Grommets?

[saying]

Dive Rite wings drain badly. After a dive there's about 10 gallons of water stuck between the codura and the bladder. This isn't such a big deal with my Classic wings, which I just hang upsidedown to drain through the zipper. My Venture wing, on the other hand... the zipper is in the middle, so the only way to get all the water out is to wrestle with the wet thing for 10 minutes. And even so, this doesn't get all the water out, so it just sits there and crystalizes before permeating through the material.

I've been toying with the idea of putting a couple of grommets in for drainage as I've heard Dive Rite once had (or, maybe, has been installing more recently... I can't tell you if my wings are the new style or the not-new style). But, I figured I'd get some input before putting holes in my wings.

 

[simbrooks]

Take the bladder out first

I put extra holes in the webbing part to attach the wing at various trim positions that werent previously in my wing, but havent put any in the actual tubes of the wing. I guess put them out of the way, so they dont snag up or allow things to poke in the grommet holes. Also maybe use smaller holes than for boltholes like i made, the grommet should prevent fraying, so you should be ok on that front.

Not sure of any other issues, but i also dont have the problems with either my single or double wings.

 

[The Kraken]

Saying,
There's really nothing to it.
Determine exactly where you want the drain holes and mark with chalk.
Remove the bladder, duh !!!!
Take a piece of brass or aluminum tube with the outside diameter the same as that as the grommet. Get it very hot and melt a hole where you marked with chalk. Then set your grommet.

 

[saying]

Should have been more specific...

I'm not trying to get "how to" input. I've got no worries putting some grommets in. I'm just wondering if it's a good idea to begin with.

That is, is it going to accomplish my goal of easy drainage easy peasy... or is it just going to wear a hole in my bladder?

 

[divad]

Should have been more specific...

I'm not trying to get "how to" input. I've got no worries putting some grommets in. I'm just wondering if it's a good idea to begin with.

That is, is it going to accomplish my goal of easy drainage easy peasy... or is it just going to wear a hole in my bladder?

Yes, they will help with drainage and, yes, they may wear a hole in your bladder if you
put them between the tank and your body. I'm going to put some in the very bottom of my Venture toward the outside corners.

 

[divad]

I put extra holes in the webbing part to attach the wing at various trim positions that werent previously in my wing..

I'm thinking of doing the same thing. I think I know what you did but could you elaborate a little? Did the wing work better?

 

[simbrooks]

Not sure how to elaborate, where the holes are normally placed to attach the doubles through the wing to the BP there was only one set (old wing) that only allowed one position. I felt a little head heavy in my wetsuit (diving doubles in freshwater with a nice hard bottom to come out on if wing failure before that can of worms gets opened), so i thought i might like to move the wing up a bit, but without holes what can you do? So i put more holes in the connecting webbing about 3/4-1" away from the original holes. Bought a grommet kit from Home Depot, punched a hole with the punch, dropped the grommet in and hammered it flat on the little tool thing in the kit. Checked it all against the bolt hole spacing afterwards and it dove fine. I have since gone dry and moved the wing back to the previous placement as i was foot heavy

I dont think this is what saying was after though, he wants holes to drain the wing, but its the same principle, just smaller holes and good locations.

 

[simbrooks]

Yes, they will help with drainage and, yes, they may wear a hole in your bladder if you
put them between the tank and your body. I'm going to put some in the very bottom of my Venture toward the outside corners.

To prevent wear and to add in some protection, maybe you could add some coarse gauze/mesh like material to the inside so that things cant poke in and so the grommet doesnt rub on the bladder - this would also continue to allow drainage.