Oxycheq Wing Poll: what size do you own and why?

[Ezh]

h2whoa once bubbled...
30#. 45# was overkill for me too, even though I dive in cold water with a LP95.

Same reason here #30 is all I need for diving single AL80 in a wetsuit.

p.s. I really like it, though to be fair, that's my first BP/wing setup, so I cannot compare to other wings

khel

 

[RiverRat]

goatboy_k once bubbled...
i dove my new 45 lbs oxycheq wing and fredT plate last weekend. It is my first B/P wing so i dont' have much to compare it against.
goatboy_k

I'm setting up a new BP/W and going with a FredT SS BP and thinking about buying the new Oxycheq 45# wing over the Halcyon Pioneer 36#. Did you need an STA with the Oxy? Is it the same as the Halcyon with "built in" STA? What type of FredT plate did you purchase? Any info appreciated.

RR

 

[COVCI]

OxyCheq wings require a STA. Any FredT plate will work with the wing...only need to decide if you need AL or Steel and if you want the shortened plate or the normal size.

Here is information about FredT's plates:

The “full” size plate is effectively the same exterior pattern as the Halcyon plates with slightly different bending and some additional strap location options, holes, and handling features to make it more user friendly to women and those using a STA most of the time. The “short” version is essentially the same plate scaled to be 1.5” shorter in height without compromising on width or the features present in the “full” model. The “short’ plate is sized to fit those about 5’ 6” and shorter to about 4’10. All plates are bent in the same pattern to make the most of the available spectrum of gear and wings from several manufacturers.

The “heavy” stainless steel (SST) plate is manufactured of 3/16” (.188) stainless steel with negative buoyancy of about 9 pounds in the full size plate, or about 8 pounds in the short format. The “normal” SST plate is manufactured of 11 gauge (~ 0.119” nominal) thickness with a negative buoyancy of about –6 in
the full pattern and –5.5 pounds in the “short” pattern. Both these are manufactured in 316 alloy stainless steel to minimize marine corrosion. The available commercial SST plates are constructed of 304 or 302 series stainless that is not as resistant to corrosion in seawater. The aluminum plates are made of 1/8” 50XX series Aluminum for maximum resistance to salt water corrosion. The available commercial plates are mostly of 6061 alloy, an alloy well known for rapid pitting in seawater. The 50XX series alloys actually get stronger as they’re bent too. Both patterns of the AL plate will be about –1 pound buoyancy.


Hope this helps...

Chris

 

[RiverRat]

COVCI once bubbled...
OxyCheq wings require a STA. Any FredT plate will work with the wing...only need to decide if you need AL or Steel and if you want the shortened plate or the normal size.
Chris

Thanks!

RR

 

[jb2thdoc]

I purchased the regular 6lb fred t bp and the lightweight 2 pc STA and am using the oxy 45lb wing. I can not say enough about the quality of FredT's equipment. I ordered mine finished and I must say that I am impressed. The oxy wing works perfect with this setup and trim in the water is impressive. I dove monterey this weekend in the rig and even though the vis was for s*%t, I did not care because I was just enjoying my equipment set up. Hope this helps. I am by no means pushing any particular bit of gear. I was also in your situation not long ago trying to make decisions. I will say that, so far, I have no regrets with this configuration.

Jason

 

[Xevious]

I just dove my new Zeagle BP/harness and 45# Oxycheq setup. Aside from some initial technical challenges (the Oxycheq's slots for single tank bands are spaced more tightly than Zeagle's - guess I'm in the market for an STA) I'm incredibly happy with both.

45# of lift was overkill for the warm water that I'm in right now, but should be just right for when I'm back home in the Pacific. The wings are narrow and streamlined, and created significantly less drag than my rec BCD, which will shortly become a hand-me-down.

My only concern is with the material from which the bladder is constructed. It seems thin and, well, brittle isn't the right word, but perhaps crinkly (?) in comparison with the other wings I've seen. Is anyone else concerned about this material losing its pliability?

 

[Bloop]

Hey Xevious,

You have not polled yet? we wanted an accurate poll of the number of Wings and what sizes SB members are using..



I have got the 45 wings too... I am not worried about the material of the wing.

We will try and see! Anyway, they have already tested it for months till they launched it.

 

[GoBlue!]

ABQdiver once bubbled...
I've got the 45# so far. It replaced the Halycon 36# that went to my daughter.
The other posters are right about it being very streamline in the water and the apparent lift is transparent to the trim and buoyancy control the wing offers. Way to go Patrick!!

I may have to buy a couple of the 30# for the tropical diving we do as well.

Just curious, why would you consider buying 30# wings for your tropical diving, as everything I've been reading suggests that the trim/exterior size of the 45# is the same as the 30# Oxycheq wing.

(Thinking about these myself & struggling w/ the choice....)

Jim

 

[Genesis]

Just get the 45 and be done with it. You don't need the 30.

 

[Albion]

its ten dollars more than the 30lb, not even worth looking at, they gonna lose money on the work put into it