How much do you think this Scuba Gear is worth?

[joeldonald]

Someone I work with has the following items they want to sell to me. I am just getting started in SCUBA and have to buy 2 of everything so I am looking to get in by the cheapest route. The equipment is aprrox 8 years old. Not used very much. I want your opinions on what you think the following may be worth.

1..BC (for my wife) Non weight integrated. I cant find a brand name on it but it looks in good condition. It is very basic.
2...weight belt with weights

3... Sherwood Maximus regulator

4...Sherwood Octopus

5...Sherwood Pressure and Depth Gauge.

She wants 300 for all of it. Now from outward apperances everything looks good. The one thing that does concern me is a bubble of water noted in the pressure gauge. Not sure what this may mean. I will get it all serviced prior to use.

So what do you think it should be worth?
Is there anything I am overlooking?


Thanks

Joel

 

[DandyDon]

I wouldn't. Diving technology has come too far in 8 years, and the BC & Reg are extrememly important life safing tools. Used bad stuff, get washed up on the beach :11:

Okay, can the scare tatics. I'd have a service qualified technician look at it first...

 

[z28pwr]

I wouldn't. Diving technology has come too far in 8 years, and the BC & Reg are extrememly important life safing tools. Used bad stuff, get washed up on the beach :11:

Okay, can the scare tatics. I'd have a service qualified technician look at it first...

Honestly, I rather slowly buy things new and rent what I don't have then buy something 8 years old if I were you.

I too had to buy everything X2 and mostly bought it all from www.leisurepro.com but now that I know that www.scuba.com will match their price and you will get the full warranty I recommend you do that.

 

[Damselfish]

I agree buying new is way preferable to 8 years old. But just to look at the other side, if saving money is a big issue and there's a good deal (price AND condition) particularly from someone you know, it's worth considering. There's plenty of posts on this board where people discuss why it's best to own your own gear rather than rent, and how buying used is a way to make it more affordable. Technology changes, but 8 years ago wasn't quite the dark ages. I'm sure there are people on this board still diving with some 8 year old gear. I'm still diving my 14 year old Scubapro MK10 reg because I don't see much gain in replacing it. Coincidentally I've got a Sherwood octo, and same vintage Sherwood gauges that I only stopped using a couple years ago. They were perfectly fine but they weighed a ton and I wanted a new toy. (I think they would be fine if I drove my car over them.)

If the gear is in good condition, serviced and declared ok, I don't see a problem with it as a way to start. (Plus you'll look like an instant old timer. But compare used$ plus whatever $ervice is needed to get it in shape, against what you could buy new. Another cost factor is, if you "take" what you happen to find used, rather than making a carefully researched new purchase, there's good odds you'll wind up replacing the stuff within a few years. Do make sure the BC really fits. Make sure parts are available for the reg. Obviously you won't have a warrenty.

 

[rjchandler]

Pressure gauge is no good if it has water in it. The reg sounds like the old maximus if it is 8 yrs old. A good reg but there is a newer version. The reg alone would cost you about 275 from Leisure pro if it is the new version. Price is about right depending on condition of gear.

 

[Scubaroo]

Got any experienced diving friends (that aren't selling you gear?) It might be worth having someone knowledgeable look at it - $300 plus servicing is pretty cheap entry in to gear ownership! You might decide in 6 or 12 months that diving isn't your thing, or decide that it really is your thing and it's worth spending $2k+ on gear. Diving the same set of gear over and over eliminates the "different gear factor" on each dive, and lets you focus on other skill development.

Then again, it could all be junk.

 

[joeldonald]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I plan on having it all checked out and I must take into account the cost of getting it serviced. The pressure gauge does have water in it and I am not sure if this is something that is repaired easily by having it serviced or pretty much a death sentence for the gauge.

Around here the cost of getting the 1st and 2nd stage serviced is anywhere from $40-55 labor plus parts. I am not sure how much to service the other items.

If the service cost drive the price up too much then I may rethink buying the equipment.

Thanks

Joel