Mares Carbon 42 or Scubapro A700/MK17 for back up reg

[Speardoggin]

I always have a back up regulator and since I am selling my other ones, I am looking for a backup. I currently have an A700/MK25 but I won't dive the cold dirty thermocline water with it. So i want a diaphragm reg. I like the idea of the Carbon 42 for when I go lobstering all day and jaw fatigue will set in after 6 dives. Also, I believe that they have very few moving parts in comparison to Scubapro, but I am not a reg tech. I'm just not sure of the benefits between the 2. I know they are both rock solid dependable from what I have read and have diaphragm first stages. I can get both for around the same price so that is not an issue. Any input is appreciated.

Jeff

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

I always have a back up regulator and since I am selling my other ones, I am looking for a backup. I currently have an A700/MK25 but I won't dive the cold dirty thermocline water with it. So i want a diaphragm reg. I like the idea of the Carbon 42 for when I go lobstering all day and jaw fatigue will set in after 6 dives. Also, I believe that they have very few moving parts in comparison to Scubapro, but I am not a reg tech. I'm just not sure of the benefits between the 2. I know they are both rock solid dependable from what I have read and have diaphragm first stages. I can get both for around the same price so that is not an issue. Any input is appreciated.

Jeff

I'm a Mares owner, I service my own, and am a Mares fan, but.... why the concern with the Mk25? It is a phenomenal regulator.... I could see possible concerns over time if there is a lot of very fine grit in the water, but even then....

Anyway, to answer your question the design philosophy between the Mares and Scubapro regs is different. Mares makes mainly balanced diaphragm 1sts, and unbalanced, non-adjustable classic downstream 2nds. The Mares 2nd stages have less parts than the Scubapro balanced adjustable 2nds. There are pro's and con's to each design approach, but like you said, both regs you've listed are very reliable and perform very well.

If you are looking for a balanced diaphragm first stage, Scubapro also makes the Mk17. This could be paired with your A700 2nd stage... it may make it easier at service time to stick with one brand (unless your tech services both Mares and Scubapro, if so, never mind ).

Edit: My bad; in your title you listed the A700 / Mk17; I was having a "senior moment" and missed that. I've never serviced a Mk17, so I don't know for sure how the "parts count" differs from the Mares 1st stages (which are pretty simple internally). I doubt that the Mk17 is significantly more complicated.... but one of the "usual suspects" here who services them can answer better...

If you are concerned about jaw fatigue, my experience is that hose routing, hose length, and mouthpiece selection is the biggest factor. Remember, in the water the 2nd stage is full of air, so the weight you may feel on the surface is rarely an issue underwater.... in fact, my favorite 2nd stages are all metal. In the past when I've felt discomfort, it was always a "hose" or "mouthpiece" issue, not the weight of the reg.

Best wishes.

 

[Speardoggin]

in response to the mk25 comment,

I think i may have worded my post in a confusing manner. I plan on keeping my A700/MK25 (wouldnt sell that for the world). I'm looking at replacing the other regs I have (ie AQ legend).

 

[a22shady]

I have the MK17 it's an awesome 1st stage but I like the G250V. I have 2 of those set-ups as well as Atomic M1's. For me it felt that the ease of breathing was a little smoother with G250V Personally I like it more.

 

[Speardoggin]

you're saying you think the g250v is a better breather than the A700???

 

[keyshunter]

in response to the mk25 comment,

I think i may have worded my post in a confusing manner. I plan on keeping my A700/MK25 (wouldnt sell that for the world). I'm looking at replacing the other regs I have (ie AQ legend).

Leadturn is giving you the straight stuff re: jaw fatigue. IMO, replacing a Legend with a Mares anything (especially the insanely overpriced Carbon 42) is a giant step BACKWARDS!

 

[a22shady]

you're saying you think the g250v is a better breather than the A700???

That is how it felt to me. Grant it only tried it in a pool. Again this is personal preference everyone feels things differently and I could be off just how it felt to me. I also own 2 Atomic M1's which I like, and Got 2 MK25/S600 reg's. And between them all my G/F agrees that for the scubapros MK17/G250v seems be a better breather and feels more natural to us.
The Atomics for me seem to be just slightly ahead for air delivery and amount it can put out wide open is really just a tiny bit more. She uses the MK25/S600 on her pony bottle. It is a great reg by all accounts but from using them she decided the MK17/G250V primary with S600 as her back-up. She likes how the smaller S600 feels but likes the G250V said she notices very little difference between the 2 but has been using the G250V for over a year and feels more comfortable plus better in cold water.

 

[Speardoggin]

Leadturn is giving you the straight stuff re: jaw fatigue. IMO, replacing a Legend with a Mares anything (especially the insanely overpriced Carbon 42) is a giant step BACKWARDS!

My Mares Abyss 42 I use to have gave me no problems and breathed great to 200 fsw (should have never sold it). Anyone who says Mares can't make a good reg is BS. My Legend on the other hand always free flows to some extent in current and sometimes not even in current. In fact, my other friend had a Legend completely replaced under warranty due to free flow and the second one he got is doing the same thing now. The IP creep is the culprit i believe, but should not be an issue since I service my regs at the appropriate intervals. Don't get me wrong, it breathes amazing, but if it is not reliable what is the point. BTW, my Legend started to free flow on me at around 200 fsw. That is the last time I will ever dive an Aqualung reg.

Jeff

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

My Mares Abyss 42 I use to have gave me no problems and breathed great to 200 fsw (should have never sold it). Anyone who says Mares can't make a good reg is BS. My Legend on the other hand always free flows to some extent in current and sometimes not even in current. In fact, my other friend had a Legend completely replaced under warranty due to free flow and the second one he got is doing the same thing now. The IP creep is the culprit i believe, but should not be an issue since I service my regs at the appropriate intervals. Don't get me wrong, it breathes amazing, but if it is not reliable what is the point. BTW, my Legend started to free flow on me at around 200 fsw. That is the last time I will ever dive an Aqualung reg.

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

More than one manufacturer has had problems with high pressure seat materials.

Mares certainly had their share several years ago, and some folks actually used the Aqualung Titan HP "poppet" when they rebuilt their Mares 1st stages to get a little better longevity... Mares updated their HP poppet several years ago, and that seems to have solved the problem Mares was having.

I have no idea if the problem you and your friend had with the Legends is related to a bad "batch" of HP seats (it happens ), or a problem with how they were serviced or "tuned" by the tech at service time (also happens ).

Again, I really like Mares regs; I like "metal" 2nds.... If I were to steer you towards a workhorse reg it would be a Mares MR-22 / Abyss, or if you prefer a small 2nd stage I'd look at the Proton Metal, with whatever flavor 1st stage it now comes with.

Anyway, have fun with whatever regulator you choose, thats really why we are all here

Best wishes.

 

[Speardoggin]

Thank you for the input.