How many lbs of lift do I need?

[Wyatt1225]

Looking at buying my first BC and don't really know how to determine the lbs of lift I need in a jacket/wing. I'll primarily be diving in Southern California with a 7mm. I'm 6'1 180lbs and feel pretty comfortable with my weighting at 18 lbs of lead with a steel 80. I might be able to drop 2 lbs.

Any idea on how much lift I need? Still very much up in the air between a jacket or BP/W.

Thanks!

 

[runsongas]

roughly 22 to 24 pounds minimum assuming losing almost all buoyancy on the wetsuit when you get deep enough and 6 pounds of gas in the tank completely full

most cold water divers use a 30 pound wing to have a little bit of excess capacity

 

[tbone1004]

you're in LA, call Tobin, he'll get you set up. If you are diving in a 7mm in California, it really shouldn't be much of a discussion. You may well benefit from the weight plates that Tobin offers as well to get most all of the lead off of your belt.
30lb wing should do just fine for you, but if you're diving the little acorn HP80's, you probably want to go to a longer tank at 6'1", those little stubby things really don't work well if you're over about 5'2"

 

[2airishuman]

roughly 22 to 24 pounds minimum assuming losing almost all buoyancy on the wetsuit when you get deep enough and 6 pounds of gas in the tank completely full

most cold water divers use a 30 pound wing to have a little bit of excess capacity

This.

I have 17, 30, and 55 pound wings. I prefer the 17# wing when diving in 3mm or less, the 30# wing for 7mm with singles, and the 55# wing for doubles.

The 17# wing is a little nicer on warm water dives, and it packs smaller, but in reality the 30# is fine too.