Thanks for all the responses.  I did check out the Halcyon website & liked what I saw.  We did have an OMS 'bondage' wings at our shop for awhile & I wasn't impressed.  Now if I can get past sticker shock...

------Original Message------
From: "Kent Lind" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: June 9, 2000 1:41:31 PM GMT
Subject: RE: [SCUBA-SE] Diving DIR/whatever(was:Dive report Riviera Beach)


Ed:

I have a pretty good collection of backplates and wings.  OMS stainless steel
backplate, AUL aluminum backplate, and wings by AUL, DiveRite, and 2 Halcyon
wings.

My conclusion and recommendation is to go with Halcyon for everything.  There
are details in the Halycon that are not found in any others.  Let me know if
you want specific reasons or are looking at something else and I'll save you
the trouble and go through the reasons.

The one thing I wouldn't get from Halcyon are the lift bags.  I'd go with OMS
for that.  But Halcyon for everything else.

-Kent-

> -----Original Message-----
> From: SouthEast US Scuba Diving Travel list
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Ed Graves
> Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2000 12:06 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [SCUBA-SE] Diving DIR/whatever(was:Dive report Riviera Beach)
>
>
> I'm sure this has been asked before, but who do you backplate &
> wings divers recommend for equipment?  Halcyon?  OMS?  Joe's Garage?
> I fondly remember my first set-up (1972), it had an orange plastic
> backplate (Heathways?), bolted to a steel 72 with stainless
> steel(?) bands.  No BC or wings, and oh! so easy to put on.
> Thanks Lee for the memory flashback.
> Ed
>
> ------Original Message------
> From: Lee Bell <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: June 8, 2000 4:17:21 PM GMT
> Subject: Re: [SCUBA-SE] Dive report Riviera Beach
>
>
> David Strike wrote:
>
> > As its my intention to only ever again dive a single cylinder, (mines a
> > steel), I'm opting for the same lift as my current wings give me - 45lb
> > lift.  However, any advice or opinions on this would be greatly
> appreciated
> > before I actually part with the hard earned dosh!  :-)
>
> My, oh my.  That sounds like a great deal of excess lift to warm water wimp
> me.  Hopefully one of those who use plate/wing combinations for a variety of
> diving situations will be able to help more.  My travel wings, with only 18
> lbs of lift, are as much as I ever expect to need, but this may not apply
> equally well to you or anyone else.  With the stainless plate and my tanks
> (neutral when empty compact 80 aluminum tanks), I wear no weight in warm
> water and only 4 lbs with my 3mm wetsuit (in salt water).  18 lbs is enough
> to float my equipment, including the most lead I ever carry and enough to
> raise me sufficiently at the surface to meet my needs.
>
> I'm starting to get the urge to have and dive doubles, which will require
> something different, but so far, I've resisted the temptation (and the
> rather substantial cost for bands, new valves and manifolds).  I don't dive
> deep enough to need them when diving from my own boats and know of no local
> charters that would be pleased to see me disappear from their deck for the
> couple of hours that doubles would make possible at the depths I dive when
> chartering locally.  One boat that is becoming a regular for me, is already
> complaining about having to wait while I use no more than about 2/3 of the
> air in my present single 80.  Their comments are partly a complement, partly
> a joke, but also partly serious.
>
> The only advice I have is:
> 1. Find someone who knows the system better.
> 2. Buy only what you need.  Excess lift brings excess clutter in the local
> and travel baggage and excess drag in the water.
>
> Lee
>