Wings insight, please

I'm curious....I bought a used set of SeaTec old school wings, which came highly recommended at the time, but I've found them to be a bit more difficult to adjust than say, the newer DiveRite classic wings I tried this week. I call them "bananas". I've also had a problem with deflating these wings completely at depth, seems to me like there's more air in the circular area behind my head. I've only begun to dive doubles four months ago (steel 80 LPs, yeah yeah I know), but I really did notice a big difference when I was diving with a more rectangular shaped wing. I also felt like the newer wings were less tempermental insofar as inflation was concerened....like I had to be less precise in the amount of air dispensed or bailed to get an effect, positively or negatively. I know many people like the old school SeaTec, but I'd like to hear what you might say about the newer wings and their design. Any input, suggestions or slack?

Michelle,

How long is the corrugated hose from the dump to the inflator?

Norm

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Michelle

I'm curious....I bought a used set of SeaTec old school wings, which came highly recommended at the time, but I've found them to be a bit more difficult to adjust than say, the newer DiveRite classic wings I tried this week. I call them "bananas". I've also had a problem with deflating these wings completely at depth, seems to me like there's more air in the circular area behind my head. I've only begun to dive doubles four months ago (steel 80 LPs, yeah yeah I know), but I really did notice a big difference when I was diving with a more rectangular shaped wing. I also felt like the newer wings were less tempermental insofar as inflation was concerened....like I had to be less precise in the amount of air dispensed or bailed to get an effect, positively or negatively. I know many people like the old school SeaTec, but I'd like to hear what you might say about the newer wings and their design. Any input, suggestions or slack?

---

One thing to consider with old wings is the condition of the air cell. Most old air cells develop pin holes after a few years. I had to replace all of my old wings and BCs because they leaked.

If I rember right, SeaTec didn't have an air bladder, it relied on urethane coated nylon, and seam "welding" to hold air.

Most equipment that becomes poplular does so for a reason, it works. Look around, and see what is the most poular. Make special note of what someone your size, and tank configuration is using.

I've got an OMS wing that sure is a drag with smaller doubles like 85s... just too wide, but I still use it routinely with my 95s and 100s when diving deep or with deco bottles. I have a DR classic wing, smaller, which is much less drag for my 'lite' dives. My latest 'regular' wing is DR's Dual Rec Wings. I bungee it a bit to keep it trim on my sidemount rig, but I had used it on a backplate prior to this and it was great. I would like to try a more squared off wing to improve trim on doubles, but can't afford one yet... :roll: I see that many (if not all) of the manufacturers have these models.

:blackbar :blackbar :blackbar

Hmmmmm..... Let's tear this rule #6 apart... something we have to do now and then....

#6) No personal opinions or endorsements (negative or positive) about other individuals, cave diving related businesses and organizations.

We are NOT talking about gear.... just people and organizations. You should not be 'moderated' if you keep your post free from endorsing an INDIVIDUAL or CAVE DIVING RELATED BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION.

Examples:

OKAY: I like the WWF light except it breaks easy.

NOT OKAY: I like the WWF light except it breaks easy and the company sucks because they won't sell me replacements cheap.

OKAY: The RPL light is wonderful and won't break when you slam it on Jammer's head.

NOT OKAY: The RPL light is wonderful and won't break when you slam it on Jammer's head, which is a great test because Jammer has such a hard head. :roll:

What does wrestling have to do with the dive industry?
Neither of the first two statements should violate #6.

And finally, if the statement were relative to facts that were tested would it no longer be opinion?

Example:
After using a durometer on jammer's head it revealed that his head had a hardness rating of B86.5. In conclusion his head would be a great test of the strength of your light because of how hard it is.

Just thought I would give it another stir.

Sorry man but you asked for it. I just hope you are laughing as hard as I am.

Curt

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jammer

I just think that the story of the banging of the light on the table and it still works theory and bashing of D.R. light heads is no worse than me giving a guy a name of a dry suit repair man for goodness sake.

---

That was my post about the light heads. Sorry. I had forgotten about rule 6 when I wrote it. I've since made that post more compliant...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tj

:blackbar :blackbar :blackbar

Hmmmmm..... Let's tear this rule #6 apart... something we have to do now and then....

#6) No personal opinions or endorsements (negative or positive) about other individuals, cave diving related businesses and organizations.

We are NOT talking about gear.... just people and organizations. You should not be 'moderated' if you keep your post free from endorsing an INDIVIDUAL or CAVE DIVING RELATED BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION.

Examples:

OKAY: I like the WWF light except it breaks easy.

NOT OKAY: I like the WWF light except it breaks easy and the company sucks because they won't sell me replacements cheap.

OKAY: The RPL light is wonderful and won't break when you slam it on Jammer's head.

NOT OKAY: The RPL light is wonderful and won't break when you slam it on Jammer's head, which is a great test because Jammer has such a hard head. :roll:

---

As I do not deny that I am very hard headed but in all the post and all the mods still have not given an honest aswer to the question as to why the post about the manufacture bashing was ok but my post was deleted. I could see if the guy had worded it differently but he did not.

I could see if he said I cracked my MR-6 bulb on my full cave course and had to pay a stiff amount to replace it. While my instructor wacked his light on the table and laughed as he did it, and it fired up with no problem. I took notes and I think my next will be from the same supplier as his indestructible canister light. that would be acceptable but when you say it like this it is bashing.

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:16 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I cracked my 10W bulb in my dive rite during my full cave class last week. "Luckily" there was a spare at Ginnie I could buy at a bargain price of $139.

Then Larry laughed at me and slammed his salvo against the table and fired it up...

Next light willbe a salvo. Plus they ahve the wet connects which are pretty cool...

I am sorry but rite is rite and wrong is wrong.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tj

OKAY: The RPL light is wonderful and won't break when you slam it on Jammer's head.

---

Look again! This does violate rule #6, but it proves a point.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jammer

As I do not deny that I am very hard headed but in all the post and all the mods still have not given an honest aswer to the question as to why the post about the manufacture bashing was ok but my post was deleted.

---

Your post wasn't deleted; it was edited. More specifically, a name was removed. It was a violation of rule #6. Please get over it! :roll:

It was edited because of the way it was worded. The other posts that you referred to were very close to violating rule #6, in my opinion, but they didn't. It is the call of a Moderator to edit what posts they think cross the line and yours did! If you think a post violates rule #6 bring it to the attention of a Moderator. Your post was!

I had no intentions of offending you. I was just doing a job that I agreed to do and I don't get paid anything to do it.

Michelle ... Sorry for the hijack of your post. Can we please get back to Michelle's question!

Hey there. I dive one of the old seatec wings. I love it. I bought a diverite classic, and sold it after using it for a few dives. The seatec is simply put very streamlined. The larger profile of the classic seemed like I was swiming a plow. The seatec comes with a corrugated inflator hose that is too long. Get yourself a shorter inflator hose that fits just to your mouth to orally inflate (12" usually) The long hose makes it hard to dump because it bends over and doubles up on itself. You can put any inflator on any wing, so if you do not like the way the inflator works you can change it. The only other wing that I have seen or dove that even comes close to the seatec is the oxycheq. That bananna shape you speak of keeps the wings frontal profile small, which is good.

I am amazed when people dive wings that are of a large profile, when wings of smaller profile and same lift capacity are available. Sailboat racers, bicicle racers, swimmers, they all know the value of streamlining. More cave divers should. You can get a lot more out of your air consumption and efficiency if your gear is properly streamlined.

And finally #1, relax and enjoy it, thats why you dive in the first place

also make sure your body positioning is correct when dumping air. If you use the lower dump be head down butt up, if you use the hose be shoulders up left up.

Over time it will become second nature, just dive a lot to get used to those doubles and the wing, and the seatec will undoubtedly reward you in the long run.

Well I got what I asked for. But I am now on the look out for pin holes, which is not the first time I was warned about this when buying used equipment. I have heard that S#%t^&!* (rule *(?) originally designed them to be used with singles, though, and that the current adaptation with doubles was not anticipated. Yet I know many people who dive them with doubles, myself included. I know the lift is a bit lower, I believe it's 50.
They're great for river diving, though!!!

Michelle, when they get pinholes just take the bladder out of the lining, and use the bandaid style press on bicicle innertube patches. they work perfectly. One more thing about the slower inflation rate, you want an inflator that can dump air faster than it can add in case of an inflation freeflow. Just make small constant adjustments in your buoyancy and you will do great. They were designed for single tanks, but work well with doubles. I can dive double 104's and a single al80stage with them when wet. When dry they lift at least the 104's three al80 stages al40 and a slightly negative scooter with no issues at all. Don't feel ripped on the buy. I would suggest oxycheq on your next purchase if you dont like the seatec. Best wing out there for streamlining compared to lift capacity. Technically speaking. Enjoy!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CaveFreeDiver

you want an inflator that can dump air faster than it can add in case of an inflation freeflow.

---

Or, if that happened, you could disconnect the inflator from the hose.

You can not disconnect them if your ip has shot through the roof so high that you cannot disconnect it. Same goes for the though process of kinking the hose, it still traps the added ait in there also adding to an ascent. Bottom line, an inflator that can dump as fast as it adds is a good thing. It might sound unreasonable, but it happened recently to a diver whose gear was in good shape. The IP shot through the roof, and locked the hose on. Diver got very bent, but is still alive.

I AM THE MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE - OOH YEEEEEAAWWE.