Banded/Unbanded Debate

Bungied, or banded wings, or BWOD's

  • Yes, I dive a banded wing.

    Votes: 22 29.3%
  • No, I do not dive a banded wing.

    Votes: 32 42.7%
  • I don't care.

    Votes: 16 21.3%
  • BWOD's are fierce predators.

    Votes: 5 6.7%

  • Total voters
    75
  • Poll closed .

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BigJetDriver69:
There you go, folks. Poll is open. And just a reminder from the Staff, spirited bun-fignts (as the Brits say) are welcome. Just keep it polite, and not personal.

Let the mayhem continue! :D

R. Davie
Scuba Board Staff

Hey Mr. Moderator,

I thought it was proper protocol to wait for person who started the thread before startingthe poll! :D
 
Zero:
Hey Mr. Moderator,

I thought it was proper protocol to wait for person who started the thread before startingthe poll! :D

Actually, I don't think that such protocol exists formally, but since there is such active interest, all instigated by yourself, I felt it would be illustrative, as they say! ;)
 
Sideband:
That's the way I feel about spring straps for fins. I know a guy that bought a set too small for his feet and they caused foot cramps. Therefore all spring straps are dangerous and introduce unnecessary risks. One time I routed my long hose incorrectly and it got stuck on the isolation valve handle which caused the reg to be pulled from my mouth when I turned my head. That has never happened with my short hose rig so it must be an inherent danger of the long hose. If I fail to detune my adjustable reg and it freeflows it must then be that adjustable regs are more dangerous than non-adjustable regs.
You quite correctly point out possible problems with spring straps, hoses and regulators. Now, unlike the bungee wing crowd, I'm not going to go *nah nah nah, I can't hear you*. I'll acknowledge that those are real problems and we should discuss the introduction of those problems versus the potential benefit of those pieces of equipment. I know that simply denying that the problem exists solves nothing, ESPECIALLY in the face of evidence that the problems DO exist. However, this isn't the note to discuss those topics, so please establish seperate notes for the discussion of those topics if you like.
Sideband:
Failure to properly install or inspect a piece of kit does not mean the kit is faulty.
Ah, but in this particular case it DOES mean it's faulty. It's faulty is because the alternative is to NOT have that piece of equipment at all and therefore NOT have all the accompanying problems and issues that is inherent in that piece of equipment. Note we're discussing the existence of bungees or not, it's that simple -- the existence of a piece of equipment or not. Your hose example is an excellent counter example in this regard -- we can discuss short vs. long hose and how a failure in one or the other may shape your decision on which to use, but one or the other is a required piece of equipment -- unlike bungees. If a piece of UNNECESSARY equipment INTRODUCES failure modes and solves no problems, it is, by definition, a faulty piece of equipment.

Bungee folks, I'll repeat my request -- by all means go on the offensive and tell me all the advantages of bungees over non-bungees and any failure modes that non-bungeed wings have over bungee wings. Up to now you’re all sounding like Monty Python’s argument clinic – “’tis not!”

Roak
 
I own three wings...
Dive-Rite Travel wing - it has an elasticized fabric outside the bladder which helps squeeze the air out - out of the water.
Dive-Rite Rec wing - it has a "half bungee" arrangement to help keep the wing from tacoing around a single tank, or tacoing too much when used with sidemount
Dive-Rite Classic wing - no bungee at all.
--
The idea that a bungeed wing will squeeze the air out of the wing regardless of position should the inflator fail open - in the case of these wings - is just so much bunk. There is perhaps a slight squeeze, but it ain't enough to make any appreciable difference. If the leaky inflator is held as the low point in the system the wing will hold air just fine, bungeed or not. Instead of just thinking about it I've tried it. Dumping a bungeed wing takes the same valve positioning as dumping an unbungeed wing. Differential water pressure far outstrips the squeezing power of the bungees. Maybe the OMS BWOD can do it, but the Rec wing won't.
As for streamlining, I personally can't tell which wing I'm wearing from the way they swim. 'Course the Lovely Young Kat says I'm insensitive... :)
Rick
 
Roakey,

As I have pointed out (see previous posts) you have NO solid scientific proof that what you have generalized as the alleged behaviour and dangers of BWOD's actually exists.

I will acccede to your stipulation that what you say happened to you actually happened, but without the proper study, both in sample size and control group, which of course has not been made, what you postulate as "problems" with ALL banded wings is merely an un-proven allegation on your part.

Rather than presenting your opinions as "fact", it would be better to say: "These were my observations when I tried one.", and let the reader make his or her own conclusions.
 
Rick Murchison:
I own three wings...
Dive-Rite Travel wing - it has an elasticized fabric outside the bladder which helps squeeze the air out - out of the water.
Dive-Rite Rec wing - it has a "half bungee" arrangement to help keep the wing from tacoing around a single tank, or tacoing too much when used with sidemount
Dive-Rite Classic wing - no bungee at all.
--
The idea that a bungeed wing will squeeze the air out of the wing regardless of position should the inflator fail open - in the case of these wings - is just so much bunk. There is perhaps a slight squeeze, but it ain't enough to make any appreciable difference. If the leaky inflator is held as the low point in the system the wing will hold air just fine, bungeed or not. Instead of just thinking about it I've tried it. Dumping a bungeed wing takes the same valve positioning as dumping an unbungeed wing. Differential water pressure far outstrips the squeezing power of the bungees. Maybe the OMS BWOD can do it, but the Rec wing won't.
As for streamlining, I personally can't tell which wing I'm wearing from the way they swim. 'Course the Lovely Young Kat says I'm insensitive... :)
Rick
So I saw no advantages listed for bungees. You state that the dumping is the same, and you're just as streamlined.

Would it be fair to say that you know of no advantage to having bungees? Then just for a moment, for arguments sake, lets say there were no failures introduced with bungees, but at the same time no advantages... I would assume that from a simplicity standpoint that no bungees would be a better choice then?

Roak
 
P.S.--I am truly devastated that there is only one vote for the evil and oppressive BWOD as a truly dangerous predator. Have we not learned from our brethren that: "If you use one, YOU WILL INSTANTLY DIE!"?? :mfight:
 
BigJetDriver69:
As I have pointed out (see previous posts) you have NO solid scientific proof that what you have generalized as the alleged behaviour and dangers of BWOD's actually exists.
I generalized nothing. I answerd your question. In fact, many people have pointed out that the have no problems orally inflating bungied wings, and I beleive them as you beleive me. What we CAN conclude is that the problem CAN happen with bungied wings, which is my only point. And it CAN'T happen with unbungeed wings (if you feel otherwise, please post your reasoning).

Someone made the point that you should test out your equipment before diving. I assume that means adjust the bands if necessary, test again, adjust again, etc. until they're properly adjusted. Good point, except if there's no advantage to bungees to begin with (I'm still waiting for someone to post some advantages) why introduce such complexity into the system that requires testing? I'm all for testing, but why put effort into an unnecssary piece of equipment?
BigJetDriver69:
Rather than presenting your opinions as "fact", it would be better to say: "These were my observations when I tried one.", and let the reader make his or her own conclusions.
Could you, could SOMEONE post an OPINION as to why they think that bungeed wings are better? SOME positive comment on what bungee wings do for you that makes them a better choice over non-bungeed wings! Please!

Roak
 
Roakey,

Your point is simple. You don't like banded wings (we get that point), and you think they cause problems, an assertion for which you have no scientific justification.

Others think they work just fine, and like to use them for reasons which make sense to them, but for which they have no scientific justification.

As for me, I don't give a rat's patoot. I will use whatever works for me. (Although if you guys are right about the BWOD being an evil, sentient creature :scared: , I might reconsider! :D )
 
BigJetDriver69:
Others think they work just fine, and like to use them for reasons which make sense to them, but for which they have no scientific justification.
I'm not asking for a scientific justification, all I'm asking for is what does any user think banded wings do better than unbanded wings?

I've repeated this question now about four times and have yet to see any response!

Roak
 

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