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Thread: Which Wing?

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    Wreck Diving Moderator acelockco's Avatar
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    Default Which Wing?

    I was wondering for those of you that dive with a back-plate or similar style setup, which wing(s) do you use.

    I recenlty aquired a Dive Rite Trans Pac harness which I am really excited about using as I have a bad back and could use the extra support the Trans Pac promises. I also have a Dive Rite Dual Bladder Super Wing, but it is WAY too much for the single AL80 I dive. I thinking of saving the Super Wing for when I dive doubles if I ever do but it still may be overkill for even that.

    My questions are which wing do you personally use or have used for single AL80 or similar sized steel tanks? Do you like the setup and why or why not? If you dive doubles as well or instead what wing do you use?

    Basically I am trying to decide if I am going to be better off getting a new wing and selling the other wing, or getting a new wing and keeping the other wing for when I get into doubles, or do I forget about getting another wing and just get the doubles. I do have a spare bc or two that I can always use for vacation diving when doubles are not available.

    I know this is a pretty huge question and it may take some questions asked to me to get to the final answer.

    oh yea' I almost forgot, what size doubles would be the best bet? I would love to have lots of air of course, but I am concerned with the weight as again I do have a bad back. Is there a reccomended size/type/psi tank that gives a lightweight set of doubles and is not going to weigh 100lbs? Maybe I am better off finding a huge single, but I am really getting into wreck diving and am pretty sure doubles are just the way to go for that.

    Ace

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    Registered Users Zero's Avatar
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    Ive got a transpac with a rec wing. Great for twin 100 steelies. As for the extra support i dont see where you will get that. ive only dived mine on singles twice and the second time was only because it was a double dive. I found it very uncomfortable. In single mode i had an Oxycheq 18lb wing on it which is great if you dont need much additional bouyancy. Its out of the way and does wrap around the tank like bigger wings will. This wing also goes on the inside when i rig for sidemounts and is almost perfect. Only the inflator location is a bit of a PIA.

    Matt

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    SMN Publisher The Publisher's Avatar
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    Ace,

    Faber makes a 148 cuft steel cylinder that rocks. it is DOT approved, takes 3450 psi, and is available now. Check with our member JS1Scuba aka Joel of TDL as he is the largest Faber dealer in the U.S.

  4. #4
    Wreck Diving Moderator acelockco's Avatar
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    Wow, that thing is a beast! A lot of air for a single cylinder. I still think doubles are kinda the way to go, but I would love to see one of these huge cylinders.

    Imagine these doubled up, that would be almost 300 cubic feet of air! Now you would need the Hulk to pick them up or a small crane.

    I wonder if I could modify the 'Whale Pooper Scooper' to lift them into the water? With that the super wing I have with 77lbs of lift would be about right!

  5. #5
    Cave Diver amtrosie's Avatar
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    Ace,

    Keep the trans-pac for single tanks. I have used this for many years, although, I now use a STA (Single Tank Adaptor) with my smallest bladder. That bladder is a Halcyon 40 lbs. Explorer. It is a little too large for single tanks, but I don't dive singles enough (once in 3 years) to warrant another bladder. For doubles, I use the 40 lbs. or 55 lbs. Halcyon Explorer. The bladder choice I make, is a function of the tanks I am diving. With double 95's or 119's I need the additional lift of the 55 lbs. bladder, due to the depth I dive and the additional gear I am carrying. The 40 lbs. bladder is for the lighter doubles I use. As for the "super wing" from DR, sell it. The bungied wing is an entanglement hazard. A bladder should "wrap" around the tank, as opposed to sticking out like the bungied wings do. Unless one intends to dive with a submarine on your back, no one can use all the lift the double bladder promises. If you inflate the double bladder, you will see that both internal bladders can not fully inflate. This is due to the restriction of the external material covering. One bladder or the other can fully inflate, but not both at the same time.

    As for the tank issue, proceed with caution. My first thought is, if you intend to start diving doubles, double up a set of lighter tanks. A tank that comes to mind are the HP 80's or 85's. My first set of doubles were a set of steel 72's. With a bad back, I would try "hefting" some one else's doubles. I would not dive a large single tank. That lowers the center of gravity of the tank, lower on your back. This is where most back problems emanate. I too, suffer from back issues, and the "higher" the tank(s) sit on my shoulders, the better I feel. It is the entrance to, and departure from, the boat where all the issues occur, not the diving.

    A recommended wing manufacturer would be the Halcyon, Oxycheq, Golem Gear. All these guys make a really good product. They all have developed their wings from YEARS of experience.

    That is the short answer to your inquiries.

  6. #6
    Cave Diver BamaCaveDiver's Avatar
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    Wings can come down to personal preferences Ace, as some trim great for some people and not so well for others. The big thing to keep in mind when purchasing a wing is get the design for the style of diving you intend to do. Many companies used to offer combo wings, stating that they could be used for both single cylinder setups as well as small doubles. Those wings are little more than crap that will not be optimal for either application. If you plan on diving singles, get a singles wing; when you make the switch to doubles, get a second wing with the lift that you will require (I have yet to see anyone that really needed the 55 pounds of lift that most standard doubles wings offer, let alone the 70+ pounds of lift offered with super wings.) That said, I did used to dive DR Superwing with double 85's because the length of the cell did improve my trim. Manufacturers such as Oxycheq made note of this and began reshaping their designs a bit (I could never dive the old DR Classic wing as it was just too short and fat for my body composition.) Find someone that has a wing you would like to try and borrow it for a dive or two to narrow down your choices while seeing how different designs will trim differently for differing body types.

    As for doubles and a bad back, I would highly recommend going with something like the lp 85. My back is so bad that they were originally waiting for me to give up diving so they could implant a morphine pump to provide a constant dosing to my spine (got crushed between two cars a few years back.) I had no problems managing the 85's as back mounted doubles, and love them even more as side mounts. I tried some 108's as back mounts and the extra exertion it required for me to get into the water negated all that extra gas I was carrying. I have dove with folks divng 104's and had them hit thirds (with me using 85's) before me more than once; for those with better sac rates I can usually come close simply by adding an 80 stage. The lp cylinders are easier to get full fills, and depending upon where you are and what your personal feelings are with regards to overfilling stell cylinders...(my 85's are usually dove as 120's )

    As with most things in life, one size does not fit all. You just have to look at what is available and try it out to see how it works for you. You can make that super wing work, or you could get a wing that will be much more efficient for your intended purposes.

  7. #7
    Wreck Diving Moderator acelockco's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by amtrosie View Post
    Ace,

    Keep the trans-pac for single tanks......
    Thanks for all of that great info. The more I think about it, that super wing is just insane, so I agree with you to sell it. The wing is bungied, but the bungie area is hidden between where the tanks and the backplate go so I doubt it would be a hazzard, but it is something to look out for. Also acodring to Dive Rite, the second bladder should never be used unless the first has a problem, it is ONLY designed as a redundant system. I think for my use it is a waste to have a redundant BC anyway, I could use my dry suit in an emergency, plus if you are properly weighted you really don't even need to use the BC.

    As far as the doubles, I was thinking about either an old set of 72's or even better the 85's. I think the 85's are the best choice for volume/weight ratio.

    I also think you came up with a good point, maybe I should borrow or rent a set of doubles to see how it really is. I know there is not going to be an issue while submerged, my biggest worry is trying to clime the dive boat ladder in 6 foot seas! I am sure you know that can be tough without any dive gear on, let alone a 100lb pack on your back.

  8. #8
    Registered Users Zero's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by amtrosie View Post

    If you inflate the double bladder, you will see that both internal bladders can not fully inflate. This is due to the restriction of the external material covering. One bladder or the other can fully inflate, but not both at the same time.
    To my understanding this was the exact purpose of the system not to have twice the lift. It is redundant therefore your only going to need the secondary if the primary gets punctured or fails for some reason. If you need more lift either get a bigger wing or an entirely seperate wing and double the two of them up. Probably creates a lot more hassles but thats another story.

    Matt

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