Buying or renting tanks?

[Hostage]

I have been thinking of about buying a scuba tank and comparing it with the idea or renting. For my AOW they are charging me $50 for renting tanks and air. I am wondering if it is worth buying tanks or not. They normally charge $20/tank/weekend, I don't think they charge me for fills after that. I think they charged me $10 for last night for using a tank for the pool scession. To fill your own tank, it costs $7.50/fill, then there is VIP (every year) and Hydro (every 5) on top of that. I am getting 6 dives, including the pool scession out of it. In this case it looks like using theirs as oppose to buying would a better idea $45 (fill my own) vs $50 (using theirs).

Two weeks ago I paid $40 for using two tanks once each for a drift dive. I had no other option to do the weekend rate as the dive shop is closed on Sun and Mon. Further more I had to drive back to the shop on Tues to return the tanks, the shop is about 25mins away.

The shop has some used tanks that they are willing to sell two 72CF LP tanks for $125 each, what do you guys think of that?

Is there anything I am leaving out?

Regards,

Hostage

 

[spoolin01]

I find the convenience of having my own tanks far outweighs concern over relative expense. The operating and carrying costs of tank ownership are probably on the order of $30/year, ballpark, not counting fills. Other plusses for me - I can own a bigger tank than I can rent, it can be steel and have a buoyancy quality that I prefer over AL80s, and it can be in better operating condition than the rental beaters.

I'm not so up on all prices everywhere, but if that's an old steel 72, the price seems pretty high. Hope than means very recent hydro and fresh visual inspection. I don't know your needs, but a 72 wouldn't even be close to the capacity I'd want. If you're looking for a light tank, the steel HP 100s are similar size and weight to the familiar aluminum 80 (make sure it's not stamped DOT 3AA - those are very heavy), but with better qualities. They are pricey when new but around here can often be had used for around $200.

 

[Hostage]

They had 85's for ~$350ish at the store. I saw on a sign that they do free VIPs with purchase of a tank from them, I don't know if that includes used. The guy also mentioned that they could split the hydro cost if it was close to expiring. It is more of a pain to drive back to return the tanks. i might wait till next year so I get a new tank w/ more of a hydro on it as well as spread the cost over a longer period.

I also saw some guy selling these on craigslist: Scuba Tanks for $100. They haven't been hydroed in over 20 years.

 

[doctormike]

Buying tanks is rarely about saving money, it is usually about convenience and the ability to get tanks otehr than AL80s...

If you dive locally, it's definitely worth it - you don't need to rush back to return tanks or get late fees. Also, you can leave your tanks to get filled and pick them up when you need them (most shops don't seem to mind their regular customers doing that during the season).

Also, for local diving in the Rochester area, unless you are doing the Thousand Islands in late summer, you are probably going to be diving dry or a fairly heavy wetsuit. Steel tanks have good buoyancy characteristics for that, another plus of buying.

M

 

[TravisD]

For me, owning tanks means taking one trip to the shop for fills, vs. two to pick up and drop off rentals. Also means I can do it anytime during the week when I have time, not just Day before/day-after.

Great thing about most tanks (steels especially) is that unlike most SCUBA gear, they actually hold most of their value, should you decide to resell them later.

 

[DMDavid]

Lets see where should I start?
$20 tank rental?
Weekend rate?

I don't know if your tank rental rate is so high because you're in Rochester or if you're just getting ripped off.
In any case, the amount you're paying for rentals I would most definitely buy my own tanks.

Check around with other dive shops if you have any options.
Find out if they have a discount on airfills for buying a 10 or 20 fill card.

Most dive shops in Florida will rent you a tank on Saturday and you can return it on Monday if they are closed on Sunday for a one day rental rate ($10).

I own and rent depending on the situation.
Ownership has it's advantages, like spur of the moment dive trips on a Sunday morning or holiday.


FB-Florida Scuba Diver

 

[Bubbletrubble]

I'd recommend trying to buy a used HP100 on Craigslist. The tank has a nice amount of capacity, slightly smaller physical dimensions than an AL80, and desirable buoyancy characteristics. These tanks sell for $300+ new, but I have been lucky enough to get them used for as little as $50.

Depending on the local used market, the demand, and your patience, you may be able to get a very good deal. Just make sure you figure the cost of hydro and/or VIP into the cost of having a "dive-able" tank.

 

[Hostage]

I am doing the St. Laurance this weekend for my AOW. I have a FJ and Jacket 7mm and 5mm (12mm core). I don't really have much of an interest in ice diving. I might wait till the start of the next season and get 2 tanks as that seems what people normally use for the day. There is another dive shop about 4 miles away that charges only $5. If I get my tanks I will fill with him. I will get my other stuff serviced, make major purchases, and do my training from the other shop. The shop I go to that is a lot further happen to have the best schedule for me, they also seem a lot better put together.

Buying tanks is rarely about saving money, it is usually about convenience and the ability to get tanks otehr than AL80s...

If you dive locally, it's definitely worth it - you don't need to rush back to return tanks or get late fees. Also, you can leave your tanks to get filled and pick them up when you need them (most shops don't seem to mind their regular customers doing that during the season).

Also, for local diving in the Rochester area, unless you are doing the Thousand Islands in late summer, you are probably going to be diving dry or a fairly heavy wetsuit. Steel tanks have good buoyancy characteristics for that, another plus of buying.

M

 

[doctormike]

I am doing the St. Laurance this weekend for my AOW.

Did some diving there a few weeks ago... amazing trip! Was comfortable in a 5 mm (72 degrees, top to bottom).

The further the dive shop, the better it is to have your own tanks. Also, usually better to buy two, so you have the ability to do two tank boat dives.

 

[=C=]

I second craigslist. I just picked up an LP85 and three AL 80's for 80USD... They all needed hydro but they were all in great condition.

Get a used tank, take the tank boot off, inspect the tank thoroughly from the outside for condition clues, or even make a deal that if it doesn't pass hydro there is some sort of refund (people occasionally go for this). Avoid old Luxfer bad alloy tanks and your good to go (there are tons of threads on this). Empty tanks and any external signs of rust raise flags for me but they are really just an indicator of increased risk that the tank will need more than a hydro and VIP (and possibly that they wont pass).

Fill cards cut down the cost too.

As for value? I still have my first AL80 and its in great shape, brand new for 80 bucks back in 1999. Life of a modern tank is pretty long and when you want out you can sell it on and cash out.

Here a link with the search http://rochester.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=scuba&srchType=T

I notice there's a guy with two tanks for 50 in your area.