High Pressure Aluminum

[swimlikethefish]

Picked up some Catalina 74's today. For a steal. I know these facts:
Catalina
C74
Rated pressure 3442
Made in 2008

Does anyone know the cylinder specs for buoyancy? Catalinas website does not list the high pressure aluminum 74. Also, are they exactly 74, or are they 74 point something like an 80 (77.6)?

 

[Jack Hammer]

I don't recall seeing those before

 

[swimlikethefish]

I found another thread on the board that was circa 2008. A gentleman said they were originally made for the Australian market and then imported to the States for a short period. They were sold by Genesis, which explains why they all have genesis valves. I couldn't find anything else about them. They do have low serial numbers in sequential order, #91 on up. I didn't exactly tape them but they are slightly taller than a Worthington 100 and slightly shorter than a PST 100. They are most definitely shorter than a standard 80. By a few inches.

www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/can-someone-tell-me-what-this-is.246380/page-2

 

[scubafanatic]

I found another thread on the board that was circa 2008. A gentleman said they were originally made for the Australian market and then imported to the States for a short period. They were sold by Genesis, which explains why they all have genesis valves. I couldn't find anything else about them. They do have low serial numbers in sequential order, #91 on up. I didn't exactly tape them but they are slightly taller than a Worthington 100 and slightly shorter than a PST 100. They are most definitely shorter than a standard 80. By a few inches.

www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/can-someone-tell-me-what-this-is.246380/page-2

Wonder why they vanished from the market ? They seem like a great idea !

 

[runsongas]

significantly heavier than a lp72. heavier and fatter than the al72 i think also. about as heavy as a hp100/lp85 which hold more gas. just not much of a market for them.

 

[scubafanatic]

significantly heavier than a lp72. heavier and fatter than the al72 i think also. about as heavy as a hp100/lp85 which hold more gas. just not much of a market for them.

Well, if they can make a HP AL 74, why couldn't they have made a HP AL 80 ? Plus AL is cheaper and rust proof, especially suitable for any marine/salt water diving environment.

 

[runsongas]

luxfer makes a 3300 psi compact 80. it ends up significantly heavier than a hp80 or al72 though for not much more gas.

 

[Scared Silly]

Well, if they can make a HP AL 74, why couldn't they have made a HP AL 80 ? Plus AL is cheaper and rust proof, especially suitable for any marine/salt water diving environment.

Aluminum does not rust, it oxidizes. Further, aluminum in a salt water environment corrodes and will pit. It just like steel needs to have some level of protection.

 

[rjack321]

Well, if they can make a HP AL 74, why couldn't they have made a HP AL 80 ? Plus AL is cheaper and rust proof, especially suitable for any marine/salt water diving environment.

Because in 2008 they were competing with PST who was selling galvanized steel 3500psi high pressure exemption tanks. Those were the hot new thing with far better buoyancy characteristics and 100cf of capacity which everyone lusted for. Catalina was wise to bail on competing in the "hp" market.

 

[scubafanatic]

Because in 2008 they were competing with PST who was selling galvanized steel 3500psi high pressure exemption tanks. Those were the hot new thing with far better buoyancy characteristics and 100cf of capacity which everyone lusted for. Catalina was wise to bail on competing in the "hp" market.

Problem with that theory is 2008 is about the same time PST went out of business! Worthington went out of business shortly thereafter (about 2012)...so if hot-dipped galvanized tanks are so 'hot'/superior, what's your theory on that ? Don't get me wrong, I own 16 hot-dipped galvanized HP tanks (PST and Worthington), but somehow they failed in the market.