Halcyon 36 vs. 45?

[Ernesto]

I'm trying to decide between the Halcyon 36lb lift and the 45lb lift. I dive with a single steel tank ( a 98), a laminate dry suit, and woolies, in the Pacific (British Columbia) and after all is said and done I'm wearing 15 lbs of ditchable weight. So, basically my question is: in the event of a serious drysuit emergency, like a blown zipper etc., will a 36lb BCD put me on the surface safely, or should I go with the 45?
Thanks for your help.

ernie

 

[jplacson]

Only 15lbs? The Pioneer 27 should be more than enough... a friend of mine dove doubles, with 2 side tanks (full 80s) and a 5mm suit... the 27 wing was more than enough to lift him up.

Besides, in the event of an emergency... you would ditch your weights right?

It's better to not have too big a bladder if you don't need it. If you really think you need more lift.. the 36 should be more than enough...specially with the weights you say you have on.

The 45 is overkill...unless you dive doubles in cold water.

 

[ColdH20diving]

First off have you looked at the Oxycheq wings? They make a 30 and 45# wing. I dive in the PNW, dry suit, 112 steel tank, cannister light and sometimes a pony bottle depend upon depth and gear. IMO a 30# wing is borderline for the diving up here. Oxycheq makes a nice 45# single wing, the quality is excellent and is equal to if not superior to the Halcyon wings. Less $$ too. At least check out the website at www.oxycheq.com And no I don't have any vested interest in Oxycheq.

 

[Don Burke]

I dive doubles with a 45 both wet and dry and if I had it to do over I would get a 40.

I suspect the 36 will serve you well with that single. A 27 might do it, although I expect it would be pretty close. It would be too close for my taste.

Those lift figures don't account for any restrictions on the wing, so you won't be getting all the lift on the label.

Flooding a drysuit isn't the massive buoyancy problem some would lead you to believe. It takes almost three gallons of water to make up 25 pounds. If you're diving with a bubble that big in your suit, you've got other problems.

 

[Ernesto]

Thanks for the replys.

I was kind of figuring even with my drysuit flooded and my woolies soaked they would still probably be only slightly negative. Given a dangerous situation ditching my 15lbs of ditchable weight would allow me with the 37lb wing to be buoyant. I had decided on the 37 but a friend started asking all the questions and had me leaning toward the extra lift, which I'm feeling more confident about not needing.

Again, thanks for the replys. Can never have too much info.

ernie

 

[ERP]

I dive a 36lb wing with single tanks, HP 120's and a 40lb wing with double 80's. Both provide plenty of lift.

Doing it again I'd probably go with the 27lb wing for singles.

You really don't want any more wing than you need.

 

[Ernesto]

oh, and I will check out the oxycheq web-site. Thanks.

 

[HammerNoMore]

ColdH20diving once bubbled...
First off have you looked at the Oxycheq wings? They make a 30 and 45# wing. I dive in the PNW, dry suit, 112 steel tank, cannister light and sometimes a pony bottle depend upon depth and gear. IMO a 30# wing is borderline for the diving up here. Oxycheq makes a nice 45# single wing, the quality is excellent and is equal to if not superior to the Halcyon wings. Less $$ too. At least check out the website at www.oxycheq.com And no I don't have any vested interest in Oxycheq.

I knew this was comeing and decided to wait. For a second opinion: This looks to be one hell of a wing, but it has all of about 1 month of time in the field. It's up to you if you want to be an inovator or not.

My personal recomendation: If you decide you need 45# lift (unlikely for single tank diving) get the OC wing. Otherwise...the Halcyon 36# is a proven design.

James

 

[David Evans]

I also dive in the Pacific Northwest (I live in Mukilteo, just north of Seattle).

IMO, the 36 would provide WAY more than enough lift. I dive the 36, and wish I had the 27 instead, because it's more streamlined (although due to the baffles of the 36 the difference is negligible).

I dive LP95s and the E8 130's - both steel, and both BIG tanks.

Even in the event of a catastrophic suit flood, the 27 will easily get you to the surface unless you are dangerously overweighted.

Remember that you only need enough lift in your wing to float your rig on the surface of the water. Your body is positively buoyant. Anything else is excess.

If you are neutral at depth, all you have to do is kick up a foot or two and you will begin an ascent to the surface as Boyle's law and Archimedes' Principle take over - causing you to have to dump air or make an uncontrolled ascent.

At depth, whether you are diving a 27, 36, or even a 100 pound wing, you should have only very little gas in your wing.

The only time my 36# wing is even close to fully inflated is when I am on the surface.

 

[IzzyTahil]

I had the same question when I got my setup. IMO, #45 is too much lift and too much wing, and #27 while it could do the job at hand, I opted for the #36 just to have a little bit more lift than the #27. I can't remember where I read it but my understanding was that the #36 is more suited for cold water and heavier tanks, while the #28 were designed for warm water conditions and AL80s. I dive steel 112, 30cf sling, drysuit, and 4-6lbs lead. In case of complete flood, I want to be sure my wing can lift me without a struggle. If stramlingling between the two is a concern, the differnce is small and should not be a big factor in your decision.

jplacson - how did your friend dive doubles with a single tank wing? do you mean 2 singles, one on each side (never heard or seen this kind of set up...)

My friend just got the #45 OC single wing and I will try it out this weekend...