Gifted Sherwood BC - worth servicing and using?

[anchochile]

I'm a new diver and a friend who no longer dives just gave me a bunch of gear, including this Sherwood Cayman BC.

I'm interested in trying a BP/W setup eventually, but for the moment while I'm working on my OW and then just trying to get some dives under my belt, would it be worth using this BC (and presumably getting it checked over and serviced) in the meantime and saving on rental costs? How much would be "too much" to spend on fixing it up, given that I may not want to use it long term?

And are there basic things I can do at home to check if it's in good working condition, without a tank to hook it up to? I orally inflated it and was planning to see if it is still fully inflated tomorrow.

Photos are here

 

[hammet]

Funny you should post that because like the sherwood magnum regulator in the other thread you made, I had this BCD at the same time I was using the magnum.
While I say keep the regulator for a while, ditch this BCD.
The latest BCDs are so much better in terms of comfort and support.
I remember when I demoed a new aqualung BCD about 5 years ago and it was night and day compared to my cayman.
That being said, my cayman lived a long life before the pockets started to shred apart and I had to look for a replacement.

 

[anchochile]

Funny you should post that because like the sherwood magnum regulator in the other thread you made, I had this BCD at the same time I was using the magnum.
While I say keep the regulator for a while, ditch this BCD.
The latest BCDs are so much better in terms of comfort and support.
I remember when I demoed a new aqualung BCD about 5 years ago and it was night and day compared to my cayman.
That being said, my cayman lived a long life before the pockets started to shred apart and I had to look for a replacement.

Haha...I guess you and my friend had the same gear salesman. Thanks for the heads up on the BC - I'll try to rent some modern BCs for my first few dives so I can see what I like. The rental gear in my OW class is more of the functional-but-vintage variety.

 

[Wookie]

Haha...I guess you and my friend had the same gear salesman. Thanks for the heads up on the BC - I'll try to rent some modern BCs for my first few dives so I can see what I like. The rental gear in my OW class is more of the functional-but-vintage variety.

Find a deal that will take the cayman in trade. It’s lousy package gear. Kind of surprised your instructor doesn’t have you in top of the line gear for class. After all, you want to train in what they want to sell you...

 

[Bob DBF]

My wife gave me one back when they were new, I used it for a few years. It was the only BC I didn't wear out. No fault of the unit, but I wanted a BP/W and got the funds togather before it wore out. It was still in use last I heard, a year or so back.

If it works it will carry you through 'till you find what you really want.

My personal order of preference is BP/W, Horsecollar, Stab Jacket, and Poodle Jacket (which would be the Caymen), but thats me.



Bob

 

[anchochile]

Find a deal that will take the cayman in trade. It’s lousy package gear. Kind of surprised your instructor doesn’t have you in top of the line gear for class. After all, you want to train in what they want to sell you...

Unless your LDS is Steele's in Oakland, which is more likely to downsell you than upsell you.

 

[JamesBon92007]

I bought a used BC that needed a little work (a couple of O-rings and cleaning etc) and it served me well while I decided what I wanted to spend my money on. One thing I didn't want to spend my money on was rental BCs. At first they were only a few bucks a day but then the rental prices started going up rather quickly. I bought a used BC for less than what some places now charge for a one-day rental.

Like Bob DBF and so many others, the trail seems to be leading towards a BP/W. I dove for about 45 years with no BC and the back wing is closest to having just a tank backpack. Plus it's very versatile and you can customize it to suit your needs. Right now I'm diving with an old tank backpack with some added weight and a snorkel vest for the wing. I'm planning on trading the weighted backpack in for a stainless backplate but can't come up with a good reason to ditch the snorkel vest when a wing costs $300 or more.

 

[JamesBon92007]

I
And are there basic things I can do at home to check if it's in good working condition, without a tank to hook it up to? I orally inflated it and was planning to see if it is still fully inflated tomorrow.
Photos are here

That should be a reliable test, however a common problem with some other power inflators (not necessarily Sherwood) is that the inflator will leak past the power inflator valve and continue to fill your BC while you are diving. You will probably be able to hear it if you listen closely. On most of my BCs there are two O-rings that seal the shaft (chrome-plated brass, hopefully stainless steel) and if they are replaced and the shaft is clean and lubed and not pitted that should fix it, but those O-rings can be tricky to get out plus first you have to get it apart. On mine the size is usually 010 which is a popular size of O-ring. Or you could just replace the inflator but for 50 cents I usually try the O-rings first.