regulator choice ??

>> As far as the type of diving I'll be doing...it will pretty much
>> just be recreational...I'll most likely go for my Adanced O.W. down
>> the track...but due to time and budget I can't see my self getting
>> to tech in the near future... I think i'd be lucky to get 10 dives
>> in per year... ;(
>
> Re some of my earlier comments in this thread.
>
> 1) Make sure you know how to clean all of your kit properly
> 2) Make sure you get regulators serviced if you get salt
> water in them
> 3) service the regulators every two or three years
>
> But if your are going with point 3 make sure that points 1 and 2
> also apply.
>
> -Don

yep good point Don...definitely one thing not to skinmp on...though most
dealers in Aust were telling me to service then every year ... even if i
don't use then !!!

Does that sound a bit over the top ?? hard for me to argue, since i know
little about that stuff...

Hi-Soft wrote:

>
>>> As far as the type of diving I'll be doing...it will pretty much
>>> just be recreational...I'll most likely go for my Adanced O.W. down
>>> the track...but due to time and budget I can't see my self getting
>>> to tech in the near future... I think i'd be lucky to get 10 dives
>>> in per year... ;(
>>
>> Re some of my earlier comments in this thread.
>>
>> 1) Make sure you know how to clean all of your kit properly
>> 2) Make sure you get regulators serviced if you get salt
>> water in them
>> 3) service the regulators every two or three years
>>
>> But if your are going with point 3 make sure that points 1 and 2
>> also apply.
>>
>> -Don
>
> yep good point Don...definitely one thing not to skinmp on...though most
> dealers in Aust were telling me to service then every year ... even if i
> don't use then !!!
>
> Does that sound a bit over the top ?? hard for me to argue, since i know
> little about that stuff...
Almost all regulator designs keep spring pressure on both the low pressure
seat and the high pressure seat even when in storage. This constant
contact between the seats and the knife edge of the adjoining part can
cause the seat to deteriorate with time even without use. In my
experience, they are usually ok for a few years, but you have to ask
yourself what a failure will cost you. A regulator failure is very
unlikely to be a safety hazard if you are adequately trained and follow
your training, but there are other possible costs to consider. If you are
out on a boat and you experience a regulator failure, then you probably
will not dive unless someone else is kind enough to provide a spare. Is
missing a boat trip worth the savings on a regulator service? What if you
are traveling somewhere where you cannot get your regulator serviced and it
fails during your vacation? Then you are stuck with not diving for the
duration of the vacation or renting gear of unknown condition.

--



cheers,
Hi-Soft
"joe" <no@thanks.com> wrote in message
news:J8-dnavMCpHgsWHanZ2dnUVZ_tOtnZ2d@grandecom...
> Hi-Soft wrote:
>
>>
>>>> As far as the type of diving I'll be doing...it will pretty much
>>>> just be recreational...I'll most likely go for my Adanced O.W. down
>>>> the track...but due to time and budget I can't see my self getting
>>>> to tech in the near future... I think i'd be lucky to get 10 dives
>>>> in per year... ;(
>>>
>>> Re some of my earlier comments in this thread.
>>>
>>> 1) Make sure you know how to clean all of your kit properly
>>> 2) Make sure you get regulators serviced if you get salt
>>> water in them
>>> 3) service the regulators every two or three years
>>>
>>> But if your are going with point 3 make sure that points 1 and 2
>>> also apply.
>>>
>>> -Don
>>
>> yep good point Don...definitely one thing not to skinmp on...though most
>> dealers in Aust were telling me to service then every year ... even if i
>> don't use then !!!
>>
>> Does that sound a bit over the top ?? hard for me to argue, since i know
>> little about that stuff...
> Almost all regulator designs keep spring pressure on both the low pressure
> seat and the high pressure seat even when in storage. This constant
> contact between the seats and the knife edge of the adjoining part can
> cause the seat to deteriorate with time even without use. In my
> experience, they are usually ok for a few years, but you have to ask
> yourself what a failure will cost you. A regulator failure is very
> unlikely to be a safety hazard if you are adequately trained and follow
> your training, but there are other possible costs to consider. If you are
> out on a boat and you experience a regulator failure, then you probably
> will not dive unless someone else is kind enough to provide a spare. Is
> missing a boat trip worth the savings on a regulator service? What if you
> are traveling somewhere where you cannot get your regulator serviced and
> it
> fails during your vacation? Then you are stuck with not diving for the
> duration of the vacation or renting gear of unknown condition.

Yep I hear you... I'll stick with 12mth service intervals i think...what's
$100 a year...when it's a vital part of your gear...

thanks..

bc

> Yep I hear you... I'll stick with 12mth service intervals i think...what's
> $100 a year...when it's a vital part of your gear...

Probably about twice what you should be paying.

I mentioned before, that you need to pay attention to what the warranty
offers. Some brands, including my Scuba Pro regulators, include annual
service parts in the warranty, reducing the cost of service substantially.

Also keep in mind that manufacturers that offer this cost saving feature
also usually have a required service interval.

Lee

"Lee Bell" <pleebell@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:i00Lj.17678$Q52.3701@bignews9.bellsouth.net.. .
>> Yep I hear you... I'll stick with 12mth service intervals i
>> think...what's $100 a year...when it's a vital part of your gear...
>
> Probably about twice what you should be paying.
>
> I mentioned before, that you need to pay attention to what the warranty
> offers. Some brands, including my Scuba Pro regulators, include annual
> service parts in the warranty, reducing the cost of service substantially.
>
> Also keep in mind that manufacturers that offer this cost saving feature
> also usually have a required service interval.
>
> Lee
>

Yep..I think it a lot too...but I'm in Australia remember...scuba gear down
here is about 3 times the US price.. so servincing seems to be inkeeping as
well..;( such is how it is down here... I often buy online for the US for
this reason.. I would love to buy locally...and het in kahoots with my LSD,
but when we are talking about a saving of around $1000 for my total diving
system....it's hard to be patriotic about it ;(

bc

Hi-Soft wrote

> Yep..I think it a lot too...but I'm in Australia remember...scuba gear
> down here is about 3 times the US price.. so servincing seems to be
> inkeeping as well..;( such is how it is down here... I often buy online
> for the US for this reason.. I would love to buy locally...and het in
> kahoots with my LSD, but when we are talking about a saving of around
> $1000 for my total diving system....it's hard to be patriotic about it ;(

Understood. My only real point was to ensure you consider any savings you
may realize through a warranty that pays at least some of the cost of
servicing your equipment. My Scuba Pro regulators are about 9 years old now.
Over that period, the warranty picked up about $400 of the cost of servicing
each of them. On a long term basis, assuming you have your equipment
serviced periodically, such a warranty can actually make a more expensive
regulator a better deal than a less expensive one.

Just be sure you check.

Just out of curiosity, what's the shipping on a regulator from the US to
Australia and would you be interested in making an offer on a Sea Hornet in
good condition? I won one in a drawing in Cozumel that was donated by an
Australian diver. I was really happy at the time. I'm less happy since I
found that it can't be serviced here. Mind you, I'm not even sure I know
where I stored the regulator, but if you're interested, I might be willing
to see if I can dig it out.

Lee

--



cheers,
Hi-Soft
"Lee Bell" <pleebell@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:_WbLj.33127$r76.13270@bignews8.bellsouth.net. ..
> Hi-Soft wrote
>

> Just be sure you check.
>
> Just out of curiosity, what's the shipping on a regulator from the US to
> Australia and would you be interested in making an offer on a Sea Hornet
> in good condition? I won one in a drawing in Cozumel that was donated by
> an Australian diver. I was really happy at the time. I'm less happy since
> I found that it can't be serviced here. Mind you, I'm not even sure I
> know where I stored the regulator, but if you're interested, I might be
> willing to see if I can dig it out.
>
> Lee
>

Well shipping does vary a fair bit...depends on the total of gear you buy in
that shippment.. One reg ( 1st + 2nd stages ) would cost about $50 on it's
own...but with an occy, and a few bits and pieces it may only go up another
$10...so evens out...

As far as me buying a reg...I already have a set of Tusas on order....so
thanks anyway... I'd suggest ebay for sure though...

Remember, even if it is $50 to ship...the reg is probably 3 times the price
down here...so often still worth the extra postage..

bc

"Lee Bell" <pleebell@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:_WbLj.33127$r76.13270@bignews8.bellsouth.net. ..
> Hi-Soft wrote
>
>> Yep..I think it a lot too...but I'm in Australia remember...scuba gear
>> down here is about 3 times the US price.. so servincing seems to be
>> inkeeping as well..;( such is how it is down here... I often buy online
>> for the US for this reason.. I would love to buy locally...and het in
>> kahoots with my LSD, but when we are talking about a saving of around
>> $1000 for my total diving system....it's hard to be patriotic about it ;(
>
> Understood. My only real point was to ensure you consider any savings you
> may realize through a warranty that pays at least some of the cost of
> servicing your equipment. My Scuba Pro regulators are about 9 years old
> now. Over that period, the warranty picked up about $400 of the cost of
> servicing each of them. On a long term basis, assuming you have your
> equipment serviced periodically, such a warranty can actually make a more
> expensive regulator a better deal than a less expensive one.
>
> Just be sure you check.
>
> Just out of curiosity, what's the shipping on a regulator from the US to
> Australia and would you be interested in making an offer on a Sea Hornet
> in good condition? I won one in a drawing in Cozumel that was donated by
> an Australian diver. I was really happy at the time. I'm less happy since
> I found that it can't be serviced here. Mind you, I'm not even sure I
> know where I stored the regulator, but if you're interested, I might be
> willing to see if I can dig it out.
>
> Lee

actual price for gear is that not to different in Aus compared to US
particularly when you take into account duty etv. Add on warranty concerns
etc the buy from your LDS looks OK and you have a good relationship with
them ( if they are fuckwits move on to the next one)
>
>

Lee Bell wrote:
> Hi-Soft wrote
>
>> Yep..I think it a lot too...but I'm in Australia remember...scuba gear
>> down here is about 3 times the US price.. so servincing seems to be
>> inkeeping as well..;( such is how it is down here... I often buy online
>> for the US for this reason.. I would love to buy locally...and het in
>> kahoots with my LSD, but when we are talking about a saving of around
>> $1000 for my total diving system....it's hard to be patriotic about it ;(
>
> Understood. My only real point was to ensure you consider any savings you
> may realize through a warranty that pays at least some of the cost of
> servicing your equipment. My Scuba Pro regulators are about 9 years old now.
> Over that period, the warranty picked up about $400 of the cost of servicing
> each of them. On a long term basis, assuming you have your equipment
> serviced periodically, such a warranty can actually make a more expensive
> regulator a better deal than a less expensive one.
>
> Just be sure you check.
>
> Just out of curiosity, what's the shipping on a regulator from the US to
> Australia and would you be interested in making an offer on a Sea Hornet in
> good condition? I won one in a drawing in Cozumel that was donated by an
> Australian diver. I was really happy at the time. I'm less happy since I
> found that it can't be serviced here. Mind you, I'm not even sure I know
> where I stored the regulator, but if you're interested, I might be willing
> to see if I can dig it out.
>
> Lee
>
>

Actually while Scubapro's "parts for life" part of their warranty may
not necessarily stand in Aus. It would be best to check whether this is
the case with your local dealer. As far as I am aware it is not so in
the UK/Europe.

"ZenDiver" <spicedhamme@yahoo.com> wrote

> Actually while Scubapro's "parts for life" part of their warranty may not
> necessarily stand in Aus. It would be best to check whether this is the
> case with your local dealer. As far as I am aware it is not so in the
> UK/Europe.

Perhaps that's a good reason for selecting Apeks.

Lee