Gusset on the Trek Wing

[DrSteve]

So this might sound stupid as the gusset was touted to me as being the greatest innovation. But here are my questions...
To prevent tacoing you tighten the gusset correct?
Tightening the gusset restricts how much air you can put in the wing...that is it make it effectively smaller lift capacity. Correct? (If not it certainley seems that way)
So what's the purpose of anyone using singles purchasing a Trek wing if you have to tighten the gusset for optimum use...means I have 5-10lbs of unusable wing!

Thanks!

 

[ae3753]

So what's the purpose of anyone using singles purchasing a Trek wing if you have to tighten the gusset for optimum use...means I have 5-10lbs of unusable wing!

The Trek wing is a dual purpose wing - able to handle singles and small doubles. And that's the benefit, you can have one wing for two applications. Of course, many argue that as the result, it's not optimally suited for either application.

And since I dive the Trek wing, I don't think that it's as good as donut shaped wing for single tank diving. I have to be a little more conscious about moving air around the horseshoe shape, but it's hardly a show stopper. I actually don't use the gusset-cord system at all, so I'll start playing with it to see if it helps the in water characteristics of the wing.

Also keep in mind that the Trek wing is rated at 40#s. If you loose 5-10# from the gusset cord, you still have plenty lift. Many people use 30# wings for singles, including my dive buddy. And she's been in all conditions (warm with AL80 to cold with LP95)

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

My wife has the earlier Jr. Wing, and it has some snap clips on the two lower wing corners, that snap to clips on the TransPac II, but no gusset, which helps minimize 'wing wrap' when diving singles. Not knowing the true marketing or technical term for these, I call them 'flap protectors'. The Jr. Wing she has doesn't have a gusset. Maybe there's still a source for these somewhere?

Otherwise, it's pretty similar to a Trek Wing from what I can see - other than the 'less macho tek' name of Jr. Wing. We've both used it for double aluminum 63's and double aluminum 80's, and it's worked well for those sets as well as for single tanks.

I use the Travel Wing (30 lb. lift) for single aluminum 80's or single aluminum 100's when we're traveling and diving singles, or I'll swap her my Travel wing and use her Jr. Wing for single aluminum 100's sometimes.

 

[DrSteve]

OK so moving on...how is it best to set up the gusset? Obviously I am going to have to do it in water...but what should I be looking for? maximum buoyancy on the surface, with minimal tacoing on the wing when under?

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

No idea - since the ones we use don't have the gusset. I thought you might have liked an alternative in the way the clips work, as they don't restrict the lift capacity. So, I'll be moving on out of the thread - best of luck!

 

[DrSteve]

Very funny...I called DiveRite and asked their advice to "what am I aiming to optimise when I adjust the gusset?" I was told that I would know when I had it right and that was that! Oh well. I am very happy with the wing (although I would have preferred a doughnut shape - but the old ranger was like that so it won't be a big issue as my problem with the range was its bulkiness) and I do like the idea that I can reduce the size of the wing for warm water diving. My only complaint is if you tighten the gusset and all of a sudden need an extra 5lbs of lift form the wing, you can't get it because the bungee is too tight.

PS. WarmWaterDiver there are also some clips to attach part of the waing to the plate (so it is attached at all points to the plate, not just top and bottom)...I'll be using those to flatten the wing.

 

[ShakaZulu]

OK so moving on...how is it best to set up the gusset? Obviously I am going to have to do it in water...but what should I be looking for? maximum buoyancy on the surface, with minimal tacoing on the wing when under?

I tie the gusset clips, to the single tank setting. It works, but I'm not sure if I always get all the air out. I clamp it to the backplate using the middle holes. Let me know how your trim is.......

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

PS. WarmWaterDiver there are also some clips to attach part of the waing to the plate (so it is attached at all points to the plate, not just top and bottom)...I'll be using those to flatten the wing.

I could PM or post some pics if you'd like - I don't think the clips we use on the two lowest corners of the Jr. Wing would latch to a plate; I think they may be different than what you're describing for the Trek wing. Since we got the Jr. wing and TPII pre-owned, I don't know if these were original DR equipment or someone's own innovation. The latches/ clips themselves are just like the ones on chest strap of the DR TP II or Deluxe Harness.

 

[Diesel298]

ok
those are a bungee. materal.. they stretch.. so unless you have them thing cranked way way way down. your not conna loose any capacity..

alltho it will make manual inflation a bit more challanging.
also the gussettts are supposed to help in the deflation f the BC
i dive HP 80's, and twin 72's on my trec wings..and still have the gussets set the way they where out of the box...

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

. . .

PS. WarmWaterDiver there are also some clips to attach part of the waing to the plate (so it is attached at all points to the plate, not just top and bottom)...I'll be using those to flatten the wing.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16053&item=7158785277&rd=1

Here's a pic of a rig similar to my wife's. The clips are best as I can tell original DR equipment - and you can see how they don't clip to the plate, but to the end corner areas of the wing to minimize 'wing wrap' without the gusset system. Looks like DR abandoned this in favor of the gusset system about the same time they changed the name from Jr Wing to the much more macho Trek Wing.

It's really fairly simple, and could be done as a DIY effort. What's nice about my wife's rig is you don't have to futz with it to change from single to double tanks other than removing the single tank cam bands - you leave the clips & straps in place instead of fiddling with a gusset.