Is it worth replacing?

[diversteve]

IF you were going to upgrade, I'd look hard at the Atomic Aquatics Z2. They're $400 everywhere. They have a 2 year/300 dive service interval standard and a seat saver orifice that removes pressure from the seat so it doesn't deform while being stored. Balanced Piston design [-]so[/-] and will be less work breathing at depth than your Brut. Every Atomic breathes the same from the $1600 T2x on down, the difference is the materials used.

 

[spectrum]

Technology has not progressed much but the Brut was not top of the line for performance. Nonetheless if it breathes comfortably for you then it's a keeper and as reliable as they come.

On the other hand if you want to treat yourself to something newer make this set-up to spare for trip insurance.

Pete

 

[halocline]

Reg technology has not advanced much so if it works for your needs keep using it. I still dive old Scubapro regs from the 70s that are every bit as good as the regs made today and in some respects better in my opinion. The only significant advance I have seen in reg manufacturing came from HOG who now makes regs that divers can service themselves.

Believe me there is no problem servicing your old SP regs yourself. You just have to stop paying attention to the company line.

---------- Post Merged at 08:05 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 08:02 AM ----------

IF you were going to upgrade, I'd look hard at the Atomic Aquatics Z2. They're $400 everywhere. They have a 2 year/300 dive service interval standard and a seat saver orifice that removes pressure from the seat so it doesn't deform while being stored. Balanced Piston design so will be less work breathing at depth than your Brut.

While it is likely that the atomic will produce lower WOB numbers at all depths, 'balanced piston design' has nothing to do with increased performance at depth. Balanced 1st stages hold constant IP regardless of tank pressure. All 1st stages compensate for depth in the same manner. (Except the so-called 'over-balanced' regs but that's a different story)

 

[diversteve]

Should have used and instead of so. But I didn't think my comments would be scrutinized so closely. The Z2 will breathe better than the Brut at depth though.

 

[halocline]

Should have used and instead of so. But I didn't think my comments would be scrutinized so closely. The Z2 will breathe better than the Brut at depth though.

The problem with your comment is that it appeared to be a perpetuation of the confusion between depth compensating and balancing 1st stages. This is a really common point of confusion, often used in selling balanced first stages. If you meant simply to say that the atomic breathes easier than an old brut, fine.

 

[Zung]

Back to the original question: I'm not familiar with the Sherwood line, but if I assume it's an entry level rig, and if, as you said, $$ is not much of an issue nowadays, you may want to try a higher end reg. Maybe rent one for the next trip before you commit to anything.

There's a noticeable difference in ease of breathing and general comfort. Hog and Atomic have been suggested previously, I'd like to add Scubapro and Aqualung.

And yes, "balanced second stage" is what you want to get.

 

[c5diver]

if you like the brut dive it. if you are asking if there anything out there that might make life easier for you in a new reg.
The only thing that might be better suited for your needs might be the new small size and lightweight travel regs like the apex flight Flight or the aqualung mikron Mikron

 

[Capt.Gene]

You soon will have no choice but to replace the first stage anyway.
Diversco is no longer supporting those old regulators with parts.
The pn 3107 piston has the sintered filter that bleeds air through the piston into the spring chamber, pressurizing it and keeping it dry inside before venting into the water as a mist of bubbles. When it no longer mists the spring chamber floods and then it is no longer a "regulator'.
There are no aftermarket or generic replacements for this part.
I have about 15 of these regulators in for service and I cannot get parts from the manufacturer.
They now are obsolete.

 

[Rich Keller]

Believe me there is no problem servicing your old SP regs yourself. You just have to stop paying attention to the company line.

The old SP regs are VERY easy to service. There was a SP R109 second built into my General Aquadyne DMC 7 helmet and I have been doing my own service on it since 1980. The R108HPs are even easier, I picked up a couple on Ebay for less then $20 each, brought them back to like new condition and got rid of my newer plastic regs.

 

[USdiver1]

If your Sherwood Brut still has readily available parts, a LDS technician willing to provide service, and if it still serves you while engaged in the kind of diving that you like, then there is no need to change; however, there may be want to change, a completely different beast that has many of us under its spell.

I prefer to keep my well-worn regulators for about as long as I can get parts (and in the case of US Divers, Voit/Mares, and ScubaPro that can be a very long time).