Had to Brag!!!

[616fun]

Hey,
Just had to brag about my good luck. Someone at work was selling two old tanks. I took a look at them and only one I was interested in. It was an AL80 and had a manufacture date of '92, but had not been vis and hydro'd since. It was stored with about 400 psi in it and had little signs of wear. I bought it for $15. It's at the dive shop getting a vis and hydro as I type. The guy at the shop cracked it open to make sure it looked like it was in good shape internally before I dropped the money on the vis and hydro. I'm getting practically a brand new AL80 for under $50!!!!

The other was a steel 80 about 30 years old and had a worn out looking J-valve, so I passed on it. Probably would have ended up rebuilding or replacing the valve and tumbling it.

I'M STOKED!

 

[msandler]

B@stard! good for you! The Al tanks last forever if properly cared for - 15 years is not unusual. I have a pair I bought new in 91, dove them for 2 years, stored them till last year (50psi), inside looks brand new, passed hydro and back in service.

 

[pasley]

If it was made by Catalina you did well. If not, well, check the alloy and see if it is the suspect alloy that has a problem with sustained load cracking in the neck (and occasionally exploding). If it is suspect alloy, then it may last seveal years and a Vis+ would be well advised. Then again, depending on where you are, some dive shops are refusing to fill the older suspect alloy tanks. http://www.scubabomb.freeservers.com/

 

[616fun]

If it was made by Catalina you did well. If not, well, check the alloy and see if it is the suspect alloy that has a problem with sustained load cracking in the neck (and occasionally exploding). If it is suspect alloy, then it may last seveal years and a Vis+ would be well advised. Then again, depending on where you are, some dive shops are refusing to fill the older suspect alloy tanks. http://www.scubabomb.freeservers.com/

Yep - it's a Catalina. The manufacture date was '92 and I think the alloy issues were in the 80's - right?

Anyway - it's fresh off the vis and hydro and ready to get wet. I'm awaiting delivery of my new drysuit to get them both wet at once.