Question regarding Air cell design

[Splitlip]

Hi folks.
I am building a BP/W rig and shopping for the wing. I am wondering how those with an outer shell and inner bladder compare to those with a single bladder with respect to inherent buoyancy.
Also read a post here once that they are heavier (Oxycheq signature vs. Razor I think) and that water that get traps between the inner bladder and shell can be a pain during exit.
Any light that can be shed is appreciated.
Thanks

 

[radinator]

I have dove both, and never noticed a difference. From what I hear, though, if my wing with the inner bladder ever gets punctured, all I have to do is replace the bladder. I've heard the single-layer ones are a real pain to try to repair.

Been diving 10 years and have never had to test that theory though, with either type of bladder.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Hi folks.
I am building a BP/W rig and shopping for the wing. I am wondering how those with an outer shell and inner bladder compare to those with a single bladder with respect to inherent buoyancy.
Also read a post here once that they are heavier (Oxycheq signature vs. Razor I think) and that water that get traps between the inner bladder and shell can be a pain during exit.
Any light that can be shed is appreciated.
Thanks

With a "double bladder" style wing, i.e. swn outer with inner urethane bladder, water will get between the two layers. Good design will include large area drains at the bottom edge of the wing. This way any water between the layers will shed as fast as you can climb out of the water.

Some older wing designs used one or two small grommets as drains and these can be slow to shed.

Newer designs will have large mesh drains.


Regards,


Tobin

 

[cool_hardware52]

I have dove both, and never noticed a difference.

Hey Rad, that the benefit of good design.......

BTW, nice to see you again CWD meeting.

Tobin

 

[radinator]

Good to see you there too Tobin.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have Tobin's 30# wing (which has an internal bladder and large mesh drains which empty almost instantly) and I really like it.
He's also got a great SS backplate.

 

[divad]

The benfit of the inner-bladder type wing, for me, is that I was able to get it new for $150.00 because it had 2 staple holes. You don't have to, necessarily, replace the blader. The repairs were simple and don't concern me much. As for water-trapping, I added two rubber gromets to the outer shell.

 

[WaterDawg]

I was cheching out the DR classic wing the other day and noticed that it did not have ANY way to drain the water. Does anyone know if the newer wings are still lile that?

 

[drbill]

My SP X-Tek TravTek "double bladder" wing drains just fine. Unfortunately it has only a year or so of life left in the outer covering (sniff). Have to find one I like as much since they don't make the X-Tek stuff anymore. I really like the oval wing design... it dumps from the bottom nicely while my head is stuck in the down position filming. No horseshoes for me (not a lucky thing IMHO).

 

[O2BBubbleFree]

As for water-trapping, I added two rubber gromets to the outer shell.

Evad, can you give me more info on where to get rubber grommets, and how they are installed?

I have an old wing that has two tiny grommets, and I'm thinking of adding more. Rubber sounds good, but I'm only familiar with the brass ones used for tarps and such.

PM me if you don't want to add to my hijack of this thread...