BLADEFISH Sea Jets - A Completely Different Approach

[snickers]

When the batteries die they will be replaced by the Distributor. You will have to return the Bladefish to them and they will replace. Unfortunately the Lithium Ion batteries are a substantial part of the BF cost so it won't be cheap. Good news is that for recreational use you may never have to replace the batteries as they are good for hundreds of recharges before any noticeable reduction in run time. Estimate cost to replace the 2 battery packs (5 cells in each pack) for the 5000 series is $325.00.

 

[RickI]

Just put up a video and review of some impressions of the Bladefish 5000 largely while running next to it over a mile while on an Apollo Evolution dive scooter. I wouldn't have thought the Bladefish would be that effective given its small size and weight. I was wrong on that score. It pulled a large diver with a 135 cft. tank a good distance at a reasonable speed. When he wasn't running it, clipped off on the flag tow line it was easy to forget it was even there. Another fellow rigged a tow bridle for it, a normal step with most DPVs. I am intrigued by easy travel prospects on planes with the Bladefish myself. Talking the Apollo to Egypt was an eye opener!

Forgive the shop and dive club plugs in the video but I've been trying to get my hands on one of these to check it out for nine months since DEMA. They made it happen. Plus, the meetup group is a good concept for active divers. The entire video was shot with the GoPro HD.



The review and video are at:
Video - Bladefish 5000 Dive Scooter Demo - FKA Kiteboarding Forums

 

[JanK]

When the batteries die they will be replaced by the Distributor. You will have to return the Bladefish to them and they will replace. Unfortunately the Lithium Ion batteries are a substantial part of the BF cost so it won't be cheap. Good news is that for recreational use you may never have to replace the batteries as they are good for hundreds of recharges before any noticeable reduction in run time. Estimate cost to replace the 2 battery packs (5 cells in each pack) for the 5000 series is $325.00.

Not quite true. LiIon batteries age even if they are not used. Typical useful lives are around 2-3 years. To achieve that, you need to store it in a refrigerator charged to 40%.

Check out the table on How to prolong lithium-based batteries. Storing a LiIon battery at (albeit extreme) temperature 40°C and 100% charge reduces the capacity by about a third in one year!

 

[cool_hardware52]

Not quite true. LiIon batteries age even if they are not used. Typical useful lives are around 2-3 years. To achieve that, you need to store it in a refrigerator charged to 40%.

Check out the table on How to prolong lithium-based batteries. Storing a LiIon battery at (albeit extreme) temperature 40°C and 100% charge reduces the capacity by about a third in one year!

Ah well, not entirely true. I have Sierra (Dive X scooter) packs that are more than 4 years old that test above 90% of original capacity..........

If one looks only the typical consumer applications, laptops for example, short battery service life is not uncommon.

Scooters aren't laptops. Unlike a laptop the battery in a scooter is not in a hot environment, is usually cycled much less often, and may not be routinely deep cycled.

Tobin

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

Just put up a video and review of some impressions of the Bladefish 5000 largely while running next to it over a mile while on an Apollo Evolution dive scooter. I wouldn't have thought the Bladefish would be that effective given its small size and weight. I was wrong on that score. It pulled a large diver with a 135 cft. tank a good distance at a reasonable speed. When he wasn't running it, clipped off on the flag tow line it was easy to forget it was even there. Another fellow rigged a tow bridle for it, a normal step with most DPVs. I am intrigued by easy travel prospects on planes with the Bladefish myself. Talking the Apollo to Egypt was an eye opener!

Forgive the shop and dive club plugs in the video but I've been trying to get my hands on one of these to check it out for nine months since DEMA. They made it happen. Plus, the meetup group is a good concept for active divers. The entire video was shot with the GoPro HD.

I've said it before-the more I use the BladeFish 5000 Sea Scooter the more I like it. There were a few things I wasn't sure about initially but with over 20 ocean dives on the unit I can't complain about one thing-It's incredibly user friendly from a portability and maintenance standpoint and packs plenty of thrust as well.

I do hope they come out with an accessory bracket-would be sweet to mount a light

Question regarding the GoPro-did you use the provided stock lens for your footage?

 

[RickI]

Yes, that was shot with the GoPro HD out of the box. No corrective port for it from the company yet. Despite that you can get some interesting video out of it.

 

[GrandpaPat]

I just tried to use my two Bladefish 5000s during a trip to Cozumel and both crapped out on me in the water. This was only the 5-6 dive of use over seven months and the first on this trip. Both units were fully charged overnight in the US two days earlier. Both units became uncontrollable about five minutes into the dive -- as in they would not shut down when the paddle buttons were released -- one or both buttons. Even pushing the buttons several times would not change speeds or shut them down. We were on a wreck and I finally directed mine down on to the deck and it sat there winding away for about 30 seconds before shutting down on its own. I tried it again and it worked for about a minute and then stopped even with the buttons held down and never worked again. The other unit worked fine for the first five minutes and then went into uncontrolled mode for another five minutes or so and then it too shut down on its own and never functioned again. We thought the batteries were dead. But I tried plugging one in to recharge it and it arced when I tried to plug the cord into the unit -- and the charger was not even plugged into the wall outlet. The plug cavity was not wet.

Anybody got any ideas on what would cause this lack of control? I was demoing the units to the local divemasters for a few seconds on the boat prior to the dive and the controls worked fine on the surface.

 

[deeper thoughts]

Try calling the dealer. See what they say.

 

[PhilEllis]

I just tried to use my two Bladefish 5000s during a trip to Cozumel and both crapped out on me in the water. This was only the 5-6 dive of use over seven months and the first on this trip. Both units were fully charged overnight in the US two days earlier. Both units became uncontrollable about five minutes into the dive -- as in they would not shut down when the paddle buttons were released -- one or both buttons. Even pushing the buttons several times would not change speeds or shut them down. We were on a wreck and I finally directed mine down on to the deck and it sat there winding away for about 30 seconds before shutting down on its own. I tried it again and it worked for about a minute and then stopped even with the buttons held down and never worked again. The other unit worked fine for the first five minutes and then went into uncontrolled mode for another five minutes or so and then it too shut down on its own and never functioned again. We thought the batteries were dead. But I tried plugging one in to recharge it and it arced when I tried to plug the cord into the unit -- and the charger was not even plugged into the wall outlet. The plug cavity was not wet.

Anybody got any ideas on what would cause this lack of control? I was demoing the units to the local divemasters for a few seconds on the boat prior to the dive and the controls worked fine on the surface.

You should return those to the dealer and I expect they will be repaired or replaced immediately. While we have never had a complaint on any we have sold, the support by Innovative Scuba for these units is quite good.

Phil Ellis
Discount Scuba Gear at DiveSports.com - Buy Scuba Diving Equipment & Snorkeling Equipment

 

[GrandpaPat]

I later discovered on the www that Innovative Scuba Concept in Colorado Springs was the US distributor of the Bladefish. I called them and they said they had not seen this issue before and asked that I return both units for inspection. They have replaced these with new units. Very fast treatment and concern for their products and reputation. I still like the Bladefish and will continue using. Could not beat the convenience during travel.