Can't resist to make a comment
Didn't Brian's collection of regs and other gear start with a Mares that he just had to get right away before testing out some of the other ones?!?
(Mind you I haven't met him yet, but couldn't resist...)
Paul- - what reg did the other LDS suggest you buy?!?
On your "used gear" question. I dunno... I've bought some used, but tend to find that it "worries" me and its then been replaced or planned to be replaced. Similar to Tavi I bought my drysuit off of Ebay and though it was a great price, I could have easily waisted money on it... It did have a couple small leaks which I was able to patch, but if there was a tear in any of the seals and/or if the seals were dryrotted then the additional cost would have started racking up. So I too would side on the "I'm not suggesting a drysuit from ebay", but even with that I still look for potential replacements. Used regulators. Touchy subject in my humble (and not knowing much) opinion. Its certainly one of the key pieces of equipment that has to work without a doubt. Since you are a rock climber- - I'd equate it to carabiners & active pro... would you buy used carabiners? Me I did buy one set off of ebay, but its also the set that I wound up replacing with new and am sending to a shop to be overhauled just to be sure. I was in a hurry though and felt that I just needed to be set up by a certain date and the price was right at the time... I now have another set, and with the "overhaul" cost I probably could have bought new...
On the wetsuit(s). Very nice idea from Tavi on making your buddy warm! There are a few websites out there that give some good "low down" on wet suits. In general and quickly typing some of what I found: Good seals at the neck, wrists, legs etc make for a warmer suit. Some suits use a "skin" that has sealing rings around the wrists and/or the "semi dry" suits really do a nice job using similar techniques. Short of it is they attempt to minimize the water flow in and out of the suit. So a really high quality and well fitting suit is something to focus on just as much as the "thickness". I personally like my hooded vest and/or hood for just about everything and that seems to really nock the edge off of the cold (vest for wet, hood for dry), it seems to build yet another layer that the water has to "seep around" before hitting skin. And now for the "down side" to neoprene. You can go to thicker layers and thicker suits but they add to "dynamic instability". Which is that their bouyancy changes as your depth does. So at the surface they are very boyant but then as you go deeper they start to compress and thus less bouyant. I was "floored" when I switched from a 3mm farmer john to a 7mm 1 piece. Had to add close to 8 pounds of weight to get down, but once I hit 10-15' I then started to "plummet" (controllable, just had to be ready to add air to the bc quickly), then down around 50' or so felt like there was little insulation and where the dive computer was nice and tight on the wrist, it was loose and flayling around (probably come off except for gloves), Coming back up once back to about 15' the 7mm wants to go to the top. Its all controllable and workable, but you have to be ready for it. At first I thought it was just me, but over time I've heard similar stories from others... I know there is a shop in Akron that rents dry suits, I suspect there is probably one in Cleveland as well, that might make for a nice "middle ground" as you are working through everything.
See you in April?!?
ok I think I'm done rambling- - hope I haven't confused things further and/or said anything that is completely off base...
Dave
Ber Rabbit:
You know where I got the first one
The second was more than $200 cheaper so I had to buy it even though I don't need it---yet.
Hey Paul, Brian's comment about carrying extra regs for sampling is an understatement of monstrous proportion. It's more like he carries a dive shop with him and if he knows someone might need gear he brings a whole warehouse
He's a really handy buddy to have and now he's planning on getting a vehicle that's bigger than a Mustang--the local shops are going to drool when they see his inventory LOL!
Meet-n-greet is a great place to get to try different equipment, just let the Wrecking Crew know what we need to bring along
Ber :lilbunny:
