BP/W choices

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I am still trying to figure out what BP/W I want and it seems every time I come online I discover a new product or hear a new rumor to influence my decision and I am looking for some opinions and assistance. I dont have an LDS that sells BP/W setups so all my research must be done online.

Just yesterday I discovered the Hammerhead back plate and thought I was settled on an OMS plate so I will have to ponder that thanks to the advise I got on another post.

I will be setting up 2 complete systems next summer, 1 for tech (ie doubles, sling tanks, etc) and 1 setup for singles. I want the same back plate and harness for both and at this point I think I am gonna make my own harness Hog style (or similar).

This is where I hit a brick wall. I would like 2 wings of similar style but with different life capacities so that I dont have to adjust much back and forth depending on how the wings dive. For this reason I was looking at getting one 45 pound lift and one 60 pound lift wing from OMS (horse shoe shape). I know many people prefer donut type wings and I have no experience with them but am certainly open to getting one. I dont want to get into a debate over banded or unbanded (bungie) wings but I would prefer something that had the option of using bands and allowing me to try it both ways in some safe controled diving tests.

There are so many brands out there for wings and I know everyone is gonna recommend the one they use but I am sure many of you have seen or used many styles of wings and can comment on the balance and trim characteristics of the different brands.

Right now I am open to any brand and not concerned so much about price although price is always important I want something that trims out easy, is very durable, has a removable internal bladder, etc.

on a side note does anyone know if dump valves are interchangeable between OMS, Dive Rite, Scubapro, Halcyon, OxyCheq, DSS, Golem, etc.

Please advise. Thanks

 

[PerroneFord]

I think you need to take a bit more time and learn about your options. Why you'd want 45# of lift for a single is beyond me. I carried doubles and a stage bottle with reels and a can light, with that kind of lift.

Nearly all wings dive differently. Even wings by the same manufacturer. The closest I've come across is how my Halcyon Pioneer and my Evolve dive. They are still different though.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I didn't want the 45# cause of the lift it was cause I was looking for a wing similar to the one for doubles. I was hoping to find something closer to 30# for a singles setup and something around 50-55# for doubles. This is why I came here to ask questions. I just assumed that 2 wings of the same style and different lifts would dive about the same. Thanks for that pointer.

anybody else?

 

[cool_hardware52]

I am still trying to figure out what BP/W I want and it seems every time I come online I discover a new product or hear a new rumor to influence my decision and I am looking for some opinions and assistance. I dont have an LDS that sells BP/W setups so all my research must be done online.

NWD,

A diver today is faced with a wide selection of very good wings from a number of sources, this is a good thing, but it can be bewildering.

To select a wing you should first determine how much lift you really need. That will narrow the field some.

To size a wing I need to know what tank you use, and how buoyant your most buoyant exposure suit is. If you don't know how buoyant your suit is, I can estimate this if you provide the following information:

What BC do you currently use?

How much lead do you carry?

What tank are you using, be specific, make, material, pressure, capacity.

Any BC needs to be able to do two things, float your rig at the surface without you in it, and compensate for the change in buoyancy of your exposure suit.

Tobin

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

Right now I am using a knighthawk BCD with aluminum 80's and a two piece 7mm henderson suit.

I have 5lbs of weight in my tank boots and 5 pounds in each rear trim pocket (10lbs total) and 6.5 pounds in each front integrated pocket. all my aluminum tanks have those 5 pound weights in the boots but next year I will be getting 2 pairs of HP100 steel tanks (brand not yet chosen) to use for doubles. Like I said before I will have a singles bp/w setup to be used with weighted al80's and a doubles bp/w setup to be used with hp100's and possibly on occasion al80's configured for doubles and/or independent twins.

I usually have a light (not yet gone to canister but usually have 8D Pelican light) and a few other items on my bc and almost always carry a slung 19 cuft hp steel worthington.

my doubles setup will require that I sling anything from my steel 19 to al40 to slinging 2-3 al80's (or possibly steel tanks, but doubt that at this time). as I take things more technical my needs will go from the hp19 and al40 to those al80's ya know.

hope that helps.

 

[johnny_bravo]

I didn't want the 45# cause of the lift it was cause I was looking for a wing similar to the one for doubles. I was hoping to find something closer to 30# for a singles setup and something around 50-55# for doubles. This is why I came here to ask questions. I just assumed that 2 wings of the same style and different lifts would dive about the same. Thanks for that pointer.
anybody else?

Why don't you get the OMS 32# wing then? I dive one and i love it.

Cheers.

-J.-

 

[cool_hardware52]

Right now I am using a knighthawk BCD with aluminum 80's and a two piece 7mm henderson suit.

I have 5lbs of weight in my tank boots and 5 pounds in each rear trim pocket (10lbs total) and 6.5 pounds in each front integrated pocket. all my aluminum tanks have those 5 pound weights in the boots but next year I will be getting 2 pairs of HP100 steel tanks (brand not yet chosen) to use for doubles. Like I said before I will have a singles bp/w setup to be used with weighted al80's and a doubles bp/w setup to be used with hp100's and possibly on occasion al80's configured for doubles and/or independent twins.

I usually have a light (not yet gone to canister but usually have 8D Pelican light) and a few other items on my bc and almost always carry a slung 19 cuft hp steel worthington.

my doubles setup will require that I sling anything from my steel 19 to al40 to slinging 2-3 al80's (or possibly steel tanks, but doubt that at this time). as I take things more technical my needs will go from the hp19 and al40 to those al80's ya know.

hope that helps.

Can you please list for me the total amount of ballast, with a particular tank.

Total lead carried, I don't care where you have it. Is this with a single AL80?

Tobin

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

With a single aluminum 80 and a full 7mm wetsuit I have 29lbs of lead.

FYI I used to dive with 31lbs but after I took the peak performance buoyancy class I played around a bit and was able to drop 2lbs to 29.

My final number again is 29lbs. Thanks

 

[cool_hardware52]

With a single aluminum 80 and a full 7mm wetsuit I have 29lbs of lead.

FYI I used to dive with 31lbs but after I took the peak performance buoyancy class I played around a bit and was able to drop 2lbs to 29.

My final number again is 29lbs. Thanks

NWD,

An al 80 with 500 psi is about +3 lbs and most BC's are 2-4 lbs positive when empty, due to foam padding, I'll assume +3 for your current BC.

That means you need about 6 lbs to sink your tank and BC. That leaves 23 to sink your 7 mm suit. That's one the high end for a 7mm suit in fresh water, but it's not unheard of.

Assuming you use a Medium SS plate and harness, and an al 80 tank, and 8 lbs bolt on eights your rig will be about -18 lbs with a full tank, and about -12 with an empty tank.

You will need 23-12 or about 10-11 lbs in a weight belt.

With a wetsuit that can potentially loose 23 lbs of buoyancy maximum you need at least a 23 lbs lift wing to compensate for the change in buoyancy of your suit. You also need at least 18 lbs of lift to float your rig.

I'd suggest a wing in the 30 lbs lift range. This is sufficient to compensate for your wetsuit, even in salt water, and is provides enough additional margin above the required 18 lbs needed to float your rig to allow for some additional gear.

If you do not add ballast to your plate you will have ~18-20 in a weight belt. This combined with a buoyant tank is likely to imped horizontal trim.

Good luck,

Tobin

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

Thanks for the tip. I was gonna ask you about those DSS plate weights anyway. Do they work with all brands? a couple people I know are moving in this same dirrection now and might be interested in getting those weights of yours? also do the weights work with doubles? thanks