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

[DA Aquamaster]

I use a Rec wing as my single tank wing. The taco effect is minimal if the bungee cord is used and I don't notice any issues with venting other than on rare occasions having to tilt to a very slight up angle or roll slightly one way or the other to allow the sides of the wing to equalize. Tilting up slightly lets the sides equalize on their own.

I had some problems with using it as a doubles wing as it would get constricted between the backplate and larger diameter doubles and went to a wider wing in that application.

It is a good compromise singles/doubles wing. It is not the worlds best at either but it still does a good job with both.

 

[jim T.]

TheSkull, Thanks for your imput too. Sorry I missed you last night in giving my thanks!

DA Aquamaster, you've reiterated what my LDS guy told me so I guess I can believe him, then! How big did doubles have to get before you felt it necessary to go with a larger doubles wing?

For some time to come, I would use a bail out pony bottle strapped to my steel 95 and possibly go with doubled steel 85s instead of a pony for redundancy as twins.

I'm still too new and inexperienced to decide but singles for now at any rate.

It's sounding like a doughnut wing isn't going to be hands down/no contest improvement or neccesity for me then over my intended use for a Rec Wing.

One of the other mitigating circumstances is that I haven't been able to locate a local dealer with an Oxycheq wing to compare.

So... to sum up, not being experienced enough to decide what my rig should/would be a couple of yrs. down the road the "compromise" wing still seems prudent.

Thanks so much guys. I'm a member of a lot of recording/musician and weightlifting boards and you folks have always been incredibly helpful and giving of info. compared with some egos on those boards.
You deserve a major award!

Anyone else have anything they can add? I'll be making my decision/purchase in the next 3 wks.

cheers, Jim

 

[jim T.]

Huh, mayb I'm just too beat after last night's work session,(can't seem to locate the edit button) but I also wanted to thank Brewone, MacDiver and Warmwater again, (for the sidemount info.)

I still am curious as to whether or not potentially having a bit of air in the right wing tube before I tilt or roll to vent gives any noticable balance/support for a tank mounted pony/bailout bottle making trim more even with singles.

Once I do vent the wing, is roll or pull to the right side going to be more than mildly noticable? That might be an advantage to just going with twins earlier than later?

 

[plongeursousmarin]

After testing a Transpac with a Venture (I think it was a Venture - not sure anymore - anyway one specific for 80s) wing, I just purchased a Transpac harness with RecWing and went diving last weekend with an AL80, no issues at all for me, other than fiddling a little with where things go and where things are (I come from a jacket-style BC background) although I do miss pockets and I'm planning on adding some for slates and the occasional flashlight (there's just too much stuff dangling from the D rings in my case). The trim of those BCs is fantastic however, night and day in the way I feel in the water compared to before with my other BCs. As far as dumping air, I like the quality of the corrugated hose and changing my position a little bit to dump is no different than what I've always done with a BC anyway. As far as the low, left side dump valve that is for me a great feature compared to the Scubapro that I will no longer be using as I'm right handed and positively hated using my right hand to reach back and dump air out of the BC on headfirst descents. Anyway I doubt there's many divers out there or on this board who hate their DiveRite BC with the RecWing, it seems to work very well in a lot of configurations.

 

[jim T.]

P.,
Thanks very much. Comparing anecdotal/experiential feedback from divers with 1,000 dives under their belts and yours which is more similar to mine is extremely helpful.

Another cool thing is that this thread has become/is becoming(?) a thread that isn't just rehashing old ones but is actually a useful new resource for any potential "compromise" wing purchasers.

Even though buying multiple dedicated wings makes the most hydrodynamic sense, etc. "Compromise" wings, I am intuitively feeling will allow for ready and relatively faster way to experiment with what tank and type of diving I'll eventually like to do, most of the time.
I figure that must've influenced some of your guys' decisions as well?

 

[theskull]

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

The bladder is as tough as my other wing (Halcyon) and the OxyCheq and Abyss wings some of my buddies have. The hose dump definitely vents the wing evenly on both sides.

I dive my Rec wing as a single tank wing with AL 80, Steel LP 108, and Steel LP 131.

I have also dived it as a double tank wing with Steel LP 95s and Steel LP 104s.

I love it. I consider it a compromise wing for doubles because I prefer a little more lift for diving with multiple stages. I consider it an ideal wing for single tank diving, which is what I primarily bought it for, but I have long been a fan of extra lift capacity because as a Divemaster I am often placing or retrieving anchors for descent lines, weighted "targets" for Search and Rescue practice, and dropped weight belts of student divers.

theskull

 

[Tavi]

I use a rec wing for my cold water single tank diving. Works great, no problems.
I have also used it with e-8 130 doubles. For these I prefer the classic wing. For e-7 100 doubles, it works okay but since I have the classic wing I use that. So basicaly it's now my single Tank wing.

Singles........Great
Small doubles.....Great
Big doubles.......It'll work but it's not optimal.

 

[spyder]

I've got a TranspacII/rec wing but don't have a ton of dives on it yet, all warm water and AL80's. So far dumping off the shoulder is a no brainer, bottom dump takes a little roll. I've got it bungied and works great. Bouyancy underwater is perfect and surface hanging is night and day over my old Genesis Cobra. I don't notice any tacoeing. Not looking back to a jacket bc.... My wife bought me a DiveRite thigh pocket that hooks to the waist belt and elastic bands on the thigh for storage.

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

For my wife's rig, the "compromise wing" was part of a pre-owned package. DR TP II, Jr. Wings, sidemount kit stuff, weight pockets (the older non-angled style), and a few other odds & ends clipped to the BC was ours for $100 - there's a limited resale market in the XS and S sizes. Whoever owned it before certainly knew what they were doing, and it was definitely our gain! It was a definite step up from her college days BCD.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I found that with a backplate that the restriction of the wing started to be noticeable with 7.25" diameter tanks (same diameter as an AL 80). With the weight requirements of cold water diving in a 7mm wet suit, and a couple deco bottles along, the lift was adequate but barely at depth.

The backplate used also makes a differences. I have both OMS and DIv-Rite plates and the Dive rite plate is slightly flatter and provides a bit less room for the wing to fully inflate.

With regards to a pony, In the distant past I used a tank mounted 30 cu ft pony and never noticed anything more than a slight roll to one side if I stopped swimming. 2 pounds of weight on the other side of the tank or harness solves the problem more efficiently than trying to manage the bubble in the wing.

In the winter for shore diving in areas where I have to hike down to the water or on ice dives, I will still use a single tank and a slung 30 or 40 cu ft deco bottle as a "pony". I don't notice any asymetric trim issues with the slung pony.