OMS wings

[COUSTEA]

Any one know if a new slotted OMS backplate can be hooked up to a single tank, without an adapter plate?? If so is it stable, because it looks like it would be resting on the SS grommets that the doubles band bolts to.

Also...I am trying to decide between the 45lb and 60lb lift. Eventually I plan to dive doubles, but for now I use a single tank with pony setup. I don't want to go overboard if I don't have to...on the other hand I don't want to have to buy a new wing later on...thanks in advance.

 

[Kestrell]

I don't know too much about BP/W, but it might be better if you had two different wings.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Any one know if a new slotted OMS backplate can be hooked up to a single tank, without an adapter plate?? If so is it stable, because it looks like it would be resting on the SS grommets that the doubles band bolts to.

Also...I am trying to decide between the 45lb and 60lb lift. Eventually I plan to dive doubles, but for now I use a single tank with pony setup. I don't want to go overboard if I don't have to...on the other hand I don't want to have to buy a new wing later on...thanks in advance.

Coustea,

Few here would encourage you to try and dive singles and doubles with the same wing. If your starting with single tank, buy a single wing. Double wings will "taco" the tank when used with a single tank, a single wing will be trapped under doubles.

Direct mounting of single tanks to BP's can be problematic. One of the problems is exactly what you have noted, the grommets (and or bolts thru the gromments) do become the high point on which the tank can rock.

The solution to this problem is either a STA (single tank adapter) or........if I might be so bold our BP / Wing combo.

http://www.deepseasupply.com/page10.html

Our single wing has no grommets, and does have a built in elastomeric cradle to prevent tank rock.



Regards,




Tobin George

 

[CRDiver]

Depending on the type of doubles you would use, a 45 *might* be enough for both singles and doubles.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Lift capacity is only one factor in choosing a wing.

First, calculating required lift: One needs enough wing lift to float their rig at the surface without them in it. Just add up all the known values, i.e. the published values for the tank(s) you are using, the weight of your plate, regs etc. These are the "wet weights" i.e. effective negative in the water. For a single this seldom over 20lbs. usually much less.

The second value you need to know is the maximum floation of your wetsuit, i.e. how much lead does it take to just sink your wetsuit? Remember only your wetsuit looses buoyancy, this lost buoyancy is what your buoynacy "compensator" is compensating for. Does your suit need more than 20-25 lbs to sink just it?

Fact is that unless your using a very heavy wetsuit most single tank rigs could use ~25lb wing.


The real difference between single and doubles wing is shape. A doubles wing needs a wide space between the inflatable sections to accomadate the two tanks. If used with a single tank a doubles wing will wrap or taco the tank, this makes venting difficult.

If a narrow single tank wing is used with doubles the tanks will prevent it from inflating fully. This is real trouble if the smaller lift single wing is made smaller still by being constrained by the tanks.


Regards,


Tobin

 

[COUSTEA]

Thanks for all the advise...

I plan to use doubles eventually, but I will be diving with a single cylinder and pony setup for now. I want to get a wing that will support both single and double use, so I don't have to buy 2 wings. I am looking at the OMS single bladder wing with bungees, either 45lb or 60lb lift. I currently use E-series 100cu steel tanks. I don't think that the "taco" effect will be an issue with bungee wings...so I guess my only decision is 45lb or 60lb lift. 2 steel tanks in a twin setup is pretty heavy...and I don't cave dive so bungees are my personal preference.

 

[TwoTanks]

I have always found the 45# bladder on my zeagle to be sufficient for singles and a pony and all the extras. My BP/W setup, I use for doubles has a 93# bladder, but that has a lot of extra capacity.

I think you are better off getting two sets of wings, but if you are asking just for an opinion between a 45 and a 60, I don't think a 45 will hold up a rig with big doubles and the extras.

For what its worth here is what DIR says:

Buoyancy Compensation Device: A diver's buoyancy compensation device should be back-mounted and minimalist in nature. It should come free of extraneous strings, tabs, or other material. There should be no restrictive bands or "bungee" of any sort affixed to the buoyancy cell. In addition, diver lift should not exceed 50lbs for a single tank and 80lbs for double tanks. Wing size and shape should be appropriate to the cylinder size(s) employed for training.

TT

 

[Scuba Cowboy]

Get the 60 lbs w/ bungies, they'll work fine for both regardless of what " DIR says". I did an experiment with wings a while back. Used a 55 lb., unbungeed wing on a single. Not good, very bulky. Then used my 94lb. bungeed wings, they worked great. The bungees keep 'em nice & streamlined. My personal opinion, the DIR line on bungeed wings is a load of crapola. But, hey, they are intitled to their opinion too.