I am looking for a doubles wing in the range of 60# lift. This is a 3 part question:
1) Some companies that I would expect to make them don't. Hog only shows a 50# as their biggest. Am I wrong in thinking that that's what I want (explanation below, but also my instructor told me to future-proof myself by going with a 60, instead of something like a 45)? I don't think I'm doing anything unusual, so lack of manufacturers makes me second guess whether I need a 60# wing.
2) I found a retailer that has a Hog 58# horseshoe wing for a very good price. I gather it must be a discontinued item. Any reason I shouldn't buy that? Does this Hog wing have a zipper to access the bladder?
3) Any other wing of that capacity that I should look at? I won't consider a wing that I can't do a field repair of a pinch flat on, so I know of at least one option that is out because of that. Carrying a flat repair kit is a lot easier and cheaper than carrying a spare wing - and adequate to the needs of the trips I'll be doing anytime soon. When I'm ready to spend a bunch of money to travel somewhere to dive (with doubles), I will consider getting a spare wing then.
Explanation:
I'm going to be diving dry, with double HP120s. I'm starting Intro to Tech/ANDP in a few weeks, but my instructor told me to go ahead and buy a wing based on continuing past that - i.e. plan for slinging 2 x AL80. I did my own calculation of the lift I need and I used the "ultimate" wing lift calculator. The spreadsheet says 51# of lift required, but it only calculated based on 90% gas usage. My own calculation is based on wanting to be able to hold at 15' until all my gas is completely gone (in the event of a lost gas, deco worst-case type scenario).
My calculation:
-23# for full double HP120s (manifold and bands may actually be heavier than I estimate)
-18# for ballast (SS BP + weights - this is what I use with a drysuit and single HP120 in fresh water at 39F. I might need less weight when adding the doubles setup, but I might want more weight for longer/colder scenarios, so I figured I'd just stick with 18# ballast, and plan for fresh water as worst-case scenario)
-6# for fins (estimate for F1 fins)
-8# additional ballast to compensate for 2 x AL80s
That gets me to 55# of lift required. And it would go up, if I wanted to add undergarments and air to my suit for warmth, thus adding weight to my belt also. Plus, it seems like 24# for BP+weight belt+fins is still light compared to a lot of people diving dry, so my gut says I should plan for using more weight at some point. Maybe I'm using less weight than others now because I'm using a Bare XCS2 crushed neoprene suit, instead of a tri-lam, and diving in fresh water?
My calculation for only slinging 1 x AL40 comes out to require about 10# less lift. Are some manufacturers only going as high as 50# lift because the market of people carrying more than that is just too small?
Am I correct in my own independent conclusion that I should be looking for a wing in the 57 - 60# range?
Thanks.
1) Some companies that I would expect to make them don't. Hog only shows a 50# as their biggest. Am I wrong in thinking that that's what I want (explanation below, but also my instructor told me to future-proof myself by going with a 60, instead of something like a 45)? I don't think I'm doing anything unusual, so lack of manufacturers makes me second guess whether I need a 60# wing.
2) I found a retailer that has a Hog 58# horseshoe wing for a very good price. I gather it must be a discontinued item. Any reason I shouldn't buy that? Does this Hog wing have a zipper to access the bladder?
3) Any other wing of that capacity that I should look at? I won't consider a wing that I can't do a field repair of a pinch flat on, so I know of at least one option that is out because of that. Carrying a flat repair kit is a lot easier and cheaper than carrying a spare wing - and adequate to the needs of the trips I'll be doing anytime soon. When I'm ready to spend a bunch of money to travel somewhere to dive (with doubles), I will consider getting a spare wing then.
Explanation:
I'm going to be diving dry, with double HP120s. I'm starting Intro to Tech/ANDP in a few weeks, but my instructor told me to go ahead and buy a wing based on continuing past that - i.e. plan for slinging 2 x AL80. I did my own calculation of the lift I need and I used the "ultimate" wing lift calculator. The spreadsheet says 51# of lift required, but it only calculated based on 90% gas usage. My own calculation is based on wanting to be able to hold at 15' until all my gas is completely gone (in the event of a lost gas, deco worst-case type scenario).
My calculation:
-23# for full double HP120s (manifold and bands may actually be heavier than I estimate)
-18# for ballast (SS BP + weights - this is what I use with a drysuit and single HP120 in fresh water at 39F. I might need less weight when adding the doubles setup, but I might want more weight for longer/colder scenarios, so I figured I'd just stick with 18# ballast, and plan for fresh water as worst-case scenario)
-6# for fins (estimate for F1 fins)
-8# additional ballast to compensate for 2 x AL80s
That gets me to 55# of lift required. And it would go up, if I wanted to add undergarments and air to my suit for warmth, thus adding weight to my belt also. Plus, it seems like 24# for BP+weight belt+fins is still light compared to a lot of people diving dry, so my gut says I should plan for using more weight at some point. Maybe I'm using less weight than others now because I'm using a Bare XCS2 crushed neoprene suit, instead of a tri-lam, and diving in fresh water?
My calculation for only slinging 1 x AL40 comes out to require about 10# less lift. Are some manufacturers only going as high as 50# lift because the market of people carrying more than that is just too small?
Am I correct in my own independent conclusion that I should be looking for a wing in the 57 - 60# range?
Thanks.
