Mailing List Archive

Mailing List: techdiver

Banner Advert

Message Display

From: "Kevin Rottner" <kevin@So*.co*>
To: "Joe" <joe@po*.co*>, <techdiver@aquanaut.com>
Subject: Bungee Wings of Death
Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2001 16:26:46 -0700
So did you explain why he might not want to do that?

Just curious.

Regards.

Joe




Hey Joe.
OMS markets their "Elastomeric Retraction Bands" as a device that " Assists
in deflation" and "Elimination of air shift " and " Low drag / low snag "
and finally " Trim Adjustability." These are the buzzwords. But I really
think people dive them because they " look tech ". I personally think that's
why people still dive with cages or cobras, and things like ten brass snaps
on their  for no reason.
But these " look tech " bungees are really an evil plot, much like the
Russians and Water Fluoridation. ( I think we need a few more laughs a
little more often on this list .... )
Why I think they are bad:
1. Even loose, they can prevent you from getting all your lift out of a
bladder, and the tighter the worse the problem.
2. Even loose, you cannot fully orally inflate them, and once again, the
tighter they are, the worse the problem.
3. Even when set "right", they create surface folds on the bladder which
increase turbulence and create more drag than they could ever eliminate.
4. They can trap air in a wing not allowing you to fully deflate the wing
 sort of the reverse of # 1 )
5. The bands hold the bladder closer to the diver, closer to the center of
gravity, this can effect roll, and making some positions more difficult.
6. A stuck dump valve can become a fatal failure even with moderately tight
bands, literally power dumping your wing, on the way to the bottom.
7. I'm a wreck diver, and they can be serious snag points, despite the
marketing claims.
But don't take my word for it. Research the Jane Orenstein fatality, dual
steels and a wetsuit in a mix course, body recovered by some of those on
this list. Check out the Ben Longhi fatality, totally attributable to those
dams cords. Or research John Claypool / Andre Smith / Mike Ekin fatalities.
I could go on and on ...... I also grow tired of burying divers.
What purpose do they have. If you don't need it ......

Kevin


--
Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.

Navigate by Author: [Previous] [Next] [Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject: [Previous] [Next] [Subject Search Index]

[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]

[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]