Life in the face of EVO

[Geo7]

It's very hard to let go of my sealed Atomics. But I find myself diving them less and less. Such a magnificently simple device, but I get SO frustrated with mushy lockup. They come that way from the factory, until I polish the knife edge. They get that way from tank particulates way before any "three-year/300 dive" service interval.
They rarely fully creep, so I don't worry about losing gas if I forget to turn the tank off for the boat ride. But the lack of crisp valve action is very distressing to me.
I've often wondered if we could change the direction of HP gas entry and seal the valve from the inside radius with a plug-type seat. It's that U-turn down the bore that's killing the knife edge.

Love what I see so far of Mk11evo, but same here: I doubt I can let go of my upgraded Atomic T1s. Obviously I wish servicing was as quick as with a diaphragm reg, and I wish I could achieve crisp IP lockup as you said. Oh, and that I would not need proprietary tools. But the Atomics can do 300 dives (more probably) before the IP drifts out of the specified range. With the price of service kits for any reg these days, that is very welcome.

Honest question: If you went on a round the world dive trip, which would you grab? The bullet-proof piston 1st stage, or the easy to service, no-special-tools-required diaphragm 1st? Of course I know which 2nd stage you'll pick

 

[buddhasummer]

Conshelf 21 first stage

There was an interesting thread on just your George a few years back.

The good Dr?

 

[rsingler]

Round the world, no maintenance facilities, max reliability required? A Mk2EVO.
It's tailor made for the TFX that you alluded to, since the TFX will maintain its low cracking effort across virtually ANY Intermediate Pressure.
But that would still limit you to less challenging depths.

If I wanted reliable deepwater performance with the lowest conceivable failure rate? That'd mean no turret. That'd mean every HP and IP sealing surface must be easily replaceable. Probably a Mk17EVO with a spare HP balance chamber, or a Mares 22X with the mechanical env. seal transmitter (like a Navy Abyss but with modern seats and no oil seal), and a spare balance chamber.

But that's like saying you've gotta leave your Lamborghini in the garage and take the old Land Rover.

But I wouldn't fault you for taking a Mk11EVO. I just don't know its deep water relative IP performance. Probably same as the Mk17. I took the 17 because I can always abandon the environmental seal along the way.

 

[Geo7]

Conshelf 21 first stage

There was an interesting thread on just your George a few years back.

The good Dr?

Will look for the thread. But also, you once wrote you "only buy regs that can be serviced on a rocking boat without special tools". That sounds like the smart way...

 

[rsingler]

Conshelf loses for me for two reasons if you're positing a rocking boat.
Fixed volcano means a high speed tank particulate could kill the reg, tho' admittedly less likely than a piston.
Putting a Conshelf HP side back together with that spring loading is just too scary below decks. Too many uncaptured loose pieces.

In fact, if we're truly pretending we're on a round the world sailboat, I'd probably take a Hollis DC7 instead of a Mk11/17. There's no pin to lose, since the pressure hat and the pin are one piece. It's dry sealed but can be left open. The DIN version is unbelievably lightweight. Lots to like, tho' again, you'd need a spare balance chamber.

Fun to debate!

 

[lexvil]

If I have a problem with my reg, boat or otherwise, I just get my other one.

 

[BoltSnap]

I've been using Atomic regulators for diving around the world since 1997/98 without a single issue. I started with the B1/2, then switched to the Ti as my main regulator and used the B2 as a backup for 15 years, logging thousands of dives. The Ti never failed me, not even once, and I never had to use the backup B2. In 2012, I got an ST1, which has shown the same reliability. I also use various other Atomic regulator models for myself and my students, and they've all been flawless.

 

[Kupu]

A piston first stage gets my vote for RTW.
About 15 years ago I put 500+ saltwater dives over the course of a year on a unsealed MK10 without a hiccup. I also carried the basic parts and tools needed to do a rebuild if needed but took them back home unused at the end of the trip.
The ambient chamber was a bit crusty inside when it finally got opened up but that MK10 is still in use today.

As someone who also uses and is fond of diaphragm MK11, MK16, Dive Rite RG1205, and old style Titans... I would again choose the MK10 or MK5 for long term travel with basic service tools and parts thrown in just in case.
I have the sealed versions of MK5 and MK10 now, but not sure if I would go sealed or unsealed if doing it again.

 

[rsingler]

and old style Titans

Yeah - the Titan! Like a Conshelf with a removable volcano. Actually, the SEA had a removable volcano before the Titan.

Lots to love in the old designs.
But a Mikron (Core) has kept it up to date.
Too bad Aqualung has such sketchy financials.

 

[buddhasummer]

The SEA/ Cousteau was a beast. Great first stage.