BDC/Wing - to bungee or not?

[bob wippin]

i am looking to buy a bc or wing to carry twin12's and was wondering what are the advantages/disadvantages of using a bcd with twins instead of a wing and if the wing should be bungeed or not and how this will affect the divers trim in the water; i know this causes a massive divide of opinion amongst tec divers, but can anyone offer some advice

[vid]

Originally Posted by bob wippin

i know this causes a massive divide of opinion

oh yes, this is the forum equivalent of touch blue paper and walk away

but as i'm the first here....... my 2 pence worth as a starter for 10

Originally Posted by bob wippin

what are the advantages/disadvantages of using a bcd with twins instead of a wing

actually, it depends on the type of BCD

if you use a BCD like a seaquest raider, the zeagle or any other BCD with an integrated wing, then the buoyancy characteristics will be similar PLUS you have the advantage of "armchair" buoyancy at the surface

the downside of these wings is the lack of modular flexibility / lifting capacity (in some cases, depending on the type of diving that you do)

that aside, the BUDDY comando is great with a couple of 12L cylinders, and that has definitely not got a wing-type design

the "advantage" of the wing / wing-type bcd is your horizontal trim in the water with twins on

Originally Posted by bob wippin

and if the wing should be bungeed or not and how this will affect the divers trim in the water

not significantly - if you're diving in UK tidal waters, the tide will havea greater impact than the vortices created by the bungee (the great " bungee debate" is to do primarily with entrapment IMO)

EDIT - how about going along to some YD gigs and trying out various kit (the offers will come rolling in)
vid

[AirAssisted]

I would say ... it's up to you really Simple.

[bob wippin]

thanks for your helpful advice vid

cheers

[Rob Dobson]

I've heard the debates on this one and I am moving from a bungeed wing to a smaller DIR compliant one. Yet I am not completely convinced - I have used my CD TBD 99lb wing with twin 7's and twin 10's with no problem whatsoever and I think it’s a great bit of kit. I've never noticed any drag and had buddies flying Halcyon wings moan that they can't keep up because of the 'kebab' that they are having to haul through the water.

I've also heard the argument about if you get a tear then the bungee will empty your wing - fine that's why I have spare bladder and if it comes to it, a drysuit.

Then don't use a twin bladder because you might get confused by having air in both bladders - no, I'd only use my redundant bladder if I had to due to primary failure (see point above).

So this is my view on it - like I said I am getting a new DIR compliant wing later this week (right Phill?) and once I have started using that my views may change, but right now I'd say try as many as you can and go with the one you like.

[And]

Originally Posted by bob wippin

i am looking to buy a bc or wing to carry twin12's and was wondering what are the advantages/disadvantages of using a bcd with twins instead of a wing and if the wing should be bungeed or not and how this will affect the divers trim in the water; i know this causes a massive divide of opinion amongst tec divers, but can anyone offer some advice

disadvantages of a BC;

• Less stable, as a BC has a plastic backplate which will flex due to the weight of the twins
• A twinset is best used (IMO) with an isolator manifold and should therefore be fitted with stainless steel bands. These are best fitted to a solid backplate.
• Buoyancy is in the wrong places on a BC, resulting in a heads up trim (seahorse stylee) You may also find that the fit isn't secure enough, but this depends on the BC

bungees;

should your wing be holed then the bungees force out the gas which IMO is bad, especially if you have a way to go before you can ascend. They offer no advantages over unbungeed wings, and so I recommend a simple unbungeed wing with a slow inflator and a simple dump.

Andy

[bob wippin]

ANd thanks for the advice, just wondering, according to you pretty much everything is bollox, what isn't bollox?

[And]

Originally Posted by bob wippin

ANd thanks for the advice, just wondering, according to you pretty much everything is bollox, what isn't bollox?

I'll tell you when I find it

[Diving Dude]

Originally Posted by bob wippin

ANd thanks for the advice, just wondering, according to you pretty much everything is bollox, what isn't bollox?

ECCR

[Mr T.]

Hi Bob,

There's a cart-load of info and advice on this very topic at this link:

http://www.yorkshire-divers.co.uk/fo...ead.php?t=8416

Hope it helps