| Author |
Message
|
|
john haskell |
 posted :
October 26, 2008 Post subject: to wing or not to wing.
could anybody help me make up my mind? Ive dived with my buddy commando for 20 years and love it. its time to buy a new one ,but i don't know if i should buy a wing or not. i want to progress and will probably end up twinning later on. I've read that you can twin a commando. But have since discoverd the buddy tekwing. has anyone used one and do you like it. the only drawback i could see is that it has a plastic backplate not steel or ally. any comments would be apreciated. thanks john.
|
| |
devilgas |
posted :
October 27, 2008 Post subject: to wing or not to wing.
given your penchant for 18's john and the possibility of a trimix dive or 2 in warmer climes, i would err towards a metal backplate so you've got the load bearing capacity. buoyancy cell will also need to be chosen appropriately.
there's quite a few combos out there now of backplate / harness / wing.
i still swear by the custom divers tdb - now 10 years on and still not needed any fettling.
recently got a dive rite recwing, for use abroad, which is backplate free but will still take twin 12's. sidemounts will attach direct to the harness.
you going to the NEC on the weekend? worth having a butchers at all the kit there. would offer you a lift but staying at my mates overnight for a p1ss up ;-)
|
| |
john haskell |
posted :
October 27, 2008 Post subject: to wing or not to wing.
he he, hi mate. could twin my 18 now there's a thought. yes mate going to the show with buying in mind, wanted info first before I spend all my beer tokens on shiny new kit. cant make my mind up. and i thought my missus was indecicive in tk max....
feel like ive been hit by a bus after saturday. living on brufen smoothies.. i'm up on sunday. c u there? will check out your suggestions, all the best mate, john
|
| |
devilgas |
posted :
October 27, 2008 Post subject: to wing or not to wing.
nah, there on saturday. need to make sure i'm back for the grand prix.
have a butchers and chat with the guys at the show. don't forget that the prices you see stuff going for there is similar to what you'll pay in swansea. that's one good reason for going on the saturday. instant phone comparison of prices ;-)
i've not seen the buddy tekwing. will have a nose at it on the weekend. not on my radar though as i'm sorted for gear for a long while yet.
stick a pair of force fins on your list. £100 new on apnea.co.uk and worth every single penny. only pair of flippers you'll ever need.
you should've played against bwl on saturday....would've been an easier game ;-)
|
| |
devilgas |
posted :
October 27, 2008 Post subject: to wing or not to wing.
talking crap. ain't got a dive rite recwing, it's a transpac..
have had a butchers at apvalves site and the tekwing. twinning is provided by cam bands and there doesn't appear to be a bolt-through option. certainly makes swapping cylinders around a no brainer but you'd need spacers (should be included with the straps) if you intend manifolding the twinset.
might be worth looking at the trident aswell.
|
| |
john haskell |
posted :
October 29, 2008 Post subject: to wing or not to wing.
Yeah its gonna be a wing, just wouldn't want to buy a model and be told its a piece of poo afterwards. Just hope it'll last as long as my commando. As for the fins mate, more than happy with my 20 year old black rubber jetfins. lol. All the best mate, see you at the rugger. john
|
| |
john haskell |
posted :
November 3, 2008 Post subject: to wing or not to wing.
Found a nice wing mate, northern diver sea harrier. double bag, twin inflators, stainless back plate, single or twin. show price 245 all in. good independant reviews on net. Still woried about being face down at surface and not having the crack bottle tho. prob be ok with my 18 but not always gonna dive with that. Do you dive single cylinder with your wing? Ill shut up now before I sound like a fart.. he he.
|
| |
devilgas |
posted :
November 3, 2008 Post subject: to wing or not to wing.
don't need a crack bottle. they're a throwback from ABLJ's. can't remember ever using it on the commando i used to use. it'd get filled religiously and that was it. during a dive you're neutrally buoyant so not needed then. if you have a drama at the surface you just dump the weightbelt, but then if you're dumping the weightbelt that'll be because you've lost buoyancy in the jacket so the crack bottle is still useless. only thing it'll do is save a bar or 2 of back gas after you've finished the dive.
only time you end up being pushed forward is using a single aly 12, wing fully inflated and the cylinder very low on gas. generally the position of the weightbelt keeps you more or less vertical at the surface due to the lower centre of gravity. everything else i've used hasn't been a prob. you certainly won't have a prob with a single steel 18.
used to dive single 12 or 15 + pony on wing for numerous years and never had an issue. now it's twin 12's or twin 7 300's. usually take the s/s bands on holiday and rig up twin 12 indy aly's there as well.
force fins £60 at the show from one firm. absolute bargain!!!! cash only though or i'd have bought all their stock.
|
| |
john haskell |
posted :
November 3, 2008 Post subject: to wing or not to wing.
cheers mate, gonna go down seperate harness, backplate, wing route. Off to bristol channel divers tomoro to check out extended range courses. Saw on the website Martin Farr is doing a talk in Cardiff uni 18 nov' should be interesting.
|
| |
