James

Warning, Coke Alert.

The usual answer you get from this list is that Zeagle wings stink.  In
reality they are not too bad.

Well, except for those stupid weight pouches with pull dumps.  Hey, I was
only on a 10 metre dive when one weight pouch fell out of my wing when a
weight release cord got snagged - one of those red plastic cords near the
seam.  It was only 10 metres!  I was unlucky, one-in-a-thousand chance.  Its
not as if I lost both weights and went ballistic to the surface, only a
slightly uncomfortable but inevitable ascent.  I wasn't really enjoying the
dive anyway.

In fact very much like the 44 metre dive I was doing with about 20 minutes
of deco when the pull dump on the inflator corrugated hose jammed open and I
slowly lost gas from the wing. Hardly fair at the time as I wasn't even
pulling the hose to dump.  Now, on that dive it didn't really matter as I
was ascending anyway.  If you think about it, this is a real bonus as these
wings helped me to extend my bottom time.  What other wings do that for you?
Also, think about the effort saved with pull dumps as there is no longer is
there any need to raise your arm to dump.  A Godsend.

But then the waist fastenings are really comfortable.  Oh but I forgot, you
can't add a canister light to the waist strap and so have to come up with a
convoluted method to attach it elsewhere.  Not really a problem as most
people don't have a canister light anyway.  If they did they are doing
technical stuff so should go buy some technical gear.   When Zeagle call
them a "technical BC" you must remember that this is a phrase suggested by
the marketing department and don't take it too literally.  You didn't did
you?

That crotch strap is also really comfortable splitting in a Y-shape either
side of you most sensitive parts.  A good design for us chaps.  Damn, where
do I fit my scooter ring.  Don't worry you can always get the crotch strap
replaced if you ever need to scooter.  Removing it is real easy because the
fastenings are so flimsy.  One of mine even anticipated this and came loose
of it own accord.  Silly me for not checking it before every dive just like
I don't have to do with my wing, harness and backplate.

At least with the new versions you can adjust the position of some of the
D-rings unless you were unlucky enough to have one of the old models with
the stitched D-rings.  Talking of stitching.  Isn't is really well done.
Even though its not really needed it does look good.  Nice to see a quality
stitching.

The waist buckle is stitched on really nicely too.  I didn't realise it at
the time but this would have been a bonus.  I wanted my knife on my waste
belt, just like a gun as GMI3 says.  The thought of this made me quiver in
excitement.  I used to stand in from of the mirror saying, "you looking at
me", and then going for my weapon.  But damn, I could not slip off the
buckle without un-stitching it.  Which I did not want to do, as it was such
fine and manly stitching.  I resorted to the saviour of all divers, a cable
tie.  Now, I had my weapon in my holster on my waist.  Now don't believe Jim
Cobb when he says CTs come undone.  You may think from the above that I'm a
bit of a walking disaster - not true.  My cable ties never broke and my
weapon stayed in place.  I never had to use my weapon underwater but if I
had, I'm certain that there is a strong chance that it would still be there.
This is just a myth about Murphy.  The grim reaper is just a story told to
frighten young children.

The pockets are really useful too, shame they are a bugger to open and are
hardly big enough to hold a spare air.

Bondage.  Great, Zeagle wings are not bondage wings so they've got to be OK.
However, Zeagle cater for this aspect of our consenting population who like
bondage, albeit in the privacy of their own home and dive boats.  How about
all those clips and straps.  Only three across the chest, two on the
shoulder harness and two on the crotch strap.  These boys will hold you in
securely and you'll feel snug.  I really like the chest straps myself as
they show off my manly physique when my chest bulges as I'm trying to
breath.  No matter what they say on this list, chest straps hardly restrict
breathing at all.

Forget DIR and "systems" they don't apply to the market Zeagle target.

You know the thing I most like about the Zeagle wings is that they are
Stealth Ninja Black.   As I say, great wings I dived them for a couple of
years before I changed to DIR as I hope you will.  Sorry for the flippancy
but the points are valid and the events real, well except for the mirror
bit, honest.

David Shimell
Project Manager, Sequent Computer Systems Ltd., Sandton, South Africa.
Email: shimell@se*.co* <mailto:shimell@se*.co*> 

-----Original Message-----
From:	James Dibbs [SMTP:JDibbs@ma*.co*.au*]
Sent:	Monday, March 22, 1999 2:44 AM
To:	'techdiver@aquanaut.com'
Subject:	Zeagle Wings

I have read some threads about the pros and cons of different wing types. In
particular there was a comparison between Zeagle wings and Dive Rite
original wings. 

Could someone please tell ne what shortcomings Zeagle wings have? 

I also use a Zeagle tech BCD. I realise that this doese not fit in with the
DIR philosophy but as BCDS go, how do they rate, and if they stink, why?

All responses greatly appreciated.

James Dibbs
Macquarie Bank Limited
Ph: 9237-6257
M: 0411-21-35-99
Email: jdibbs@ma*.co*.au*

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