Oxycheq Doubles Wing advice needed

[SangP]

Hi guys,

I'm on the lookout for a doubles wing and Oxycheq seems to be the best option in terms of durability, cost and function but I'm a little confused about which type of wing I need.

What's the diff between a Dual Bladder/Inflator a Double Cylinder "Signature Series" Wing and regular Double Cylinder Wing.

I am someday going to try tec diving and I've seen wings from Dive Rite and OMS having really HUGE lift capacites of 84lbs (DR) and 94lbs (OMS), is 70 lbs ok?

Please help,

SangP

 

[pdoege]

I dive 2x104s with an AL deco bottle with a 55lb wing. 70# is probably overkill for you.

The dual bladder wings are designed to be used with wetsuits to provide additional redundancy.

You may wish to hold off purchasing dual wings and tanks until you talk to a tech instructor. Regardless, there are many threads here that discuss wing size, type, and tank choices that you may browse.

Peter Doege

 

[SangP]

Hi pdoege,

Thanks for the info but you see, there doesn't seem to be anyone here who knows much about the Oxycheq wings and I was adviced by an instructor to go for a OMS 80lbs wing. Hence, the confusion.

I'll be using wetsuit down to perhaps 60m (eventually) with twin tanks, pony, lighting systems etc so what might be a good lift for me since I'm neutral to negatively bouyant?

I heard from somone that the Dual Bladder/Inflator is overkill. Anyone willing to shed some light please?

Thanks again.

SangP

 

[Scubaroo]

As you've said, there's currently three types of doubles wings in the OxyCheq range. All have a horseshoe or "U" bladder configuration.

Standard - This is the regular doubles wing. Standard outer shell for abrasion resistance, inner urethane bladder which can be patched/replaced in the event of damage. Top zipper for bladder inspection, single inflator, single rear dump. Available in 40lb, 50lb and 70lb sizes. Also had a limited edition red 50lb wing available.

Signature - The premium wing. Heavier outer shell for additional abrasion resistance, super heavy inner urethane bladder for extra puncture resistance, still can be patched or replaced if needed. Same construction as a Signature series single wing. Only available in 40lb and 50lb sizes.

Dual inflator - This is a redundant wing - two bladders, two inflators. Same construction material as the standard wing. The primary idea here is a redundant inflator - very rarely will a bladder fail on a dive. Most people think a dual bladder is in case you tear or cut a bladder during a dive - a far more likely scenario is a regulator or inflator failure. Available in 50lb and 70lb sizes.

 

[SangP]

Hi Subaroo,

Many thanks for the great help. If rarely a bladder fails, then why would they design one in the first place? Anyway, how does one patch a urethane bladder?

Thanks again,

SangP

 

[Scubaroo]

If rarely a bladder fails, then why would they design one in the first place?

Why did they design the HUB? Because divers buy it.

In all seriousness, I'm not sure of the origins of the design - OxyCheq wasn't the first company to release a dual bladder wing. But in all practicality, it provides a redundant inflator, which is more likely to fail before a bladder. Plenty of reports of inflators on any wing failing catastrophically during a dive, not many reports of catastrophic bladder failure.

A urethane repair kit will patch a urethane bladder. Not a bad item for an extended trip's save-a-dive kit, but I would seriously consider replacing the patched bladder at the earliest opportunity.

 

[SangP]

Hi Scubaroo,

I got the point bout the HUB LOL! Say why does Oxycheq not produce a 70 Signature wing anyway? I really hope they are going to. However, I've not been able to speak to any of my instructors regarding lift needed for tec diving.

Anyone willing to help?

SangP

 

[pdoege]

Anyone willing to help?
SangP

Assuming that you are using a wetsuit, steel deco bottles, steel backgas, and lead batteries I would say the dual inflator 70#.

If you are diving dry, or have some other method of bouyancy, you can use a single inflator wing.

If you are using Al deco bottles and a drysuit you can use a 50# wing.

You aren't going to die if you buy a 70# dual inflator wing when you really needed a single inflator 50# wing. It will just be a bit more draggy and gimmicky and you'll need to sell it to some other overweighted smuck before you buy a 50# or so wing.



Anyway, other than the above rules of thumb all I can say is talk to tech divers that you know and see what size they use and see what size they wished that they had purchased the first time.

If you don't know any other tech divers, go out and find some. Buy them a beer and they'll spill their guts.

Peter

 

[SangP]

Thanks for the replies guys!

Well if Gideon dives a 40 with doubles, you are right a 50 is more than enough for me LOL!

Cheers,

SangP

 

[Albion]

Thanks for the replies guys!

Well if Gideon dives a 40 with doubles, you are right a 50 is more than enough for me LOL!

Cheers,

SangP

Gideon is GUE, he wont let you anywhere near double bladders.

Wetsuit, Twin aluminium tanks and two alum deco bottles will still be ok with 40-50 lb wings.

However im guessing you havent got that far yet so you will need a single tank wing to start with. Dont try diving a twins wing on singles