New Diver resaerching gear. (taco wing?)

[BelikinBob]

Hi,
I am looking into a BC for my next purchace. I am currently researching BC's as my next peice of gear.

I am looking into BP/W as I may be going farther than a recreational diver in the future...at least I would like to have the option open, and I am doing my research with doing it right the first time, and having options for the future...

so, I keep hearing about "taco wing" what is this? I am assuming its an inflation of the wing that invelops the diver/tank???

what happens if one is tacoed?

thanks
-Bob

 

[TSandM]

If a wing is too large (eg. doubles wing used with single tank), when it contains air the sides of the wing will fold up along the tank like the tortilla in a taco. This traps the air in the wing well away from anyplace where you can dump it, and requires significant gyrations to move air to vent the wing.

 

[wheelietaco]

when the wing overlaps the tank ( looks like a taco ) making it hard vent air. just make sure it is the right size wing.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Hi,
I am looking into a BC for my next purchace. I am currently researching BC's as my next peice of gear.

I am looking into BP/W as I may be going farther than a recreational diver in the future...at least I would like to have the option open, and I am doing my research with doing it right the first time, and having options for the future...

so, I keep hearing about "taco wing" what is this? I am assuming its an inflation of the wing that invelops the diver/tank???

what happens if one is tacoed?

thanks
-Bob

Hi Bob,

Great question. Picture a dive horizontal in the water using a BP&W. The wing will typically only be slightly inflated. The gas in the wing will be in two "bubbles", each along side the tank.

If the wing is too large, and or the center panel of the wing is two wide (for example a double tank wing used with a single tank) these two bubbles will cause the "wing" to wrap up around the tank, and the bubbles may end up above the tank! (Picture Dumbo's ears)

This makes venting difficult. The top arc of a wing is constrained below the center line of the tank by the valve and first stage. If a wide wing has "tacoed" then you will have to go heads up to get gas to the inflator hose to vent, or to shift gas from one side of the wing to the other if you wish to use the lower OPV to vent.

A narrow wing, sized for the application, will wrap the tank very little even when only slightly filled. This means the gas bubbles are only very slightly higher than the level of the top arc of the wing. This means one can vent easily without going heads up, feet down.

Tacoed wings are the classic result of using a Doubles wing for single tank diving. The center panel in a doubles wing, that's the part that does not inflate, has to be wide enough for two tanks, that's way to wide for a single tank.


Regards,



Tobin

 

[BelikinBob]

Hi everyone,

thank you! for the great detailed responses!

Im sure ill have alot more questions before commiting to a BC

-Bob

 

[Divin'Papaw]

From another newbie, thanks for your detailed, patient responses! Sounds like you answered BelikinBob's question, and I found your answers educational as well.