More wing confusion

[SelkieDVM]

I have decided to switch from a jacket BC to a BP/W. I am looking at the Transplate system right now because this is what my LDS carries. However, I'm having a hard time deciding which wing would be best.

I dive only singles for now, mostly AL80s but would like to be able to go up to steel 130s also. Usually I am wearing a 3 mm wetsuit or less, but occasionally use a 5 mm. I do hope to get a drysuit later this year.

I see the Venture wing is designed for singles but has 45# of lift? This seems excessive to me. Also, I am short (5'4") and already have a fair amont of natural buoyancy around the hips, so I am concerned this wing may not work well for me. I like the Trek wing but I know it is not ideally suited for singles. I was thinking I would go with the AL plate.

Comments, thoughts, suggestions? It is not really practical for me to try out different configurations. I would consider other manufacturers as well.

Thank you!
Lilla

 

[vshearer]

Venture wing is 30#

Might want to look at this as well.

I use a Golem #35 for single.

 

[Oside Jimc]

If your not hard set on the Transplate you might want to PM Tobin @ DSS (cool_hardware52). He was a great help for me in deciding what BP/W would be best for my needs. He took the time to understand all my diving scenarios and explained the different options so I could make the most informed decision. I ended up with a SS BP, plate weights (for diving with a 7mm wet suit), hog harness and a 30# wing, and it worked great with my steel 100, best of all it dives like a dream!

 

[billeelou]

dss has a good rep around here....

 

[SelkieDVM]

Email sent to DSS. Thanks everyone for your replies!

Cheers,
Lilla

 

[dl348]

Venture wing is 30#

Might want to look at this as well.

I use a Golem #35 for single.

The OLD Venture Wing had 30# lift, the NEW Venture Wing has 45# lift. Check out SCUBA Diving Equipment and gear for Technical, Wreck and Cave Diving: Dive Rite, Inc or Dive Rite Express

 

[Doc Intrepid]

You will be able to dive either of the tanks in your first post (single) with either a 30 or 35 lb wing.

There are a variety of good manufacturers out there. I like Halcyon but I'd go with one of Tobin's rigs also.

If you can, work with a mentor to assemble the rig, put the D's in the right locations in your straps, fix the slots, and generally fit the harness to you. Yeah, you can do it yourself, but its sometimes easier working with someone who is familiar with the rigs to get it right the first time.

I see you are in Amherst, VA. Some of your diving may well be "non-tropical" in nature, assuming you're diving in VA or off some of the charters in North Carolina, etc. In this case you might do better looking at a stainless steel plate. It will move some of the weight off your hips and put it flat against your back, never a bad thing.

Aluminum plates are nicer for traveling - assuming you can trim out properly with them, but with all the other stuff you're carrying the 5 lb difference between an aluminum plate and a SS plate is unlikely to make an astonishing difference. Get a plate you can trim out with. If its that big a problem for traveling, stick it in your carryon bag (and get to the airport early... )

Best,

Doc

 

[SelkieDVM]

You will be able to dive either of the tanks in your first post (single) with either a 30 or 35 lb wing.

There are a variety of good manufacturers out there.

I see you are in Amherst, VA. Some of your diving may well be "non-tropical" in nature, assuming you're diving in VA or off some of the charters in North Carolina, etc. In this case you might do better looking at a stainless steel plate. It will move some of the weight off your hips and put it flat against your back, never a bad thing.

Aluminum plates are nicer for traveling - assuming you can trim out properly with them, but with all the other stuff you're carrying the 5 lb difference between an aluminum plate and a SS plate is unlikely to make an astonishing difference. Get a plate you can trim out with. If its that big a problem for traveling, stick it in your carryon bag (and get to the airport early... )

Best,

Doc

A lot of my diving is indeed off NC, in addition to the Caribbean. I am also considering a SS plate as you suggest, but I've seen it recommended here that aluminum is better if doing a lot of switching between steel and aluminum tanks? I'm assuming this is due to concerns about overweighting with both a SS plate and larger steel tank.

Of course I could (and likely will eventually) get one of each!

Thanks,
Lilla

 

[realdiver7]

Lilla....my wife and I both use the Oxycheq Mach V 30 lb. wing with either an aluminum or hard polymer (plastic) BP. When using steel tanks, we would be very overweighted if we used steel BPs. Most of our diving is off the NC coast and in the Caribbean, using 3mm wet suits.

Since we dive steel 100s locally, the only time we could use steel BPs would be on trips where we had to use aluminum tanks, or when we wear dry suits. Instead of carrying the extra 5-6 lbs. of BP on trips, we just take two XS Scuba trim weight pockets.

If we were diving aluminum tanks locally, then we'd probably be using steel BPs. If you want a top-notch, very high quality BP/wing setup, I would highly recommend Oxycheq. The design, materials and workmanship, especially in the wings are unmatched in my opinion.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Lilla,

Which plates and tanks you select are indeed about "weighting". As realdiver7 notes, there are a number of variables to weighting, and certainly which exposure protection you're using is a big one. A full 7mm wetsuit or a drysuit off Ocean City is going to require more weight than a 3mm in the Caribbean.

But in addition to how much weight you need when your tank is nearly empty, which depends on your tank, if you want to trim out horizontally (for example, if you want to penetrate INSIDE those wrecks off of Morehead City) it isn't just a matter of how much weight you need, but where you put it. The diver's body is a lever, and their center of gravity is the fulcrum. To be able to trim out horizontally without effort requires placing the weight along the lever to the point where the diver is balanced. A polymer plate weighs less than a pound, an aluminum plate about 1.5, and a SS plate around 6 lbs depending on manufacturer. Heavy plates can weight 9, 12, or 15 lbs (or more). Typically with the lighter plates you'll see either weightbelts or trim weights elsewhere. With a heavier plate you can get away from using as much weight elsewhere. You select the weight depending on where you need it to trim out properly.

Regards,

Doc