Gear maintenance

[Gombessa]

It's been a weird couple of months for me - no diving, followed by a TON of diving, then no diving for a while again, then last-minute, toss-gear-in-car-and-hope-nothing-was-forgotten diving. That kind of schedule wreaks havoc on regular maintenance. I like gear maintenance generally; I don't work on my car or anything so this is as close to real elbow-grease as I get.

So last night I had a couple of hours, and spent them creating a new tail weight, retying a few boltsnaps, replacing a hose, replacing a leaky dryglove (note to self: just get some aquaseal and keep it around), giving the drysuit seals a good soapy wash, pounding the crap out of my light's E/O connectors, re-arranging/re-stocking my save-a-dive toolbox, and catching up on some dive logging that I've neglected for a bit.

Does anyone else just take time once every few weeks/months/years to sit down to keep the house in order, so to speak? If so, how often?

 

[zf2nt]

Oh yes, I spend a lot of time maintaining my stuff. Regulators are supposed to be serviced once a year, but I have to do my own at least twice that often. I don't have redundant systems the way you do with your doubles, so I have to trust my one reg completely. I am often dumbfounded at the state of the regs I see come in for service, just thinking that somebody has been trusting his life to a reg with old worn O-rings that are dried out and cracking.

Matter of fact, I think I'll go out now and try to figure out why that dry suit inflator button has been so hard to push lately!

Bruce

 

[bbianchi]

Kenn, I just try to keep up with it as things go along.

Last weekend for example I had an o-ring that wasnt looking quite right, took it back to the shop and Bruce and I swapped it out.

 

[Gombessa]

Bruce, it was good to see you back in action on Tuesday!

Brandon, I typically do the same, but it seems like once in a while, minor details that I end up neglecting start to add up. In this instance, I left town for over a week immediately after getting back from diving, and as such left all my gear unrinsed until I got home. That, by the way, wreaked some real havoc on a few stainless bolt snaps. Maybe next time I'll just dump everything in the tub and let it soak until I get back...

 

[PKHamrick]

Gross! I left my gear in the tub for a week once! It was all smelly and slimy when I finally got to it. This time I rinsed it all but left it dripping in a dark storage room. I do not know what to expect when I get home next weekend...

 

[bbianchi]

If I know its going to be some time before I can rinse (but I never let it sit more than 24 hours) ill throw everything in the tub with water. Id hate to imagine how it may smell after a week...

 

[Brewski]

This time I rinsed it all but left it dripping in a dark storage room. I do not know what to expect when I get home next weekend...

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[bbianchi]

The gear could become self aware.

 

[PKHamrick]

I believe dark wet places can grow undesirable fungus... I am hoping there is enough fresh air to dry the gear without mold, mildew and or a fungi funk. I will be home July 17th.

 

[Gombessa]

Aspirgillus Ticor? Sorry, way-geeked out reference there.

As cold and damp as your closet is, I wonder how/if it compares to the inside of a typical BC bladder. These things never get completely dry.