"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
>