DirtRider
Contributor
I am accumulating my gear for a trip to complete my open water dives in Florida from Feb 8th-12th. I ended up getting a mares abyss primary at my LDS through trading in my dads old dacor. For the price ($300) it seems like the best deal. I got a zeagle ranger bcd...actually two of them. I have one that is a 2005 model and one that is a 1999 model. The 99 model is never used and has the octo on it. The 05 model looks brand new and was only used 4 times.
1. Is the octo on the ranger from 99 the same octo that is used today? Should it be serviced before use since it is 6 yrs old but never used?
2. Can I switch the octo from one ranger to the other? I am not sure if special tools are needed or what is involved. Reason being is that the 2005 is used but the 99 never has been and I might be able to sell the 99 easier since it was never in the water. The bcds are virtually the same as far as I can see (extra d rings on new one, roll pocket only on old one). I also have the original receipt for the 05 model and it was purchased from an authorized dealer so I have warranty on it but not the 99.
3. Are bcds serviced annually like regs? Obviously the octo on one would be but is the inflator hose and anything else supposed to be serviced yearly? I didn't know about the difference in service costs between having warranty and not until too late so that also leads me to believe that reselling the 99 ranger with the octo be good.
4. I have heard favorable things on the sherwood shadow octo+ in line alternate air source here. I also saw the genesis GS 070 seems to be the same type of in line system and was highly ranked on rodale's. I like the idea of being able to use a different bcd so it would be nice to have the whole reg and alternate comination transferable. Do you agree that this is the better option? Which do you recommend? My local dive shop services sherwood but not genesis (or zeagle). ScubaToys doesn't look like they carry the sherwood though so where do you recommend I get it? LDS is retail minus 10% for taking training through them but if online is a better deal I will do that. Takes 2 weeks to get so about the same time frame as online.
Also, keep in mind I will dive cold and warm water and am trying to get gear that is versatile and will last for a while in my progression with the sport.
I have to make this decision soon so I can get my gear in time. Thanks for your advice.
1. Is the octo on the ranger from 99 the same octo that is used today? Should it be serviced before use since it is 6 yrs old but never used?
2. Can I switch the octo from one ranger to the other? I am not sure if special tools are needed or what is involved. Reason being is that the 2005 is used but the 99 never has been and I might be able to sell the 99 easier since it was never in the water. The bcds are virtually the same as far as I can see (extra d rings on new one, roll pocket only on old one). I also have the original receipt for the 05 model and it was purchased from an authorized dealer so I have warranty on it but not the 99.
3. Are bcds serviced annually like regs? Obviously the octo on one would be but is the inflator hose and anything else supposed to be serviced yearly? I didn't know about the difference in service costs between having warranty and not until too late so that also leads me to believe that reselling the 99 ranger with the octo be good.
4. I have heard favorable things on the sherwood shadow octo+ in line alternate air source here. I also saw the genesis GS 070 seems to be the same type of in line system and was highly ranked on rodale's. I like the idea of being able to use a different bcd so it would be nice to have the whole reg and alternate comination transferable. Do you agree that this is the better option? Which do you recommend? My local dive shop services sherwood but not genesis (or zeagle). ScubaToys doesn't look like they carry the sherwood though so where do you recommend I get it? LDS is retail minus 10% for taking training through them but if online is a better deal I will do that. Takes 2 weeks to get so about the same time frame as online.
Also, keep in mind I will dive cold and warm water and am trying to get gear that is versatile and will last for a while in my progression with the sport.
I have to make this decision soon so I can get my gear in time. Thanks for your advice.