Regulator Question/Advice Prompt

[DiverW]

Hey all,
I have a question for the collective knowledge of the ScubaBoard. I'll try to keep this brief, but I'm going to preface the question with a bit of backstory so try to bear with me.

So, I recently decided to take up diving more actively (rather than just diving occasionally on vacation). Of course as a college student I decided to try and do this in a budget, not an extraordinarily tight one, but I wanted to save where I could. Keeping this in mind I indefinitely borrowed (stole?) my dad's equipment from "back in the day" and decided to use what I could and replace what I couldn't. Little did I realize what I was getting into. The first thing I decided to replace was the gauges, so I bought an air integrated computer on clearance at the LDS in my hometown (in North Dakota). Then, as I was bored being back in my parents house I decided to browse a bit more some days later and I couldn't help but buy a Sherwood Avid BC to replace the circa 1990 ScubaPro BC that my dad had "given" me (this was more of an impulse buy, I wasn't worried as the BC seemed to be in working order).

This now brings me to the heart of the matter. I took in his reg to get serviced and the guy at the shop told me that it might give me trouble as it is not environmentally sealed (and that he probably wouldn't have parts for it). I believe it is a Sherwood Brut (1990ish assuming my dad bought all his gear at once). He called me today and told me that he did not have a piston for it and that ordering one would take 3+ weeks and cost about $50. All of this is leading me to strongly consider just getting a new reg, especially since I'm planning on diving in the nice chilled Minnesota water.

Anyways, I would love to hear any (and every) one's thoughts on the matter. Even if they are only tangentially related. Keep in mind that my current plan is to get a reg in mind, rent it for my AOW class later this month to see if I like it, and if I do then I will proceed to the buying stage.

Cheers,
W

P.S. I apologize for the length of this post. I was aiming to be much more concise than this...

 

[redacted]

Contact Scubatoys.com about servicing that regulator. It sounds like your shop is more interested in selling you a replacement.

 

[dougr52]

Mares Ranger 2 Regulator buy this one and save money and trouble!!!

 

[Jim Lapenta]

What kind if reg will you be able to rent? If you want to get advice here tht may help. With dozens of regs out there we could recommend a whole bunch of them yet if the shop where you are going to rent doesn't carry one that few people may advise you to look at you're SOL.

I have an pretty big section in my book on choosing a reg based on your needs, interests, and budget. Briefly if diving in your neck of the woods I'd want a sealed diaphragm reg. With an adjustable second stage. Something like the HOG D-1 cold, or Edge Epic cold. Both are excellent cold water regs at good prices. And yes before someone gets their knickers in a twist I do sell them. But I'd also recommend a Sherwood Blizzard, Oceanic GT3 with CDX5 1st stage if you can get one without the DVT. There are others I;ve used but cannot recommend based on the OP's being a student on limited funds. I will not recommend a $600 reg when he can get one that is just as good or better for less.

As for your reg the BRUT is worth fixing! Don't let anyone tell you different. It is a piston reg and yes it is not sealed but the BRUT is a workhorse of a reg. Simple, reliable, and, if properly set up by a tech that knows what they are doing, breathes great. It has the dry bleed system which means that there will always be a stream of tiny bubbles coming out of it. This is sometimes not realized by other divers who will say your reg is leaking. Smile and wave to them as you go on your dive.

If you want more info on the HOG and Edge regs PM me.

 

[beanojones]

Contact Scubatoys.com about servicing that regulator. It sounds like your shop is more interested in selling you a replacement.

If the bubbler in the piston is not working, that's about what a replacement piston costs.

 

[halocline]

If the bubbler in the piston is not working, that's about what a replacement piston costs.

If I'm not mistaken, if the piston has the dry air bleed (bubbler), then the reg is environmentally sealed, which the shop told him is not the case. So, either they're wrong (certainly a possibility) or there is no dry bleed on this reg. Is that the "bubbler" you're talking about?

Back to the OP....it's pretty typical for a shop to use a customer bringing in a used reg as an opportunity to sell him something new. I'd agree that getting yours fixed is by far the least expensive option. Keep in mind that the old Sherwoods are extremely proven workhorses; not super smooth breathers, but pretty bulletproof. I'd like to know why the shop thinks you need a new piston, and why they think the dry bleed system that is specifically designed to keep water out of the ambient chamber would not be a good cold water reg.

From your recent buying history (air integrated computer, new jacket BC) it doesn't sound like you're too concerned with saving money, so I suspect a new reg is in your future anyway. For cold water, think about a MK17/G250V. Avoid the new Sherwood SR1, just my opinion.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

The Sherwood Brut while technically is a sealed reg with the dry bleed system is not specifically marketed as one. For Coldwater diving the blizzard is the recommended choice as the second stage works in combination with the first to reduce the chance of free flow. The brut and blizzard are adjusted the same way as far as IP goes but in addition the older brut 1sts were not balanced piston regs. The new ones are. The second on the blizzard has metal vanes that are supposed to retain heat and moisture, also reducing the chance of free flow. They work very well.

I'd still get the reg fixed and look for a cold water one. You can never have too many regs.

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