Wing Choice for Shorter Cylinders

[Bob S]

Looking for feedback on the ideal wing to use with a set of HP steel 80's or possibly with alm 63's (Catalina). Would the 47lb lift Dive Rite Trek Wings be a good choice? Also which brand twin manifold would you recommend? Dive Rite, OMS, Sea Elite, etc? Thanks for your reply!

Bob S

 

[micklock]

I use the trek wing with hp80s (independent doubles), works great.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Looking for feedback on the ideal wing to use with a set of HP steel 80's or possibly with alm 63's (Catalina). Would the 47lb lift Dive Rite Trek Wings be a good choice? Also which brand twin manifold would you recommend? Dive Rite, OMS, Sea Elite, etc? Thanks for your reply!

Bob S

In my experience HP80's are very difficult to trim with regardless of the wing used. No experience with 63's, but I would expect similar troubles.

If you aren't a glutton for punishment I'd look at other tanks.

Tobin

 

[schu1842]

I've always been a single tank diver but why would some size double tanks be more difficult to trim than others? Thanks.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I've always been a single tank diver but why would some size double tanks be more difficult to trim than others? Thanks.

HP80's are very short bottles, and some HP 80's are very negative.

Most new to doubles divers are already doing head stands and hand springs because of the added mass high on their body.

Two tank crowns + 2 brass valves + brass manifold + tank bands + 2 first stage regs, all more or less behind the divers head often leads to trim difficulties.

With nice long tanks like LP 85's or HP 100's or AL 80's some of this is ofset by the cylinders.

With HP 80's the problem is made worse.

Tobin

 

[tgsmith]

With double HP steel 80's you're going to have a lot more weight at the top of your body than with 95's or the likes. You MAY end up head heavy, depending on your luck or lack thereof.

For a manifold, the captured o-ring manifold has fallen out of popularity. I have one and haven't had any problems, but apparently it's easier to get a leak with them when jarred/banged than with the more common rotating crossbars with 2-3 o-rings. OMS is the only one to manufacture a captured o-ring manifold. Go for something where the knobs turn easily. If I get another manifold I'd go for a thermo as the knobs turn very easily compared to any I've tried(I'm pretty sure an OEM makes the same thing for Dive Rite, Halcyon, Sea Elite, ect, Thermo has their own, and OMS has their own). The OMS manifold/valves is noticeably more resistant than anything I've tried, but it's not like I'm scared of having to turn them......

if you want low capacity tanks, look at steel 72's. They are longer, narrow, and everyone I've ever heard talk about them says they trim out great. You can get them ultra cheap if you buy used, to boot. They'd be much more versatile for you than HP80's or AL63's, since they can be overfilled between 3200-3600 if you have a friendly fill station, giving you around 100cuft per tank depending on fill.....

 

[Scared Silly]

As others have said, regarding HP80s. My wife who is 5'4" uses a set of LP65s and found those to be much easier to trim out than a set of MP72s. A set of LP72 are a great choice I just picked up a set for fun. (I currently use LP85s).

As for a wing depending on your requirements you will probably find something in the 45 range to work. But do a search on this subject "how much lift do I need"

As for a manifold I would say the ones of choice are made by Thermo $$$ or Sea-Elite/Dive-Rite $$ (or similar) there are many others that are in the $ range.