Can this one be used with dual thanks if I swap the cell/wing for a bigger one with more capacity? Or do I need to swap the back plate as well?
PS! Sorry for all the newbie questions here... hehe
Regards,
Sponon
Wing vs. Jacket
- Thread starter Sponon
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
Can this one be used with dual thanks if I swap the cell/wing for a bigger one with more capacity? Or do I need to swap the back plate as well?
PS! Sorry for all the newbie questions here... hehe
Regards,
Sponon
Lobzilla
Contributor
Is this only suited for tropical and warm water? I dive in Norway, were it`s snowing and water temperature is 4-5 degrees celsius in the winter months...
Finding a wing is really hard.... I`ll be using a single tank, and maybe upgrade to a dual system within a year or two...
Lobzilla
Contributor
The one piece of equipment that is DIRECTLY affected by extremely cold water (barely above freezing) is your 1st stage regulator. Be careful there.
However, in cold water you will wear anti-exposure items (suit, hood, full face mask) that influence you buoyancy and trim. The BC (wing) and weight (plate material, additional weights) system has to accommodate for this.
I hear ya, mate.
The blessing of the BP/W system, flexibility, is also its curse. I decided to try before I buy and possibly buy used so I can trade without a big loss if the theory does not work out in practice.I decided to solve one problem at a time. First get the single tank setup squared away and then worry about the doubles. If I can reuse some of the components (plate, harness) great, if not, most of the money for BP/W is in the wing and you will need two anyway.
Hope that helps (from confused newbie to confused newbie)
Montana Diver
Contributor
Im not sure whats the best rig for me. During my OWD and AOWD I used a rental jacket, and found it quite discomfort. The jacket fit me properly, but it was so bulky.
The instructors told me take a look at some wings when buying my own kit.
I will be (mainly) diving with a dry suit. Im a newbie to scuba, just finished my courses, but anxious to start diving on my own with my buddies.
So whats the pros and cons here? I know its all about personal preference, but since im a newbie I would appreciate some help from the professionals
Regards,
Sponon
I dive dry also. I started with a jacket and swithched to a BP/W within my first 15 dives. The only issue I encountered, was placing my weight on the webbing of the BP. With a 30# wing, it would not keep my steel 119 and 16# of integrated lead floating when I am not wearing it. This was only an issue when I was assisting an OW class and had to go back to get more lead for a student. Solved this by going to a weight harness. I still don't enjoy taking off the rig with a drysuit and 400g undergarments, just not fun, although I can do it. I love the solid feeling in the water of the BP/W.
If you are looking for options, DSS has an easy release for the shoulder strap to aid in getting it off. Won't work with my Halcyon BP/W.
If you have other divers in the area, ask to try theirs or one from your LDS. I love mine, however, I am still the only one on that dives one when I am in the tropics.
Good luck
Dennis
What do you guys think of the Poseidon Besea W50? The cell is a little big, but I figure I could use this wing as a holliday/tropical wing as well as with a drysuit?
It is my personal opinion that the BeSea is something which is trying to be everything and doing nothing very well. It's a very large and bulky unit, with WAY more lift than anybody needs for single tank diving, and I don't like any kind of wing collapse system, because it will make it far more difficult to keep air anywhere in the wing if you have a puncture.
Dhboner
Contributor
I tried a backplate/wing set-up last weekend. I found that my trim was terrible...I was very "head down" and kept rolling over on to one side. I know I can move the tank to deal with the "head down" attitude but I'm at a loss as to why I couldn't control the "rolling".
At the time I thought that perhaps with all my weight in the back plate there would be a natural tendency to "turtle" but my son (and the other divers) were fine.
Is it possible that the "loaner" just wasn't fitting me properly...the straps did seem a wee bit loose? It was a sinlge tank set-up and the diver who loaned me the rig said it is much easier to use a BP/wing with doubles.
Bob (Toronto)
At the time I thought that perhaps with all my weight in the back plate there would be a natural tendency to "turtle" but my son (and the other divers) were fine.
Is it possible that the "loaner" just wasn't fitting me properly...the straps did seem a wee bit loose? It was a sinlge tank set-up and the diver who loaned me the rig said it is much easier to use a BP/wing with doubles.
Bob (Toronto)
cool_hardware52
Contributor
Good fit will help, as will practice. Some BP&W's result in a single tank being offset from the diver's back by quite a bit, and this can result in an over turning moment.
Regarding fit; keep in mind that unlike a typical fabric jacket which are often run extremely tight to try and prevent the tank from rolling and flopping around a Hogarthian Harness need not be ratcheted down as snug.
With shoulder straps, waist strap and crotch strap the harness just positions the plate on the diver's body.
Having said that my *guess* would be the rig you borrowed was too loose.
Tobin
Similar threads
