke
regularly.  Instead of simply recalling them all, Halcyon replaced them on
an as needed basis.  They do repairs without a lot of fuss.  Too bad their
quality assurance before the fact is not as good as their customer service
after.

> (3)  Pick up a bicycle inner tube and cut some additional rings of
> rubber and thread them over the harness before assembling.  The edges
> of the plate eventually will cut into the harness at shoulder and hip
> even if the plate is deburred, but this can be completely prevented by
> covering the webbing with a 2" ring of inner tube where it passes
> through the slots.

Yep, but deburring the slots helps a lot.

> (4)  I don't think you'll want to keep your folding snorkel in the
> backpack, but you could slip it into some bungie-cord loops tied
> through the extra holes at the bottom of the plate.

When somebody finds a good way to handle this, one that does not require a
pocket in the wet or drysuit (neither of which I wear), please let me know.
I've tried a few things, none of which work well.  My snorkel normally stays
on the boat.

> Better yet, consider picking up a Halycon pocket (or equivalent) and
> keeping you're folding snorkel there.  There's also room for a spare
> mask, reel, mag glass, and almost anything else.  (I've found a
> no-brand square pocket made in Hong Kong that has a smaller size and
> profile that I prefer to the Halycon pocket, but it isn't very
> well-made and has to be frequently replaced.

Considering all the hype about streamlining, I find the Haclyon pocket a bit
amusing.  Still, it's an answer to a problem some people seem to find more
significant that others.  The lack of pockets was one of, if not the most
troubling thing about my new plate and wing (years ago).  I got over it.  At
present, the only thing I used to carry that I miss is my small magnetic
slate.  As a native, it's often up to me to tell visitors what they are
looking at.  I enjoy the responsibility, but it was sure a lot easier when I
had that slate with me.  In almost 45 years of diving, I've never lost or
damaged a mask while diving.  I think I'm pretty comfortable without a
spare.

Lee