Freedom Plate Divers Roll Call: show us your rig!

[Eric Sedletzky]

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Tried a wtx-18, but could not get both assembly bolts thru the wing and plate, it was so very close but off just enough that I switched to another wing that allowed bolts thru both holes.
The wtx would work with fine just one bolt used in the bottom hole, as has been mentioned the cam straps will lock everything in place.

Some wings don’t have a very good memory and after a while the 11” center holes start shrinking up to 10-3/4” or 10-1/2”. I have to bolt up one side then use a pry rod to stretch the wing back out to 11” center holes. It helps if you wet down the center panel to loosen up the nylon fabric.
In the case of the public safety model Apex wing I fit it wasn’t so easy since the material is water proof.

 

[Kupu]

Some wings don’t have a very good memory and after a while the 11” center holes start shrinking up to 10-3/4” or 10-1/2”. I have to bolt up one side then use a pry rod to stretch the wing back out to 11” center holes. It helps if you wet down the center panel to loosen up the nylon fabric.
In the case of the public safety model Apex wing I fit it wasn’t so easy since the material is water proof.

Good to know, I was not aware of that. The wtx wing had not been mounted on a plate for at least a year or two when I tried to attach it to the plate, plenty of time to shrink a little.

 

[axluba]

Some wings don’t have a very good memory and after a while the 11” center holes start shrinking up to 10-3/4” or 10-1/2”. I have to bolt up one side then use a pry rod to stretch the wing back out to 11” center holes. It helps if you wet down the center panel to loosen up the nylon fabric.
In the case of the public safety model Apex wing I fit it wasn’t so easy since the material is water proof.

First that set up looks sooooo neat! Congrats,

second I seem to have noticed (maybe I’m wrong but have seen that on 3 different wings bought in Europe tecline and dtd) that the hole interaxis Is consistently slightly shy of 11” (27,9cm). I got 27,5-6 on those three wings. I wonder why...

 

[Couv]

I have to bolt up one side then use a pry rod to stretch the wing back out to 11” center holes. It helps if you wet down the center panel to loosen up the nylon fabric.

I've found the same issue and remedy with a few wings. Wet the material, bolt the top eye to the plate; use a Phillips screwdriver to stretch the material into place.

 

[lexvil]

I've found the same issue and remedy with a few wings. Wet the material, bolt the top eye to the plate; use a Phillips screwdriver to stretch the material into place.

I didn’t know there was another way

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

First that set up looks sooooo neat! Congrats,

second I seem to have noticed (maybe I’m wrong but have seen that on 3 different wings bought in Europe tecline and dtd) that the hole interaxis Is consistently slightly shy of 11” (27,9cm). I got 27,5-6 on those three wings. I wonder why...

I think they all have good intentions of spacing holes 11” center but fail to realize that stitching and assembling the final wing can tighten the material and the holes migrate. If they were to start with holes placed at 11-1/2” for instance then the holes would probably migrate to 11” and have a constant resting measurement of 11” from there on.
All new wings I’ve dealt with are less than 11” and need to be stretched.

 

[axluba]

mmm sounds probable... I came to think that us European had smaller inches than you!

but the plates I came across have a perfect 11"... so I guess your explication makes more sense!

 

[Canajan]

“the public safety model Apex wing I fit it wasn’t so easy since the material is water proof.”

Hey Eric have you done enough dives with this wing that you could offer an opinion? I’m very close to pulling the trigger to order one as I need a wing with the quick drying ability. I wanted a Deep6 30Lb wing but they’ve been out of stock forever. The next one I’ve found is the Apeks, and would very much like to hear how you like it.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

“the public safety model Apex wing I fit it wasn’t so easy since the material is water proof.”

Hey Eric have you done enough dives with this wing that you could offer an opinion? I’m very close to pulling the trigger to order one as I need a wing with the quick drying ability. I wanted a Deep6 30Lb wing but they’ve been out of stock forever. The next one I’ve found is the Apeks, and would very much like to hear how you like it.

It wasn’t my wing and I never dived it.
It was a friends and we were fitting it to a plate for another guy who was getting a plate delivered to him and he was going to be using a regular Apex wing.
However, looking at the public safety wing it looks very nice and the owner told me it is very abrasion resistant. He destroyed a regular Apex wing doing underwater work but he said this one has held up great.