Venting Rec Wings: How Serious an Issue Is It Really?

[jim T.]

I'd like to limit responses to this post to folks who've owned and dived rec wings or dive with buddies who do, please.

Although I am attracted to a singles wing dedicated to singles, the fact still remains that I have a good deal in the works on a Transplate RecWing system and I really like my LDS guy who has been very helpful with info. and trying equipment on, etc. and would like to reward him with my business. Provided I don't regret the singles/doubles wing compromise a lot.

I'm heading for my 20th dive so still learning a lot, but after reading all the threads on the board repeatedly and having some nice PM discussions with helpful Diverite RecWing owners/divers , I'd like to know before final decisions are made:

l. Is it VASTLY more inconvenient to vent air from the Rec Wing with a single tank
by rolling the left shoulder up? (when horizontal) than with a smaller doughnut wing-or is it just something you get used to quickly-no big deal?

Is is semi-anal to think that that bit of extra thought and effort are going to be a monumental pain/difference over a doughnut wing, thus slowing my learning/experence process or really just a minor additional inconvenience?


2. Will what appears to be minimal tacoing (from what I can judge in the shop with the wing inflated around an Al 80) REALLY be noticeable drag-wise on my level of purely recreational dives? (I'm currently diving drysuit/cold water with a steel 95).

I compared the Rec Wing with a 32lb. lift Apek doughnut and the "tacoing" seemed to be just about the same amount.

3. Would the additional lift and possible slower venting of the right tube actually be of some advantage if I want to tank mount a 30 cu. ft. pony eventually?/Would the extra lift make carrying a mounted or slung pony easier?

4. Although I'll be diving singles/possibly with a pony in the near future, I still am deciding if smaller twins/doubles for redundancy would be even better with the Rec Wing than a pony...

I'd love it if Rec Wing and Transplate Harness divers who haven't already been in touch with me or have had more experience with their rig since last posting would update and tell me if the dedicated wing thing hasn't fazed them one bit-
finding that the flexibility of the singles/double Rec Wing has paid off enough for them that they don't feel a need to switch.

It seems that the "compromise" wings are becoming a "dinosaur" feature in most peoples view these days.

Thanks for revisiting this issue with me. Any specific dive anecdotes with some detail would be helpful to me and others if you're willing.

Jim

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Jim,
One of my buddies dives a transplate from time to time in Puget Sound and warm water.

The answer is that its a personal-preference, subjective conclusion. Some people find the compromise to be too, well, compromising. Some don't.

To return a question to you; on a 1 to 10 scale how much of a pain in the butt is it to you to purchase a piece of gear only to determine later that you don't like it and wish you'd purchased something different? Are you willing to spend cash and time to do that?

The best advice you can be given is to try the equipment out before you purchase it. If a shop owner is selling a piece of gear, its better than even odds that he has one to rent. Even better, have a buddy videotape you while you're diving the gear. You'll be able to see the issues clearly - the camera won't lie to you.

Whether those issues bother you or not is up to you.

Regards,

Doc

 

[Brewone0to]

I dive the transpac2/Recwing combo with a single Al80 and am seriously thinking of adding an additional lower dump valve so that each side has one. Mostly because it causes a bit of an issue during head first decents.Other than that I love the wing,and with use of the bungee system it reduces the "Tacoing Effect" significally.
Also, when considering Doubles vs. Pony bottle. Definitely consider that doubles with an isolation valve gives you redundancy for only alittle more money,but alot more air.
More air = more bottom time.
Brewone0to
Just Another Florida Diver

 

[mac_diver]

I dive the transpack with rec wing. So far I have only dove single tanks and have not noticed an issue getting the whole wing to vent. I Know all the DIR folks will cringe at my next statement. I use the inflator hose pull dump to dump the wing. This seems to get the air out of both sides of the wing. I do think that if I used the lower dump valve I would have to roll my right side lower to get the air out. I have never used a doughnut style wing, so I can not reasonbly compare the two.

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

As an alternative to the rec wing . . .

My wife dives a Trans Pac II and Jr. Wing (predecessor of the Trek wing). We bought this rig pre-owned and it already had the clips & such that are used in the Dive Rite sidemounting kit attached - so it exhibits absolutely minimal (zero) taco factor using singles (or even if we should pursue sidemounting)! She has used this for AL50, AL63, and AL80 with no problems venting or otherwise using the Jr. Wing in this configuration. She has better buoyancy control than I do with me using the Travel wing with a single!

I used to borrow it if I was diving twin 63's or twin 80's, but I bought a 55 lb deepoutdoors wing that i use when I'm diving twins, and she keeps her Jr. wing.

The Jr. Wing was rated at 5 lb more lift than the current Trek wing. No bungee on the Jr. Wing - it wasn't a design feature used on that model.

This configuration may be the last decent "use for singles as well as doubles" rig contrived.

http://www.diveriteexpress.com/library/manuals/sidemount.pdf

Divers Supply has something they sell for their wings called Stabilizing Bands used for their high lift wing, and I think Zeagle also uses something similar, but the anchor points aren't on the wing lower corners like they are on the Jr. Wing (the Trek wing comes pretty close). These may be adaptable in some fashion to the Rec wing, don't know for sure. The Sea Elite 60 lb lift wing is the closest comparable item in their lineup to the Rec wing.

http://www.diverssupplyusa.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=16020

http://www.diverssupplyusa.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=16017

 

[theskull]

I dive the Rec wing as my primary wing for single tank (with the bungies attached). I also use it as my back-up wing for doubles (with the bungies unattached from the last 2 loops) or for a weekend when I will be diving singles and doubles and only want to bring one wing.

No issues. No compromises. It works great.

theskull

 

[theskull]

I dive the transpac2/Recwing combo with a single Al80 and am seriously thinking of adding an additional lower dump valve so that each side has one. Mostly because it causes a bit of an issue during head first decents.Other than that I love the wing,and with use of the bungee system it reduces the "Tacoing Effect" significally.
Also, when considering Doubles vs. Pony bottle. Definitely consider that doubles with an isolation valve gives you redundancy for only alittle more money,but alot more air.
More air = more bottom time.
Brewone0to
Just Another Florida Diver

Why do you need to dump air while descending? Just exhale or give a couple kicks. Everything is going to compress as you descend anyway, and then you just have to inflate it that much more to get neutrally buoyant again.

theskull

 

[Rick Murchison]

I dove my Rec wing with singles until I got my travel wing, after which I relegated my Rec wing to doubles only.
Rick

 

[jim T.]

Thanks guys! Wow, lots of responses already. Great! I've got to go play a recording session but I'll respond tomorrow.
Before I run, Rick, can you tell me what doubles you're using? Thanks.

Does everyone feel like the bladder is as tough as most competitors?
If there are more , keep 'em coming please. I'm encouraged.

Does everyone feel like using the inflator hose dump vents the wing evenly on both sides? That would be the end of that concern for me, I'd guess...

Appreciate the help!
Jim

 

[jim T.]

Hi. Back from work.
I wanted to respond in turn...

Doc, unfortunately no one in my area rents this rig. But the LDS owner I'm so far, most likely to buy from HAS spent a couple of hrs. with me trying the rig on in his shop and patiently answering many questions, being organized enough to have everything rigged up to a tank for me, etc before I even got there. I also feel like I'd need some pool time with a bp mentor before I'd even be able to rent a rig and dive it. I've had no experience with the weight trim issues yet and would need a primer before renting...
My LDS has been accepting of my wheeling/dealing and offered me a tempting price so he's definitely earned my customer appreciation award. I'd love to rent and dive the gear lst but even though this would be my lst bp and wing, I feel like I've read enough here and elsewhere to know what I'm buying. It's just all the newer doughnut maker's products and discussions have made me want to be sure I won't find venting/rolling issues with the Rec Wing/horseshoe to be a bit too much to handle at my meager experience level.

One of my PM correspondents has mentioned that he is going to get a right side dump installed, if I'm recalling that correctly...

Warmwater, The deal is only on a rec wing rig but I'll check out alternatives.

Rick, did you enjoy those single tank dives with the Rec Wing or were you constantly thinking:
"This is too much of a pain or awkward and for a singles wing? I was concerned about getting all of the air out of a 51 lb. lift wing if any tacoing might inhibit that.

I've also read and gotten various recommendations as to which size doubles are too large to allow full expansion of the wing(s).
I'm currently single tank diving a steel 95.

Thanks everybody! Looking forward to hearing more if you're willing.

Jim