Halcyon 27 or 36

[Tekkie]

Hey,
I have a question concerning the Halcyon Pioneer Wing lift capisity. Right now I weight 135lbs and about 5' 6". I don't think I will get much taller maby 3 inches at most, but maby add 30+ pounds to my weight? I currently dive wet 7mm full with hood and gloves with 15lbs of weight in sixity degree water. My question is will I be ok with the 27lbs wing or should I be safe and get the 36lbs wing? I will be using a SS backplate 6lbs.
Thanks,
Tekkie

 

[Hallmac]

Should have plenty of lift with a little to spare

Hallmac

 

[Dryglove]

Tekkie once bubbled...
Hey,
I currently dive wet 7mm full with hood and gloves with 15lbs of weight in sixity degree water. I will be using a SS backplate 6lbs.
Thanks,
Tekkie

Will the 15lbs be integrated on bp/wing or will it be on a weight belt?

 

[Tekkie]

I will be using about 9lbs in a weight belt or ABC? system because 15lbs-6lbs=9lbs. I'm not sure if I want to pay the extra $ for the ABC? system.

Tekkie

 

[Dryglove]

Tekkie once bubbled...
I will be using about 9lbs in a weight belt or ABC? system because 15lbs-6lbs=9lbs. I'm not sure if I want to pay the extra $ for the ABC? system.

Tekkie

The reason i asked was that if you are weighted properly you should only be negative by the weight of the air in your tank and how much buoyancy your wetsuit loses as it compresses at depth is why its important to be neutral at the end of your dive at 10'-15' on a near empty tank.With that being said a 27lb wing would be fine.

Personally i prefer a weight belt over the ACB system.The main thing is that you want your rig to be able to float itself in the water without you in it.With the amount of weight you use integrated or not, the 27lb wing sounds perfect for you.Just remember that a 27lb wing will not actually float 27lbs,it will sink like a rock.

 

[detroit diver]

I've got a different take on the size of wing. I like the 36 lb wing better even though the 27 will work just fine. The reason for that is that the 36 has a set of bellows near the bottom to add the increase in lift. The air in the bellows section (because it is near the bottom) helps keep your legs up and assists in attaining proper trim. You can certainly do it with the 27 lb, but the 36 makes it easier, IMO.

 

[ElectricZombie]

Tekkie,

I think you will find that by using the backplate, you will most likely be able to get rid of at LEAST 6lbs from your belt if not more. A lot of jacket and "technical" BCs are naturally very bouyant themselves. The weight of the plate across your back distributes the weight evenly where it will do the most good. You might be able to get away with only 4lbs in a belt. Go to a pool with your usual gear and just get in with just the BP and see if you need to add a little more weight.

I have the 27lbs wing and a SS BP. I don't have to add any weight in fresh or salt water wearing a 3mil-ish wetsuit. I do have to kick down a bit in salt water though. 27lbs should be plenty. When neutral under water, it seems like my 27lbs wing has very little air in it. I don't see how I would ever take advantage of it's full lift capacity.

I personally do not like the ACB integrated weight system. When attached, they stick too far out to the side and are really bulky. I would stick with a normal weightbelt. I would only suggest the ACB system to someone who has problems with their weight belt staying on.

 

[leadweight]

EZ,

If that weight reduction is strictly from the inherent bouyancy of a badly designed BC, I would have to say a maximum of 4.4 lbs based on published reports where they actually measured the BC. While bulky "tech" bc's may be the worst culprits, there are many BC's that are nearly neutrally bouyant when empty.

I really think that most of the weight reduction is out of a desire by the diver to improve. Also, I have noticed that when a diver manages to achieve level trim by moving weight from the belt area to a back mounted trim pocket, then they realize they were overweighted to start with. Pretty much the same movement of weight takes place when going to a SS BP, so the inspiration to drop weight should take place as well. This is good.

 

[ElectricZombie]

leadweight,

I was refering to the fact that the BP alone weighs 6lbs. He will be able to take that out of his belt as a result.

Your estimate of 4.4lbs for an inherently bouyant rig is probably very close to accurate. So, depending on what type of BC he was using before, he may be able to drop even more weight when he switches to the Halcyon rig. He will probably be able to shed an additional 2lbs or so due to the bouyancy characteristics of the Halcyon.

6lbs + 2lbs = 8lbs removed from weight belt (Maybe even more)

 

[leadweight]

True, if a SS BP did not result in a 6# weight reduction, something would be wrong somewhere.

The 4.4 pounds comes from Diver's test of the Raider.
2 kg inherently bouyant, 5.5 kg weight in air. 76 cm wide. They could not get it to give a flat trim, the diver's head was always down.