Mares H.U.B.

I concur with Jon.

The hub looks like it was thrown together by the marketing and spare parts
division of Mares from all the seconds they had lying around (plus a lot of
additional hoses); none of which individually is anywhere near the quality
of products from either their competitors or even from products in their own
range!

Once again, an new fangled product designed to fix problems that don't
exits, and in the process creating a plethora of new problems.

BTW, to answer your other questions:

1. Regarding whether I had dived with this item, no, as I don't want to dive
with anything that I could not trust to get both me and my buddy safely back
to the boat.

2. If I could not do up a simple cam-band then I would stop diving (and
anyway I don't trust single cam bands as I've often seen them get caught on
a wreck and open up, so whenever I'm not diving with my steel banded
manifolded twins, I use two cam bands on an single tank adapter.

3. I often dive on crowded boats in choppy seas off the south coats of
England (in the English channel) and see kit being dumped on top of each
other in a big pile. I Don't know how a large quantity of pretty coloured
plastic, such as the HUB would survive and all it's hidden hose connections
and that lovely power inflator, with a few twinsets (like my 12L and some
larger 15L twins) being dumped on top of it; however my steel backplate is
still looking as good as new after a few seasons of heavy diving.


Tony.



"Marcin Dobrucki" <Marcin.Dobrucki@FAKE.nokia.com> wrote in message
news:Zbn0b.10351$g4.201854@news1.nokia.com...
> Jon C wrote:
>
> > The BC portion is very sub-optimal compared to many other things on the
> > market.
> >
> > The regulators are very sub-optimal compared to many other things on the
> > market.
> >
> > The hose routing is very sub-optimal compared to many other things on
the
> > market.
> >
> > The strap design is very sub-optimal compared to many other things on
the
> > market.
> >
> > The octo storage very sub-optimal compared to many other things on the
> > market.
>
> Hmm, I actually have, and have used a Mares Dragonfly BCD, which I
> understand is the same kind as used on the HUB, and I disagree. It is a
> very comfortable BCD. I have also used a number of other BCD's, and
> yes, a couple were equally good, while others not. I am yet to dive in
> a full wing set such as the one made by Halycon, but for now I am not
> having opinions on them.
>
> Which hoses are you referring to? The lack of the corrugated host?
> The AirTrim system in general (works rather well actually), the regs?
>
> As for the straps, I find the upper buckle to be a tad high for my
> taste, but that's about it.
>
> As for the regulators, if you could provide me with some info about
> the probelms with the Mares Proton range, I'd be greatful. Right now I
> am using rented ones, and was thinking of getting an own set. So if you
> could point out why not to get the Protons, please...
>
> /Marcin
>

"Marcin Dobrucki" <Marcin.Dobrucki@FAKE.nokia.com> wrote in message
news:1Nq0b.38$g4.729@news2.nokia.com...
> Chris Guynn wrote:
>
> > Only to people who can't figure out how / don't have the dexterity to
work a
> > cam-band.
>
> I'll have to forward it to the instructor who liked the Airlock. She
> was rather fond of it. It didn't require any effort, and it was always
> secure. Can the job be done in othe ways, sure! But arent' divers
> supposed to be gear junkies?

Some are. Some are minimalists. Some are DIR (or DIR like) which, afaict,
isn't exactly gear junky or minimalist but is somewhere in between. Some
just like the pink stuff (or blue stuff or whatever...). I like the stuff
I've got and have yet to see a compelling reason to go with the HUB (or
similar) system.

C Guynn

Chris Guynn wrote:

> Some are. Some are minimalists. Some are DIR (or DIR like) which, afaict,
> isn't exactly gear junky or minimalist but is somewhere in between. Some
> just like the pink stuff (or blue stuff or whatever...). I like the stuff
> I've got and have yet to see a compelling reason to go with the HUB (or
> similar) system.

Pink is fashion IMHO, but I found bright-yellow to be a very useful
color underwater

/Marcin

X-No-Archive: yes

On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 13:18:02 +0000 (UTC), Jim.Greenlee@cc.gatech.edu wrote:

>So let me get this straight - you trust the guy who is being paid to
>write a review for a magazine that depends indirectly on the product
>for revenue, simply because he may have actually touched a HUB. But you
>don't trust the people who have no vested interest in the product at
>all, but have enough collective experience and good judgement to
>evaluate it sight unseen?

Good point Jim. Why _would_ you trust the opinion of someone evaluating
a product sight unseen? BTW, the collective experience and good judgement
of NG denizens has a reputation for being somewhat less than inscrutable.

In the end, it's a BC and regulator, not worth hating or loving.

What's the big deal?

bullshark

Marcin Dobrucki wrote:
[....]
>
> If you are buying a car, do you read the spec list, or do you talk to
> the dealer, and take the car for a drive?

Yes, to all of the above.


>
>> I've actually seen one in a store. Does that count for anything?
>
>
> Yes. I have seen one at a dive show.. see below.
>
>> That's exactly the point. It costs you twice as much to rent a package
>> as to rent just one piece of kit. And now you have to deal with two
>> unfamiliar pieces of equipment instead of just one. I don't see how
>> that is more convenient.
>
>
> Yups. But what is the failure rate of well-taken-care-of equipment?
> People still buy integrated stereo systems which need to be replaced if
> one part fails. It is a matter of convinience tradeoff.

But a failed stereo system component doesn't put your life in jeopardy.


[....]


> Yes, I agree about the octo-in-pocket system. I talked to the reps at
> the show about it, and wasn't too convinced about it myself. Preferred
> option would be to have it available more easily. I did try to see how
> the relase pocket would work. It wasn't "natural", but perhaps one can
> learn a new reflex. Many people I have seen, seem to have the octo
> floating around somewhere since it keeps getting detached from the
> holder. Don't know if its any easier to retreive it then. I hope I
> don't need to find out.

I hope you don't either. But, if you continue diving this piece of
kit, you'll likely learn if that release mechanism really does work
quickly and effectively - or if not, kill somebody.

Personally, I don't dive in a laboratory, and I'd prefer Mares didn't
treat me, or my dive buds like we did.


[....]


--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten' ICQ = 35253273
"All that we do is touched with ocean, yet we remain on the shore of
what we know." -- Richard Wilbur

I happen to like the HUB. In fact, I own two. A mares with airlock and the
dacor model. I dive about once a week and haven't had any problem with
either. BTW, the price was right. I bought the HUB with airlock on Ebay
for 400 used but in new condition (with orbiters) and I bought the Dacor
brand new for 450 with the vipers. They are comfortable, adjustable, easy
to pack in a roller bag, etc.

<Jim.Greenlee@cc.gatech.edu> wrote in message
news:bhrtgh$j6l$1@news-int.gatech.edu...
> Marcin.Dobrucki@FAKE.nokia.com stopped playing nethack just long enough to
say:
> >
> >I see... this would probably explain why it got some positive reviews
> >in some mags (eg. Diver mag, Udive).
>
> Just out of curiousity, do those same magazines accept advertising from
> Mares?
>
> > 1) everything in one package: apparently if you think that's a bad
> >idea, you've never been on a crowded boat full of people trying to kit
up.
>
> Actually it *is* a bad idea. If one piece breaks, then the whole thing
> is out of commission. And with the number of potential failure points
> on the HUB, that is something that you really ought to be worried
> about.
>
> And as far as crowded boats go, I have done my share of diving in that
> situation. It is certainly not fun, but it is not so onerous that I
> feel the need to go drop a couple thousand dollars on a product that
> solves a problem that doesn't exist.
>
> >2) air lock: if you are guy who can do benchpress reps with 100kg
> >bar, sure, no problemo to properly tighten the belt on the tank.
>
> I have never had a problem with this, when using the proper technique.
> If you can't do it, then get your buddy to help you - that is what
> they are there for.
>
> >So, to the original person who replied about the HUB... how many
> >dives have you made with a HUB, and is your opinion based on fact, or on
> >the fact that you are too cheap to try the HUB out?
>
> I do not need to own one to see that it is a piece of crap. That is
> self-evident upon examination. If you do not believe me, then try the
> following:
>
> Get 10 non-divers together. Show them a traditional regulator setup
> (first/second stage, octo, SPG, etc). Then show them the "regulator"
> part of HUB (i.e. remove the BC part). Ask them which thing they would
> rather go diving with. Please report their assessment back to this
> newsgroup.
>
> I already know what the results will be.
>
> -JimG
>
>
> --
> Jim Greenlee (jkg@cc.gatech.edu) Jryy abj lbh'ir tbar naq qbar vg!
> College of Computing Whfg unq gb xrrc svqqyvat jvgu vg
> Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA 30332 hagvy lbh oebxr vg, qvqa'g lbh ?!

"Marcin Dobrucki" <Marcin.Dobrucki@FAKE.nokia.com> wrote in message
news:6Rr0b.40$g4.904@news2.nokia.com...
> Chris Guynn wrote:
>
> > Some are. Some are minimalists. Some are DIR (or DIR like) which,
afaict,
> > isn't exactly gear junky or minimalist but is somewhere in between.
Some
> > just like the pink stuff (or blue stuff or whatever...). I like the
stuff
> > I've got and have yet to see a compelling reason to go with the HUB (or
> > similar) system.
>
> Pink is fashion IMHO, but I found bright-yellow to be a very useful
> color underwater
>
> /Marcin
>

My preference is blue, but my wife goes more for a rainbow effect.

bullshark@scubadiving.com stopped playing nethack just long enough to say:
>X-No-Archive: yes
>
>Good point Jim. Why _would_ you trust the opinion of someone evaluating
>a product sight unseen?

If a dog does his business in my yard, I do not need the bloody EPA to
come out and do an environmental impact study to tell me that it is
crap. The same is true with the HUB. Some things are self-evident.

>BTW, the collective experience and good judgement
>of NG denizens has a reputation for being somewhat less than inscrutable.

Not sure what you're implying here, but I stand by my statements. I
find the HUB to be unsuitable for any kind of diving, and I cannot
understand how anyone could think it would be otherwise.

-JimG

--
Jim Greenlee (jkg@cc.gatech.edu) MUSIC EXCUSE # 42: Make a mistake
College of Computing once, and it's just a mistake. But
Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA 30332 if you do it twice then it's jazz.