Mike,
can I ask what your exposure suit/tank situation is when you are diving your 27
Ilb wings.
Anthony

Mike Wallace wrote:

> "lo Ed...
>
> The backplate really doesn't matter. So are heavier than others, so you can
> reduce the amount of lead on the belt but they are all basically built the
> same. Wings on the other hand can be very different. I like the Halcyon
> because of the heavy covering and the material that the bladder is made of.
> Also the inflator hose is the correct length. Dive Rite also makes a good
> wing. The OMS fall short of what they should be.
>
> I have three sets of Halycon wings, the 18lb, a 27lb and a 55lb. The smaller
> wings don't give access to the bladder and I have poked a hole in the 27lb
> set. I shipped them back to Halycon and they patched the hole and got them
> back to me in less than a week at no charge, even though the hole was my
> fault. The 18lb wings are too small for the diving that I do around here, so
> I am selling them and sticking with the other two sets. Actually, I am
> buying another set of the 27lbs for my son.
>
> Mike
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ed Graves" <[log in to unmask]>
>
> > 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
> >