Wings: Horseshoe vs. Donut vs. Pyramid - Underwater & Surface Performance

[SanFranDiver]

I dive single 80cf Aluminum in moderate OW conditions, nothing extreme. I'm considering upgrading from a Seaquest BCD to something a bit more technical like a DiveRite Transpac or an OMS IQ Pack.

My primary question is, are there significant differences/pros/cons to the various shape wings:

a) horseshoe (e.g. OMS "Larry Green")
b) donut (e.g. OMS BC116-32B)
c) pyramid (e.g. DiveRite Venture Wing)

when it comes to (a) good horizontal position underwater ( I seem to swim feet down) and (b) good surface flotation (less face plants better).

I've been exploring the DIR and Hogarthian forums and see the merits of these philosophies (although my anti-authoritarian, libertarian, anarchist tendencies cringe a bit when too great a degree of lock-step thinking - no matter how well founded - is demanded). This is my long-winded way of saying, suggestions on BCDs and harnesses or other thought you feel compelled to share, will be appreciated.

 

[digital_steve]

I didn't noticed a huge difference going from a horshoe to a donut wing. I did find it a tad easier to dump air from the donut wing and not have any left trapped on either side. The donut tends to be a bit easier to dump from the rear dump as well.
Apparently a benefit of a horshoe is that in the event of a wing failure (like a lost dump valve or something) you can trap air in one side, giving you some sort of air in it.
I dove a zeagle all elsatic 34lb horshoe wing and loved it.
I now dive a halcyon evolve 30lb and eclipse 30lb donut and love them too.
Go with whatever you feel like i reckon. I didn't have trim problems in either.

 

[rjack321]

Surface performance? They will all float you, done.

If you are thinking anything other than that is relevant then you are posting in the wrong forum. The technical forum is really not concerned with "surface performance" in any shape way or form.

I would not consider an OMS wing. Mostly because it won't come ready to dive, they sell all their wings with obscenely long corrugated hoses.

The transpac and IQ pack are not worth the money IMO. I had a transpac and its wicked floppy. Probably fine for squished sidemount divers who need to mould their way through caves, silly for OW. Just get a standard backplate and wing it will be way more stable and hold its value.

 

[Kern]

Forget the OMS Larry Green wing. It's a doubles wing, it's very wide (11.5" centre panel, 23" all up) & will be a taco nightmare on a single tank.

I don't find the 13.5" corrugated hose to be that bad.

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

c) pyramid (e.g. DiveRite Venture Wing)

I was just looking them up on line and they seem to be discontinued. At least one on-line store is clearing out last year's models for $159.

 

[TSandM]

Depending on the shape of the wing, you can get a bit more lift in one area or another -- but I think this is really more pertinent with doubles wings. (Wings with broad "shoulders" can give you a bit more lift in front, which is nice if you tend to be head-heavy; wings with a rounder cut and broader at the rear will put a bit more lift in the back. But the differences in singles wings are pretty minor.)

One thing most people will agree upon is that you should not try to purchase a wing which will work for single and double tanks. They are built differently and require different amounts of lift. Although it is possible to use one for both, you will not get optimal performance from it.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I dive single 80cf Aluminum in moderate OW conditions, nothing extreme. I'm considering upgrading from a Seaquest BCD to something a bit more technical like a DiveRite Transpac or an OMS IQ Pack.

My primary question is, are there significant differences/pros/cons to the various shape wings:

a) horseshoe (e.g. OMS "Larry Green")
b) donut (e.g. OMS BC116-32B)
c) pyramid (e.g. DiveRite Venture Wing)

when it comes to (a) good horizontal position underwater ( I seem to swim feet down) and (b) good surface flotation (less face plants better).

Wing Myths 101.

"Donut wings move gas around easier"

"Donut wings help with feet down trim"

Reality:

Wings should be shorter than the cylinders, or the wing will be pinched under the bottom of the tanks when the diver sits down while gearing up / doffing.

For a horizontally trimmed diver the lower arc of a donut wing will be between the lower end of the cylinders and the diver's rear end.

This is the lowest point of the wing. The "side pontoons" are free to wrap up the sides of the cylinder(s) and the top arc wraps up until it hits the valve / first stage.

Where does gas go in a wing? Always to the highest point. How much gas will be in the lower arc of a donut wing during normal use? NONE!

Getting gas to fill the lower arc of a donut wing requires the diver to be distinctly head down, butt up.

Ease of venting is a function of tank wrap. Tank wrap is a function of wing width and total capacity.

Wing shape does impact surface performance.

Remember that any portion of a BC that is above the surface of the water contributes no lift, as it not displacing any water. Wings with high volume top arcs will need to be filled to a greater extent at the surface than a wing with a narrow, low volume top arc.

Comfort at the surface is easy to achieve if the diver is properly weighted, and is using a crotch strap.

If the diver is properly weighted very little wing inflation is required to get their chin out of the water, just a "puff" or two. This gas is located behind the divers shoulders. The crotch strap assures that as the wing lifts the rig, the rig lifts the diver.

OTOH an over weighted diver needs to fully inflate their wing, and not they have gas down around their kidneys. That can push people forward. No crotch strap? Now the rig rises, but the diver does not. Ugly.

What wing is best for you? That's mostly a function of the buoyancy of your exposure suit. Let me know if you have questions.

Tobin

 

[SanFranDiver]

Thanks everyone for your advice and insights. (But don't let my T.Y. stop other from adding more comments)

Don'tcha wish you could have all the product variations available at one time to check out?
Unfortunately, lots of this stuff is available to most folks like me only as 200x200 pixel images on a website, and lets you understand its performance as well as a food photo tells you how it'll taste)

 

[SanFranDiver]

Wing Myths 101.

....

"Donut wings help with feet down trim"

....
Getting gas to fill the lower arc of a donut wing requires the diver to be distinctly head down, butt up.

Tobin

Yeh, my lead feet (that would be the rear feet - not the front feet - see photo at left sorry, couldn't help myself) help me get away quick when the light turns green, but I do seem to drag them in the water. I discovered that when everytime I'd do 10 kicks I went up 10 feet. I know it's all about technique and proper balance, but... any hints?

 

[cool_hardware52]

Yeh, my lead feet help me get away quick when the light turns green, but I do seem to drag them in the water. I discovered that when everytime I'd do 10 kicks I went up 10 feet. I know it's all about technique and proper balance, but... any hints?

My first guess is you are not horizontally trim, but are heads up and feet down.

If you have access to a institutional pool use it. Pools have large flat horizontal bottoms that are ideal references checking trim.

In singles tank position will have a large impact on trim. If you are heads up, move the cylinder up, or add a temporary ankle weight around the tank neck.

Dump your bc and lay on the pool bottom, add gas until you just lift off the bottom. If your knees are on the bottom you need to shift ballast toward your head. etc.

Good luck

Tobin