When I get back to FL, I'll send you a pic of my wing inflated. There is no distortion. The full donuts distort at the bottom because the tank interferes with the bladder, making it crease. Maybe yours doesn't, but the one I borrowed did. There is a reason there aren't full donut doubles wings. If the air is free to flow around the other side when you tilt, your buoancy shifts to that location in the wing. A donut allows air to flow both directions. Keeping your center of buoancy in one place makes for a more stable dive. An example is dynamic vs. static stability in drysuits in relation to air movement. Neither the air shift in the bc or drysuit is that big of a deal anyway, if they are used properly and not overinflated. I dive both dry and wet, both rec and tech, and don't have a problem with air getting trapped. It's not an issue. Air travels to the highest point. The dump is almost dead center on the back of the shoulders. This is the highest point on the wing in both the vertical and horizontal positions. If the wing in vertical, the air flows to the dump. If the wing is horizontal, the air flows to the dump. The only place air could get trapped, doesn't exist on the horseshoe. On doubles, you have two tanks with a gap between them resting against you. If the wing continued through this space, then an air pocket would form between the tanks. From the horiz position, this air would be trapped. Hence the horseshoe. No air between the tanks and your body. On a singles wing, this isn't so much an issue, since there is only one tank. Air can only be on one side or the other, unless your using a short tank that doesn't clear the bottom of the wing. There is no possibility of trapped air, so why distort the bag inflation by continuing the bladder under the tank? When filled the tank is not pressed out at the bottom. Have someone don your gear and fully inflate the wing. Watch the bottom of the tank move outward slightly. Do the same with the horseshoe. It doesn't move at all.OneBrightGator:
In the end, it doesn't make that much of difference. I don't think the horseshoe or the donut is inferior when it comes down to design. The reason for choosing one over the other was in the choice of materials, the cost, and the abundance of dealers. There are only 5 H dealers in FL. There are over 12 O dealers in Miami/Lauderdale/Keys alone. I can get service anywhere I dive. This isn't about slamming anyone. It is about choice of manufacturing quality and what they charge for it.
Guys,
Gator, I'm sure your bright. I'm sorry for the cheap shot. I was tired last night.
Boogie,
Let's agree to disagree. Besides, we don't all want to be wearing the same thing on the boat. That would just be gaay.
To everyone else. Try both. Buy what works best for you.
Now, let's all get wet and stop living in this virtual world so much.
Eric
