Are Oxycheq wings DIR "approved"?

[LUBOLD8431]

Some of you guys have obviously never seen any Oxycheq wings, and dont read. The 30# wing, AND the 45# wing have the EXACT same FOOTPRINT!!!

Meaning, the 30# and the 45# wing are the same size when laid down on top of one another.

I own a 45# wing, and there is no "tacoing". This wing was made for single tank use. Its NOT like a 45# wing that looks like it is made for doubles. This wing is an oval, and the air goes all around the outside. It is NOT a horseshoe shape...

For anyone diving in cold water, with a thick wetsuit or drysuit, and using a signifcant amount of lead, I would recommend the 45# wing. Why? Because you might need that much lift when your cylinder is full, and you have all of your lead on, and you are trying to float on the surface. The 30# wing or the 18# wing would be good for someone that does all of their diving in warmer water, with thin wetsuits, and a small amount of lead.

 

[Northeastwrecks]

Some of you guys have obviously never seen any Oxycheq wings, and dont read. The 30# wing, AND the 45# wing have the EXACT same FOOTPRINT!!!

Meaning, the 30# and the 45# wing are the same size when laid down on top of one another.

I own a 45# wing, and there is no "tacoing". This wing was made for single tank use. Its NOT like a 45# wing that looks like it is made for doubles. This wing is an oval, and the air goes all around the outside. It is NOT a horseshoe shape...

For anyone diving in cold water, with a thick wetsuit or drysuit, and using a signifcant amount of lead, I would recommend the 45# wing. Why? Because you might need that much lift when your cylinder is full, and you have all of your lead on, and you are trying to float on the surface. The 30# wing or the 18# wing would be good for someone that does all of their diving in warmer water, with thin wetsuits, and a small amount of lead.

You're absolutely right that I haven't seen the Oxycheq wing. Which is why I was pleased when Scubaroo offered to compare the sizing against the Pioneers.

That said, what possible use could you have for that much lift. My 36 provides plenty of lift for Northeast singles diving. Heck, my 55 is fine for dual 104's with stages.

Its seems that, by your logic, perhaps we should all run out and buy BWOD with 100 lbs of lift.

I just don't see the need.

 

[Scubaroo]

Which is why I was pleased when Scubaroo offered to compare the sizing against the Pioneers.

Er, yeah, about that - Back to the Future II was on TV last night, and I ended up watching that instead of taking photos - I'll get onto it tonight.

 

[Big-t-2538]

For anyone diving in cold water, with a thick wetsuit or drysuit, and using a signifcant amount of lead, I would recommend the 45# wing.

While I do agree that the 30 and 45 have the same footprint, it is not necessary for the cold water wetsuit single tank diver like me to be required to the the 45 pound wing. I have a total of 18 lbs on my belt (no I don't have a plate yet...but soon, I will), and with an AL80, that's a total of 22 lbs neg....add other goofy stuff in (reg, & my light cannon) and I'm up to MAYBE 25 pounds. I just don't see the need for more than 30 lbs of lift for myself with a single tank.

I would like to see 'roos pics of the Oxy and the 36 pioneer. I did dive a pioneer in my fundy's class and liked the set-up. I also dove the oxy at COVCI's demo day at Gilboa and liked it as well. I didn't notice much difference between the two, but the dives I made on both set-ups were rather shallow. I'd like the see the pioneer and oxy laid on top of each other....but I'm guesing that they're real close to the same dinensions. I am going to be buying something very soon...it is my belated X-mas gift...I'm sort of waiting for a certain someone to get a certain something in his hands before I drop some cash.

 

[Northeastwrecks]

Er, yeah, about that - Back to the Future II was on TV last night, and I ended up watching that instead of taking photos - I'll get onto it tonight.

No worries. Just curious. Thanks again for taking the time.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Its seems that, by your logic, perhaps we should all run out and buy BWOD with 100 lbs of lift.

I never said that. I use a 70# wing with Double 112's and two deco bottles.
I guess everyone's needs are different.

ALso, notice the keyword "recommend" in my post...

 

[Scubaroo]

Okay, as requested and promised, here's some photos of the OxyCheq and Halcyon wings side by side.

First photo - OxyCheq Standard 45lb laid out flat next to a Halcyon Pioneer 36 rigged on backplate. Both wings measure 700mm long, the OxyCheq 560mm wide, the Pioneer 500mm wide (as best I could measure while still rigged up. The OxyCheq wing pulls narrower though when inflated - the Halcyon has bellows on the side, and still pulls narrower, although not as much. The OxyCheq looks a little bigger than it is, as it is laid out totally flat, and the Pioneer is still mounted to a plate. The photo I tried of the two wings on top of each other was not clear at all as to which bits of material were which wing, and it's a hassle to unthread the camstraps to remove the Pioneer wing.

Second photo - OxyCheq Standard 45lb and Halcyon Pioneer 36lb inflator hoses side-by-side. They're the same length - the only difference is that the Halcyon hose is stretchy, the OxyCheq is not. The Halcyon hose actually stretches several inches longer than this. So the OxyCheq does not come with a "too long" hose.

Third photo - Almost fully inflated OxyCheq Standard 45lb, with STA mounted, showing the inboard bellows running down alongside the STA.

Fourth photo - Almost fully inflated OxyCheq Standard 45lb, shown from the top, showing the channel formed by the inboard bellows. Note the outside shape of the wing - mostly rounded with a seam, rather than the outboard bellows of the Halcyon. The tank nestles in this channel. The distance from the STA to the top edge of the bellow is 75mm, or 3".

The 30lb OxyCheq is *exactly* the same profile of the 45lb wing, minus the bellows.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Thanks, Ben.

 

[Dan Gibson]

I don't quite get this statement. Double tank and single tank wings that are not restricted wrap around the tank(s) a little. If they didn't, then the lift would be below the cg of the tank(s) and make it unstable. Now if you are referring to an oversized wing completely wrapping around a single tank, I can understand the problem that causes. However, I would not call that tacoing. It would be more like a burrito that someone forgot to finish wrapping.

I own a 45# wing, and there is no "tacoing".

 

[Big-t-2538]

Now if you are referring to an oversized wing completely wrapping around a single tank, I can understand the problem that causes. However, I would not call that tacoing. It would be more like a burrito that someone forgot to finish wrapping.

Whatever you want to call it...that's what is being referred to here....an oversized wing will flap around...then when gas is added it will be "taco-like" you call it a burrito...many others call it a taco.