Do you ever lend your gear?

[Lemonade]

I'm afraid it's another poll

A friend is going to Florida and will spend a week diving in the Keys. I'm out of vacation time, so I can't go.

He's asking to borrow my gear, particularly BC, regulator, instruments and light.

Do you ever lend your gear?

 

[pentiumchic]

The first time I saw a gear lending poll I said no and meant it.But then I watched this new open water student having mask leaking problem so bad that she looked like a nodding horse every other minute that I loaned my mask to her but I still draw the line on my reg.lol

Jen

 

[Waterborne]

It depends on the particular piece of gear. I have no problem lending any of my gear to my close buddies. I haven't had to yet as we all have the same quality gear but if they needed it, they have access to my full kit. As long as I'm not using it of course. Although we all have a very tight pact if you will. The only person that uses the gear is the one who borrowed it. As far as aquaintences and strangers, never. I worked long and hard to get the gear that I have. Granted if they needed a piece out of my save a dive kit, sure have at it. Any one other than my close buddies that wanted my regs, B/P & wings, or any other major piece of gear, would have to pry it out of my cold, lifeless hands.

 

[SA-Diver]

I will not lend cylinder, BC, reg or computer to anyone.
I will lend things like mask, booties, fins, compass etc to close friends but the deal is always - you break or lose, you replace with exactly the same.

 

[seadog]

to visiting friends, but only if we are diving with them.

 

[Alfred.E]

I wouldn't have any problem lending gear to a good buddy who you can trust to look after it. Wouldn't be any different than lending themyour car.

 

[Barracuda2]

People just don't take care of stuff as their own when they borrow. I loaned out a Nikonos V camera and strobe and it got flooded because the guy took it beyond its capabilities (over 160 ft.) I had to take him to small claims court to get my money back. Lost a friend and a camera.

Also, there could be a liability situation here, especially with life support equipment. If he drowns using your reg, somebody might get the idea to sue
you for loaning faulty equipment. my $.02.

Barracuda2

 

[redacted]

When I can help someone from my save-a-dive kit, including a spare reg & guages, I do for the dive at hand. Loans to avoid the expense of purchase or renting are done on a much more selective basis.

 

[scuberd]

I might loan my light or something small like that to a good, trusted friend; however, I never loan out anything that my life depends on, nor anything that need to fit correctly like a mask or wet suit.

 

[ColdH20diving]

As a general rule no, I done it in the past and it's taken forever to get my equipment back. Spare parts from my equipment box no problem. I don't want the potential liability issues should something happen.