Anyone ever adapt a Zeagle wing to a backplate?

[IceBergSlim]

IceBergSlim,

The harness was a deluxe harness with releases and padded straps. It also has Dive Rite weight pouches, so it doesn't look that much more trim than my Zeagle. The only thing I can think of is the actual shape of the bladder as I move through the water. The OMS wing lies pretty flat, whereas the Zeagle seems to have a drogue chute sort of shape.

As for trimming off "junk" from the Zeagle, what can you trim off? There doesn't seem to be much that doesn't have a function.

Dennis

Sounds like the harness and all were about the same drag wise. That would indeed leave the wing. I have no small OMS wings, just 60# and 100#. I know the 32# and 35# have a pretty small profile. Were you using one of those?

As to the Zeagle: I chose to cut off the shoulder-attach-to-the harness thing as well as the left and right attach-to-the- waist-device. I have stitched a bunch of nylon webbing from the left to the right side of the wing and burned a hole 11 inches apart. That's my plan and wish me luck!

 

[BuoyantC]

IceBergSlim,

I don't know OMS wing sizes, but I believe it was in the 30-40# range. I looked to be roughly the same as the bladder on the Ranger.

As for the side tie downs on the Ranger, I remember a Zeagle rep telling me that not using those leads to air trapping on one side or the other.... another "issue" I always had with the Zeagle even if I used them. I just sort of got used to it.

Dennis

 

[IceBergSlim]

As you know the wing should not trap air either with or without those things. Other than a cool place to embroider ZEAGLE I cannot figure out what the wing-thingy is for.

So I cut it off.

 

[DiveTub]

IceBergSlim,

I don't know OMS wing sizes, but I believe it was in the 30-40# range. I looked to be roughly the same as the bladder on the Ranger.

As for the side tie downs on the Ranger, I remember a Zeagle rep telling me that not using those leads to air trapping on one side or the other.... another "issue" I always had with the Zeagle even if I used them. I just sort of got used to it.

Dennis

The tabs on the sides of the wing help hold it flat and prevent (Tank Wrapping), tank wrapping is very common when using larger wings with a single tank, the wing will fold up and wrap around the tank, this causes air trapping at the back and top of the wing. Having used other wings, Halcyon, OMS, Diverite. I am well impressed with how well the little tie down tabs on the Zeagble wings helps eliminate tank wrapping and air trapping when diving with a single tank.

Cheers
Chris

 

[DiveTub]

IceBergSlim,

I don't know OMS wing sizes, but I believe it was in the 30-40# range. I looked to be roughly the same as the bladder on the Ranger.

As for the side tie downs on the Ranger, I remember a Zeagle rep telling me that not using those leads to air trapping on one side or the other.... another "issue" I always had with the Zeagle even if I used them. I just sort of got used to it.

Dennis

The tabs on the sides of the wing help hold it flat and prevent (Tank Wrapping), tank wrapping is very common when using larger wings with a single tank, the wing will fold up and wrap around the single tank this causes air trapping at the back and top of the wing. Having used other wings, Halcyon, OMS, Diverite. I am well impressed with how well the little tie down tabs on the Zeagble wings helps eliminate tank wrapping and air trapping when diving with a single tank, not so much of an issue with doubles as the wider surface area of doubles prevents it.

Cheers
Chris

 

[Plug]

Hi Guys,

I am planning to drill the holes in my new Ali backplate to attach my Zeagle Ranger wing, but as this is my first plate I was wondering, how high on the plate should my Ranger bladder sit?

Your help is much appreciated

thanks
Plug

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

I am going warm water diving and have no rec bc or wing. I was thinking about adapting an old Ranger wing to my backplate. Has anyone ever tried it? It seems pretty simple. I was planning on sewing together a gusset of webbing and nylon, putting a few grommets in and..well that's it.

I don't dive warm often and would hate to have to buy a wing I will only use a few times.

I have a good illustration of this on my store page which could help(bottom right): ZEAGLE BC to BP/W CONVERSION KIT

 

[Tiny Bubbles]

I dove with a zeagle ranger wing on an OMS backplate for 2 years before I bought a real wing... I ran the 2 straps in the middle through the top and bottom-most slots in the plate, ran the shoulder straps through the shoulder strap holder-on'ers, and zip tied the little tabs on the sides of the wing to 2 of the holes in the plate. I also replaced the stupid-long 19" corregated hose with a normal 14" hose. It could be used with doubles or with single tanks with or without an STA.

It dove OK with most of my tanks -- the 44 lb size wing is pretty versatile and takes a while to outgrow. I thought the 44 lb wing was just a bit oversized for a single AL 80, a pretty good match for my single LP 125, and a bit undersized for double AL 80's in anything but the calmest of water (it dove just fine but I floated a bit low in the water when at the surface -- I thought it was a good match for double 80's in calm water.) For big doubles I'd want a little bigger wing.

Using a plate felt a whole lot more solid than the ranger BC. The BC moved all over the place when diving and the plate had more stay-putness. It was a royal pain in the butt to change out wings with this setup, but since I already had the ranger (and didn't have any other wings yet) it made it easier to get started using a plate -- less stuff to buy up front.

Here's a couple of photos of my zeagle wing when I had it on a plate:
http://67.149.142.111/diving/backplate.html

-Ray

 

[Plug]

Hello all,

I Just thought I would let you know, I dived my Ranger wing attached to a backplate today and loved it. it kinda makes me feel silly I have be thinking about this for a year or so and I should have done it sooner.
I ended up drilling the holes so that the top of the wing sat just above the top of the plate. this had the wing slightly lower on the plate than if I had used the cam band slots.

Plug