Is Used Gear Safe? - Scuba Tech Tips: S17E05
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 เม.ย. 2024
- Often a diver thinks nice looking gear at a low price is a great deal without knowing if it's safe to dive. Alec explains why most used regs and BCD's can be a great deal, others should be avoided.
Watch my "Alec Peirce at the Ranch" for ranch and home ideas. / @alecpeirceattheranch
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Vintage scuba videos are the best. No matter what topic related to that you show up with or vintage scuba gear review I watch every single one. Thanks for sharing
Glad you liked it.
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I'd say as a good rule of thumb: buy used whatever you know very well about and you are reasonably certain of the good conditions/service history.
Buy new everything else.
I personally am quite skilled and have good knowledge on how all my gear works, what can go wrong and how I can fix it. So I buy used gear and service it myself most of the times, except first stages, I don't want them to fail for any reason whatsoever, so I buy them new and I get them serviced twice a year by my local dive store. Plus I always make sure to go diving with a buddy, in case something goes south.
Good point on buy what you know so no surprises. Also think about will your LDS service it.
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I have a lot of used gear and a lot of new gear. They all work just as good as one another. I think it depends on who owned the gear, as long as it's well cared for. Used gear can definitely be worth looking into. Great video, Alec!
Great point!
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Great vid and tips.
Thanks Alec 🤿👍
You're welcome.
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I do scuba diving as well as climbing. A while ago I found an offer on eBay for „new“ climbing equipment, that was never used, but enlarging the pics you could see the production date was twelve years old. I politely contacted the seller (who got aggressive) and eBay (who didn’t care). Now someone, probably a beginner, is in the mountains trusting their life on equipment that is years beyond expiration. I honestly don’t know how some people can sleep at night.
That is an interesting story, thanks for sharing. I can be a buyer beware market but fortunately for scuba, even old gear, 1960's steel tanks for instance, can still be safely used after passing VIS and hydro tests. If a reg 1st and 2nd have the proper parts, even old Dacor and Scubapro can be dived safely. But smart divers like us keep a backup safe second just in case.
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totally agree that the parts availability is of a prime importance for maintenance of primary safety equipments as regulators.
Sometimes, to keep a used equipment usable, I must improvise but if I have to do that, believe me that I test it a way nobody will be able to use it that way, I had to do that to save old BCD, for example, applying 50 PSI th the 3/4" port of a BCD inflator to test a modification I done to it to be able to keep in service knowing that the bladder of a BCD will never resist that pressure and in service, the pressure applied to that port will be a few PSI max over ambiant
very good topic
very good video
Thanks Jacques. More to come.
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Good advice Alec! I recently went through this. I found a nice computer for relatively cheap compared to its new price. I did some research, called my local dive shops. Eventually, I called the manufacturer. Turns out, it’s obsolete. They didn’t even have any old new stock parts. So I didn’t get it. Not to say it wouldn’t work for me for a while, maybe a long time, but if it did fail, that would be the end of it.
Thanks again for the good tips!
Keep em comin!
Will do. Joining a local scuba swap Saturday so will have a new video on the fun of used shopping.
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Used tanks in test, computers, regs (as long as they have a recent service record), BCDs, weights, fins as long as you are competent enough to inspect an item and look for signs of abuse / abnormal wear then you are pretty safe. When buying a tank, I always ask for refund guarantee if it fails the hydro / visual test. If you pull back any hose protectors (salt collectors) and remove the purge cover and inspect the barrel on a set of regs (and check the sinter filter) you shouldn't have a problem - btw connect it to a tank and check for leaks etc.
I always buy Wetties and masks new.
Never accept used lead weights that have dents in them - you're just asking for a lifetime of regret :)
Good points for everyone to follow. Thanks for sharing.
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Buy once , cry once.
I never buy used
Decent used gear is usually 20% cheaper than new, no point to take that risk. Plus, you need to service it right away and don't have a warranty.
I'm attending a scuba swap tomorrow with gear from 50% to 90% below new prices BUT you balance used with mental comfort, will you like it? I bought new and used stuff online and having someone who I know will fix it gives me good peace of mind when buying.
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As far as BC's. I did my Pool Dives using a M. Open Water Dives using a S. I'm Between Sizes. Purchased an Aqua Lung Omni in M with a S Waistband. Cost me $800.
Using a wetsuit may fill out the M sized BC. Also over the years my own size has fluctuated a little so extra is probably better than a tight S.
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@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter The M was lose around the waist. S was tight around the shoulders. The Waistband on the M was about 2" too Big
eXCELLENT!
Many thanks!
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i'd buy used wetsuit, boats, and fins offsite. Everything else new or used from the dive shop. in fact i'd check prices at the lds for everything before buying offsite.
There are deals to be found online and in store. Always be aware of the steps if you have a problem. Online can be expensive shipping and time vs an hour visit to your local dive shop. Either way, enjoy your dives first.
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Looking for info on HellE Phone diver to diver to surface commication device. Looks like early 70's. Wondering about selling it where would I list and how much $$
Just answered this same question.
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Same here, very low on hp seat left
Good to know.
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I have been using used scubapro upgraded MK20 and a G250 for years expirincing no problemes
They are very well made and if maintained, will last for generations of divers. Good pick.
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I definitely see lots of used gear regs bcs from the 80/90s on the internet for sale for ridiculous prices. Even if you could get parts you'd be darn near the price of buying a lower end new regulator. I did buy one 30 year old reg on ebay for $30 just to take apart and see how it works. It ended up being used to get air out of a tank to fill tires in my garage. I have no problem buying used tanks even out of inspection if they are cheap enough, I've only been burned once. I bought one reg set that was still in current production that had just been factory serviced at a several hundred dollar discount, Then whent on to buy two new sets from the same company. All lead should be purchased used i got most of mine for scrap yard prices. So many high dollar acccessories can be had in garage sale bundles or at swap meets for pennies on the dollar. As you mentined fit is super important so unless you have a generic body shape wetsuits/drysuits, fins, masks that fit appropriately are hard to find used. Diving is an expensive hobby save money where you can so you can spend it on dive trips and actully spending time underwater.
Good tips for all buyers. I'm all for saving money when reasonable to do so. My regs are life saving devices, so cheap is not acceptable to this old guy.
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As long as it's from a Reputable Dive Shop. Or a friend.
Those are good referrals.
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So em, Alec... Does your BCD still stay hard, or does it go soft? 😅
Oh its hard, for about 2 hours then fizzzzzzzzz !!!
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