overrated BC lift

[CRDiver]

I was just thumbing through the thread about the Pioneer 36 vs. 45 lb. bladders and I didn't see anyone mention an important point. Virtually every manufacturer overrates the lift capacity of their bladders. According to King George on www.wkpp.org under the "equipment" link, the venerable Halcyon 55 lb bladder actually provides only "about 40 pounds" of lift. And when Rodale's tested my Ranger last time, they said the lift capacity came within 14% of the claimed 44 lbs, which translates to about 38 lbs. So... given the fact the overstating lift is prevelant in the industry, isn't it safer to go with an air cell that has slightly/somewhat more lift than you actually need, just to be safe?

 

[MechDiver]

I guess I'd have to agree with that. However, most people will "think" they need more lift than they probably do. Then they apply your fudge factor, and get way more wing than they need. Plus, most of the wings have a fairly large jump in between sizes, and that may compound the issue.

Not sure what point you were trying to make other than the obvious one.

 

[CRDiver]

Apparently it wasn't obvious, since everyone in the discussion seemed to be taking the 45 lb. and 36 lb. rating of Halcyon bladders at face value. If you are carrying 25-30 pounds of weight at the beginning of a dive (via tank weight, lead weight, additional gear, etc), you're smarter to get the 45 lb bladder, even though the 36 *on paper* should be sufficent. The 36 is actually closer to 28-30. The 45 is probably 36-40.

 

[Dryglove]

CRDiver once bubbled...
If you are carrying 25-30 pounds of weight at the beginning of a dive (via tank weight, lead weight, additional gear, etc), you're smarter to get the 45 lb bladder, even though the 36 *on paper* should be sufficent.

Even though you are wearing that much lead you should only be negative by the weight of the air in your tank while in the water and maybe slightly more as most divers are overweighted to begin with.

The 45lb wing would be a wise choice in that situation if you are required to float your rig without you in it such as donning and doffing your gear in the water.

 

[MechDiver]

Speaking strickly about the Halcyon Pioneer, I agree. Partly because the 36 and 45 are the same size with a larger bellows on the 45. AFAIK anyways. Alot of people, myself being one, prefer to be somewhat mimimalistic when dealing with dive gear. If it's larger, and you don't **really** need it, don't take/buy it. If it has more, but is the same size, then it's probably okay

Doubles wings are somewhat different, and I believe the Oxycheq wings are much truer in their capacity ratings.

MD

 

[VTernovski]

ok, I have Oxycheq 50# wings (for doubles), does this mean that its practically same as Halcyon 55# wing? I've been told by so many different people so many different opinoions on this one. I intend to use it with PST E8-130's doubles. Should this be sufficient enough? I don't think I will be wearing any ditchable weight with this setup since I also have the 6lb SS backplate.

 

[MechDiver]

VTernovski once bubbled...
ok, I have Oxycheq 50# wings (for doubles), does this mean that its practically same as Halcyon 55# wing? I've been told by so many different people so many different opinoions on this one. I intend to use it with PST E8-130's doubles. Should this be sufficient enough? I don't think I will be wearing any ditchable weight with this setup since I also have the 6lb SS backplate.

I'm using the H 55 with LP-95s. From talking with one of the designers of the Oxycheq wings, I am under the impression their ratings are much closer to **truth** than some of the others. Good equipment choices!

I would buy the 50# in a minute if I needed another wing. As your 130's are a little lighter than my 95s you should have no problems at all. I dive dry, two deco tanks, can light and argon bottle and mine does okay.

MD

 

[IndigoBlue]

CRDiver once bubbled...
I was just thumbing through the thread about the Pioneer 36 vs. 45 lb. bladders and I didn't see anyone mention an important point. Virtually every manufacturer overrates the lift capacity of their bladders. According to King George on www.wkpp.org under the "equipment" link, the venerable Halcyon 55 lb bladder actually provides only "about 40 pounds" of lift. And when Rodale's tested my Ranger last time, they said the lift capacity came within 14% of the claimed 44 lbs, which translates to about 38 lbs. So... given the fact the overstating lift is prevelant in the industry, isn't it safer to go with an air cell that has slightly/somewhat more lift than you actually need, just to be safe?

I have noticed the same problem with lift bags as well. The bag in question was DiveRite. I was using the bag to bring back weight belts that I had told students to drop in the 10 ft deep open water as an emergency drill. The bag should have floated the weights, but it did not. Off by about 10 lbs.