123 replies to this topic

[JimG]

Jacket style allow you to release air from a more horizontal position. Wings require a bit more of a vertical position.

I have to agree with Perrone on this - my experience has also been the opposite. I vent my wing by using the back dump, which is normally on the left side of the wing. I basically turn a little head down and roll to my right to do this. It requires very little change in my body position, and is very easy to do while finning.

I've never had to go vertical to dump from a wing, though. It's true that with the older "horseshoe" style of wing, the air sometimes tended to get trapped on the right side. This required the diver to turn slightly head up (to get all the air up to the shoulders), and then roll to the right and then head down. It sounds kind of complicated, but it's something you just get used to over time. Of course with the newer "donut" style wings, this is less of an issue, since the air can travel around the back/bottom side.

Regarding jacket BCs - sometimes it's not easy to maneuver the air around to where the back dump is, and many jacket BCs have no back dump at all. This means the only way to get air out is via the shoulder, which almost always requires more of a head up position to be effective.

-JimG

[JimG]

Interestingly, when I asked about the Torus (donut) over the LCD (horseshoe), the LCD was still the recommended wing for me. Something about single tank donuts being there to fill the demand. Although apparently, there's no *real* need for them.

I disagree with this statement. A donut wing is a snap to vent from, provided you use the back dump. I have one of the original Pioneer wings, and it's no trouble at all - much easier in fact, than my older DiveRite Jr wings (which are horseshoe-shaped).

The thing to realize is that on a wing, the corrugated hose is used primarily for inflation, and the back dump for deflation. If you are using the auto-inflator as a deflater, then that could make things a little more difficult (right tool for the job, etc).

-JimG

[annasea]

Interestingly, when I asked about the Torus (donut) over the LCD (horseshoe), the LCD was still the recommended wing for me. Something about single tank donuts being there to fill the demand. Although apparently, there's no *real* need for them.

I disagree with this statement. A donut wing is a snap to vent from, provided you use the back dump. I have one of the original Pioneer wings, and it's no trouble at all - much easier in fact, than my older DiveRite Jr wings (which are horseshoe-shaped).

The thing to realize is that on a wing, the corrugated hose is used primarily for inflation, and the back dump for deflation. If you are using the auto-inflator as a deflater, then that could make things a little more difficult (right tool for the job, etc).

I was surprised by this as well. Apparently, tests were done by sealing shut the bottom of a donut wing and those that were diving them couldn't tell the difference. I BELIEVE Tobin said it was because the bottom portion of the wing is rarely filled with air. He did agree with using the rear dump though.

[PerroneFord]

There are a number of us that disagree with Tobin on more than one point when it comes to wing design. He and I went around and around on a certain wing design nearly a year ago. I understand that he now has a wing in testng that is close to what I said was needed for the environments near me.

There is no one perfect wing. Each shape presents different challenges. But I have used horseshoe and donut wings for singles and doubles. And in no case was using a horseshoe wing "easier" other than when the center of lift on the wing in question was incorrect for my application. Such as using the DSS Torus 45 doubles wing with twin AL80s and no weight belt.