Buddy Redwing

[RobbieS]

I've been doing a bit of reading of some old threads on here about using the Buddy Redwing on it's own for diving with a single 15l.

A couple of questions -
1. Is this a) a good plan b) a very bad plan and I shouldn't be such a tight arse?
2. Whilst I'm only diving singles will I be able to canabilise the abs backplate from
my ancient Commando?
3. Has anyone done this (or with a steel plate) and found it a good solution?

[AMW]

I had no problem using a red wing with twin 12li`s (with twining bands and steel back plate) although adding battery packs, stage cylinders and a scooter put it on its limit. I now use a Dive rite Classic on both twins and the RB.

Andrew.

[RobbieS]

Did you ever dive it with singles though?

I had a look on Divernet for reviews and under the negatives it said "Should never be used on it's own". I'm guessing that was due to health and safety - sold for purpose type stuff.

[john scott]

I currently use a Redwing, combined with a CD harness and ali backplate with my manifolded twin tens. I haven't tried using it with a single though.
To make it work I had to put some new holes in the Redwing (with brass ferrules) and modify the shoulder dump slightly so that it was easily accessable.

[AMW]

Did you ever dive it with singles though?

I must admit no, I started with and have always used two cylinders, side mount or back mount. I can see no reason it would not work with a single 15li`s.

Andrew.

[RobbieS]

Originally Posted by john scott

I currently use a Redwing, combined with a CD harness and ali backplate with my manifolded twin tens. I haven't tried using it with a single though.
To make it work I had to put some new holes in the Redwing (with brass ferrules) and modify the shoulder dump slightly so that it was easily accessable.

Cheers John. Not too much hassle though really since I'll be swapping the infalte over and probably making the o/p valve a pull dump as well.

Originally Posted by AMW

I must admit no, I started with and have always used two cylinders, side mount or back mount. I can see no reason it would not work with a single 15li`s.

Andrew.

You started with twins and stages?! Fair play, I read somewhere else about the wing not being able to fully inflate on it's own, but you obviously haven't had that problem!

[zig zag wanderer]

hi
i use a red wing too with twin 7's and 12's , think its great.
suspect with a single it may wrap around the cylinder abit.
if you look at a tek wing its got some little straps that connect from wing to waist strap . i'm sure these are supposed to help prevent tank wrap on singles and something similar could easily be done on a red wing. its even got the little plastic try glide things on the sides there already to help you.

[RobbieS]

Originally Posted by zig zag wanderer

hi
i use a red wing too with twin 7's and 12's , think its great.
suspect with a single it may wrap around the cylinder abit.
if you look at a tek wing its got some little straps that connect from wing to waist strap . i'm sure these are supposed to help prevent tank wrap on singles and something similar could easily be done on a red wing. its even got the little plastic try glide things on the sides there already to help you.

Not a bad idea that. One of the instructors at the club dives a Tek-wing for singles so I'll have a look at that.

[AMW]

You started with twins and stages

Not stages ,side mounts I trained with the CDG, so always 100% redundancy hence two cylinders (so also no manifold on back mounts ).

As far as twins back mounted cylinders go with a red wing, the wing is slightly trapped by the width and can not fully inflate. This was the case with my 12li`s and a friends 10li`s with the same type of back plate and red wing. This never gave us a problem.




This is the wing in action, I still use it for my twin 7li`s (note the non handed taps ). I also use the 7li`s side mount).

Andrew.

[RobbieS]

Cheers again,

Would love to get in to some cave diving at some point. I've been looking at Martin Farr's courses in Wales.


Rob