New BC's at DEMA?

[pdoege]

The new OMS wing was there. It is not a donut wing, more of a 300 degree design.

The zippered OxyCheq was there. I am not sure what the fuss was about as the non-zippered designs appear to be sufficient.

I am in the process of ordering the OxyCheq 40# (or is it 45#?) wing to complement my Pioneer 27.

The Dive Rite wing, the Venture, looks a bit like their Travel Wing. Same funky square profile. Should work well enough.

I spent some time at the Halcyon booth but was sort of ignored. Shrug. I own enough of their gear, I don't need too much more

There were a lot of new and improved jacket/back inflate BC designs. I was not all that interested in them and did not spend time investigating them.

Everybody and their brother seems to be coming out with BP/Wing stuff. I wonder what next year will bring?


Peter

 

[caveseeker7]

You praise bp/w, call the Mares junk 'Space Shuttle' bc? :upset:
Where do you people come from? Do they still chisel news into stone plates?

BP/Ws are amish, the Mares Wright Bros. at best!
It can only be the Space Shuttle of BCs if it has
AQUAPILOT !!!

Check it out at http://www.aquapilot.de/aquapilot_e.htm

And for your own sakes, don't drink while you're reading that

 

[3500PSI]

i personally wouldnt use the "aqua pilot" but admire their vigor at making new products.

 

[deepdiverbc]

pdoege once bubbled...
The new OMS wing was there. It is not a donut wing, more of a 300 degree design.

The zippered OxyCheq was there. I am not sure what the fuss was about as the non-zippered designs appear to be sufficient.

I am in the process of ordering the OxyCheq 40# (or is it 45#?) wing to complement my Pioneer 27.

The Dive Rite wing, the Venture, looks a bit like their Travel Wing. Same funky square profile. Should work well enough.

I spent some time at the Halcyon booth but was sort of ignored. Shrug. I own enough of their gear, I don't need too much more

There were a lot of new and improved jacket/back inflate BC designs. I was not all that interested in them and did not spend time investigating them.

Everybody and their brother seems to be coming out with BP/Wing stuff. I wonder what next year will bring?


Peter

You saw the new Oxycheq #44 with Kevlar shell and are buying the #45 Oxycheq without the shell?

I was close to picking up the phone to buy the Oxycheq #45 when I heard about the new #44 with the Kevlar shell. You saw it and didn't buy it. Why? Is it bulkier or does it use a different baffle system?

 

[pdoege]

Well,

The kevlar unit is going to be more expensive, I don't think that I need a zippable bladder, I am not convinced of the durability advantages of the kevlar, and it isn't available yet.

So basically cost, availability and fear of the unknown on my part.

It is not bulkier, the actual construction looked pretty similar.

I think that OxyCheq is going to market it to people who think they need the extra toughness of the kevlar shell and the extra repairability of the internal bladder.

I have yet to hole any of my bladders or cut through a cordura shell, so I am not convinced of the value.

I do think that the Oxycheq wings are pretty nice and I don't think that the kevlar wing is bad. Just not for me.

Has anyone else been able to dive it yet? I'd also be interested in the cost of replacement bladders.

Peter

 

[deepdiverbc]

Do you have any information comparing kevlar to heavy nylon? Why are you unconvinced that kevlar is durable?

I like the design of the Oxycheq wing but I would like to find out what it is made of. The Pioneer and OMS are 1000 denier nylon and the Dive Rite and Zeagle are 1050 denier Nylon. What is the Oxycheq made from? Does anyone know?



I have always dove a jacket style that has an inner bladder protected by an outer shell so it makes me nervous having an exposed bladder on my back. I also dive with just over 30 lbs of lead so loosing the buoyancy of my wing due to a puncture or tear is not something I want to worry about.

Since heavier nylon is better for cut resistance and lighter weight nylon with a tighter weave is better for puncture resistance doesn't a double bag using both materials make sense?

 

[jplacson]

Well, the Kevlar outshell should be a lot stronger. Kevlar is used in bulletproof vests... not just as an outercovering like 'ballistic nylon' is...but Kevlar is THE main bullet stopping fabric.

Kevlar is also used on lumberjack chaps... to stop chainsaws from accidentally cutting off the lumberjack's legs. So I think it's obvious that a Kevlar shell would be a lot better than a nylon one.

Only 2 things would now cause a leak/puncture..

1)neglect/defect - something already there... or intentional/careless handling

2)overpressure explosion... something that the overpressure valve can't handle... like popping a balloon... say your bladder is filled to the brim and you're suddenly smashed backwards against a rock... and by some freak accident, it's the side of your BC that hits, not your tank... it gets squeezed too much that the inner bladder pops. (The kevlar outshell wouldn't get damaged)

I'd get the Kevlar shell any day!!! And you never know... there might be some psycho diver who tries shooting you... you can jsut turn around and swim away... your BC will stop the bullets!!! :lol:

 

[deepdiverbc]

Might be the wing of choice for spear fishing. LOL

I still would like to know what the original Oxycheq 45 is made from.

 

[pdoege]

The thing is that I've never heard of anyone puncturing their wing to failure on a dive. I've really abused my Pioneer and never had a problem.

I don't know that Kevlar is necessary. I have been told that kevlar is contra-indicated in a chlorine environment.

Obviously, is some situations, kevlar is far superior to nylon.

I haven't seen any indication that diving is one of those situations.

I dive dry, and don't use weight, and I have a liftbag, so I have a lot of redundancy.

If someone has a documented story of a wing being punctured during a dive to the point where it could not be used for bouyancy, I'd be interested in hearing it. Last time I searched for one I came up empty.

I did find some posts from people who had the inflator/dumps fail. I did find some posts from people who damaged the bladders from improper transport and storage.

Peter

 

[deepdiverbc]

pdoege once bubbled...
The thing is that I've never heard of anyone puncturing their wing to failure on a dive. I've really abused my Pioneer and never had a problem.

I don't know that Kevlar is necessary. I have been told that kevlar is contra-indicated in a chlorine environment.

Obviously, is some situations, kevlar is far superior to nylon.

I haven't seen any indication that diving is one of those situations.

I dive dry, and don't use weight, and I have a liftbag, so I have a lot of redundancy.

If someone has a documented story of a wing being punctured during a dive to the point where it could not be used for bouyancy, I'd be interested in hearing it. Last time I searched for one I came up empty.

I did find some posts from people who had the inflator/dumps fail. I did find some posts from people who damaged the bladders from improper transport and storage.

Peter

Good points. Does a drysuit diver with a lift bag have to worry about a wing puncture? To get to the surface I agree that loosing the wing could be compensated for in this case but you would have to rely on your drysuit for flotation at the surface. Assuming this happens which as you posted may be unlikely.

You said you dive with no weight. If you run out of air or have a first stage failure could you make it to the surface in all circumstances without having some ditchable weight?