Oxycheq 18# wing

[xidex]

The owner of a LDS here has just started diving with a new Oxycheq travel backplate, lightweight STA and an 18# razor wing.It looks really cool. The backplate and STA together only weigh 3 lbs.

I want to have a rig that is as small, light weight and simple as possible.

I currently use a DR stainlees steel transplate w/ rec wing and pst steel 100s.
I only need about 2 lbs of weight with a 3 mil suit an I think I am a little over weighted while diveing in a t-shirt(water temp is 81 here right now).

My question is if this new setup ie..a 18# wing is enough lift for the diving i am doing(warm water with little to no wetsuit)?

Any help or suggestion would be greatly apreciated

 

[fire_diver]

Off the top of my head, I would say it's fine. But each person is different. Strap a tank with about 300# air in it, put on what ever suit (or none) you plan on diving with, and see if you can hold level at about 10 ft. If you can do that, your weighting is fine. Now strap on a full tank and make sure it can float you with the extra 4 pounds.

FD

 

[Vie]

I want to have a rig that is as small, light weight and simple as possible.

Check out the OxyCheq Mach V wing.

 

[GreenDiverDown]

That is a sweet setup. 18# will be fine for what you decribe.

The Mach V is great... but even as small as it is it can't touch the 18# razor... not for what this guy's talkin' about, anyways. (IMHO)

 

[Hoyden]

I have an 18lb oxycheq wing that I use for aquarium diving. I wanted to have as minimal of a rig as possible. It manages an AL63 or AL80 with an 11lb backplate and 12-16 lbs of weight on a belt with a 5mm just fine. It will float my assembled rig with no problem. This summer I may try it with a steel tank in some fresh water ( I have an 30lb singles wing that I normally use for that) just for fun. I would not hesitate to take it open water diving with Al tanks anywhere. The other option to consider when looking at minimal wings would be Deep Sea Supply's 20lb wing. It was not available when I got my Oxycheq.

Jackie Cooper

 

[BSea]

I agree that the travel plate looks really cool, but does it weigh any less than an aluminum BP? For the cost difference, I'd probably go with the aluminum BP.

 

[SangP]

BSea,

The travel plate is 2.2 lbs while the Alu is 800g or bout 1 pound, 10 ounces. The lightest Oxycheq setup should be the O-Pac, lightweight STA and a 18 razor wing.

SangP

 

[BSea]

BSea,

The lightest Oxycheq setup should be the O-Pac, lightweight STA and a 18 razor wing.

SangP

Is the O-Pac a rigid backplate, or does it flex. I've never touched 1, just saw the pictures on the web site. But even if it flexes, the STA would make it rigid down the middle. I may have to think about this 1 in the future.

 

[SangP]

BSea,

I think it flexes but an sta should stiffen it up a lot and as a travel bc I don't think there's anything out there lighter (for a bp/w type bc).

SangP

 

[pdoege]

a 18# wing is enough lift for the diving i am doing(warm water with little to no wetsuit)?

Yes, 18# will be enough. I started with a similar setup.

I personally use a 45# oxycheq now. I can get quite a bit more of me out of the water that way. Much nicer when waiting for a pickup in heavier seas.

I would suggest the 30# or 45#.

You should be able to drop the 2# of weight, I never use weight with a SS BP, 3mm suit, and HP100/80.

Peter