Rec Wing Vs. Trek Wing

[Splitlip]

Yeah... put the inflator valve has a pull dump, so you don't have to shift your position... I dive a rec wing, and have been able to dump from either valve with no issues at all. Maybe your friends don't have the bungies set up properly on the rec wing??

I would say you are correct on their bungies. I looked at the video again. If the bungies are supposed to keep the wings tucked in like my Zeagle, I would guess there is something wrong.

 

[*Floater*]

This thread got me thinking. Three buddies I used to dive with all went out and bought trans pacs with rec wings a few years ago because they planned on getting into doubles.

Do your friends still dive the rec wing?

Just curious. I considered the wing myself when I first realized I wanted to dive both doubles and singles because it can do both and I wanted to save money, but in hindsight I'm glad I didn't get it because I would, with all probability, just have ended up selling it a few months down the road. Besides you can find used doubles wings pretty cheap here, the decostop or ebay.

 

[Splitlip]

I will agree that a "tacoed" wing is a poor choice and hard to vent, however.....

If a horseshoe wing is properly matched to the application, i.e. doubles wing of the appropriate lift for the configuration, or narrow singles wing on a single tank, there is no difficulty in venting from the OPV.

Gas will shift through the upper arc of the wing with just a slight deviation from horizontal trim. One needs to go slightly head up or shoulder up to vent a dry suit anyway.

It is very infrequent that can gas transfers through the bottom arc of any "donut" wing. The lower arc of donut wings, for the horizontally trimmed diver, are trapped below the bottom of the tanks, doubles or singles. Gas seeks the highest point, and one needs to be distinctly "butt up" before the space between you butt and the lower end of the tanks is the highest point on the wing.


Regards,


Tobin

I agree with you to a point. Double wings untill recently I believe have always been edit "horse Shoes" (oops) and your original single horse shoes are very narrow. In my limited experience with back inflates:
USD Malibu w/ I think 35 # unrestricted wing I had lots of Taco (looked at the videos, not as much as buddies with Rec wings). As often as not, when I used rear dump I only managed to add water to the bladder.
Zeagle Stilletto narrow profile, bungies keeping the 34# wing tucked in, dump always where I put my hand. I pretty much move the bubble around by shifting my body. It worked. I thought this was the tits on ritz.
Backlate (hog) and Oxycheq 30 # Razor. Donut wing. Small profile. The plate always keeps my horizontal so I always vent from the lower (OPV) dump. I just have to do a little Shakira, Shakira thing with my hips. I imagine if the valve were set up on the back (top) of the wing like Dive Rite did with their 30# donut, I would not even need to shake my hips.

 

[Splitlip]

Do your friends still dive the rec wing?

Don't know. I am diving with a different bunch now. I do bump into them occasionally at the LDS. I will ask next time I see them. I will update when I do.
I will see if my daghter can convert the VHS to photos I can post.

 

[wmspdi]

Thank you all for the valuable replies but this brings another question to my mind, how is the DR Venture wing doing with air trapping?

I don't have a problem with it as I always roll my left shoulder up and vent the Venture wing from power inflator (I don't use the shoulder pull dump). I am careful not to over weight myself, so I don't need a lot of gas in my wing when diving singles. When diving doubles with the REC wing I dive a 7mm drysuit, so I don't use the the wing below the surface.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I imagine if the valve were set up on the back (top) of the wing like Dive Rite did with their 30# donut, I would not even need to shake my hips.

It's not by accident that almost all wings have the OPV on the divers side of the wing, and not on the "tank" side. Even DR, IIRC, has move their OPV to the divers side.

I'm sure you are aware of this, but for the yet uninitiated.......

It's an access issue. It's much easier to reach the valve when it's on the divers side. Proper technique is to grab the string and pull up towards your butt, not down towards your belly. If the OPV is positioned correctly in the wing, i.e. at or near the widest point of the wing, pulling up towards your butt raises the OPV to where it is the highest point on the wing.

That still doesn't make gas magically flow "downhill" under the base of the tanks from one side to the other.

Tobin

 

[Splitlip]

It's not by accident that almost all wings have the OPV on the divers side of the wing, and not on the "tank" side. Even DR, IIRC, has move their OPV to the divers side.

I'm sure you are aware of this, but for the yet uninitiated.......

It's an access issue. It's much easier to reach the valve when it's on the divers side. Proper technique is to grab the string and pull up towards your butt, not down towards your belly. If the OPV is positioned correctly in the wing, i.e. at or near the widest point of the wing, pulling up towards your butt raises the OPV to where it is the highest point on the wing.

That still doesn't make gas magically flow "downhill" under the base of the tanks from one side to the other.

Tobin

I did not consider the magic gas theory.
The Dive Rite wings that I saw had the valve positioned away from the diver, but the string was routed through a sleeve so the string and ball were on the diver's side of the wing. So I would say the access issue is coverd.
I believe however you are correct on elevation of the valve. Pulling on the string toward the diver with the "backwards valve"would keep the valve pointing UP, but would pull the wing down. Good point.
Another consideration about the valve I mentioned now that I am thinking about it. With the string routed through the sleeve, pulling on it seems like it would put the action on the valve in "shear" not "withdrawal" as I think they are designed.
You say that DR has discontinued this. Do you know if they identified these things we discussed as problems?

 

[cool_hardware52]

I did not consider the magic gas theory.

Good! apparently many do.

The Dive Rite wings that I saw had the valve positioned away from the diver, but the string was routed through a sleeve so the string and ball were on the diver's side of the wing. So I would say the access issue is coverd.

I guess, but it's more bits to snag or fail.

I believe however you are correct on elevation of the valve. Pulling on the string toward the diver with the "backwards valve"would keep the valve pointing UP, but would pull the wing down. Good point.

Another consideration about the valve I mentioned now that I am thinking about it. With the string routed through the sleeve, pulling on it seems like it would put the action on the valve in "shear" not "withdrawal" as I think they are designed.

The OPV's actually work fine via a "remote" string. The lid or cage of the OPV's typically have a radiused hole for the string. Pull on the string at a right angle and the string turns the corner and lifts the spring.

You say that DR has discontinued this. Do you know if they identified these things we discussed as problems?

I have no special knowledge of what motivates DR or any other manufacturer, you might check with them.


Tobin

 

[RedSeaDesertDiver]

Thank you guys for the nice info you all provided.

Eagle Ray.