Scuba Tanks.. What kind/type to buy?

[bjf123]

Easier said than done. Some of the tanks being rented are AL 50s that our "smaller" divers like to use. Those are all older tanks. We could buy new ones, but feel out cash flow is better spent in other areas


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[redacted]

Easier said than done. Some of the tanks being rented are AL 50s that our "smaller" divers like to use. Those are all older tanks. We could buy new ones, but feel out cash flow is better spent in other areas


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Shop: Where will you be going with these tanks?

Customer: Florida

Shop: Here is what we have....

 

[USFpsychDiver]

The standard advice for all dive equipment is rent for a while before you buy. In general I disagree; I think the advantages of getting decent equipment and sticking with it, diving it for a while, outweighs the learning value of renting. If you have to replace some of it because you decide you want a BP/W instead of a jacket, you've still got the money you saved by not renting for those 10 or 20 dives and you can probably get half your money back selling the thing you don't want on Craiglist (or here). However, the one place I do think renting pays is with tanks. For one thing, the rental cost seems a smaller percentage of the purchase price with tanks, probably because they last so much longer than other gear. A rough estimate of an air fill is $5 and a filled tank is $10, so the effective tank rental price is $5 (for an AL80). Tanks are also the one place where the thing I would have bought when starting to dive (AL80) isn't at all what I'd want now that I have some experience (HP100) -- the extra bottom time and improved trim of the steel tank is really nice. There is a bewildering array of tank sizes all of which have different buoyancy characteristics. Now, truth is, unless you're living in Florida cave country you're likely to have difficulty finding a shop that has all these different types of tanks for rent. But at least try what you can.

 

[Malpaso]

I'm seeing a lot of used tanks in my area. What is a reasonable price range to pay?

 

[Aqua-Andy]

All this talk of the economics of scuba tank ownership has my head spinning. There's one thing that you can't put a price on, and it goes like this. You're on your way home from a hard day at work when your buddy calls and says "let's go for a dive", you through your gear into the car and go for a dive. Now having to stop by the dive shop to rent a tank could derail an impromptu dive like this.

 

[KD8NPB]

I bought my twin LP72s on Craigslist for $150, still have 4 years left on hydro.
My shop charges $6.50 for VTI, but, I work there now.
Hydro is $35/ea.

These are SW Michigan prices.

I like LP72s.

 

[Paladin]

Thanks Dennis for the info!.. I'm def a light breather, or at least I was in my classes and check out dives. I seemed to need about 6 pounds in a bathing suit and skin shirt in freshwater..

Seems like there is a ton more to learn about diving and equipment than I ever imagined...

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Well here at my local diving place, it's $12 rental fee and a $7 air fill to your own tank or their's. Wasn't sure about rental fee's at the beach and other locations since I haven't looked yet...

I found some AL80 tanks online for about 210 brand new.. but it was Catalina and I wasn't sure about it.. I've also noticed many people sell used Luxfer tanks online...

Catalina makes excellent tanks. I have four of them; Two 80s and double 53s.

 

[MissBubbles205]

Okay... I know it's been a while.. But I'm back to this subject.. My brother just purchased two full sets, tanks included. And after spending a night in the pool with him testing his gear... It really made me want me own tank. I can just load up whereever we wanted to go and not have to worry with renting.

Just took his to get hydro'd and filled up.. My LDS prices. $42 Hydro, $10 Visual, $7 refill. BrandNew 80 Tank with valve and fill $180. Is this a good deal? I looked on LeisurePro.com and there price seems to be $209.95

All comments and suggestions welcomed. )

---------- Post Merged at 12:24 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 11:42 AM ----------

Okay... I know it's been a while.. But I'm back to this subject.. My brother just purchased two full sets, tanks included. And after spending a night in the pool with him testing his gear... It really made me want me own tank. I can just load up whereever we wanted to go and not have to worry with renting.

Just took his to get hydro'd and filled up.. My LDS prices. $42 Hydro, $10 Visual, $7 refill. BrandNew 80 Tank with valve and fill $180. Is this a good deal? I looked on LeisurePro.com and there price seems to be $209.95

All comments and suggestions welcomed. )

forgot to mention.... The 63's and 80s are the same price. $180. I was thinking the 80 is more worth the money since it's bigger. Thoughts?

 

[sea_ledford]

80 vs 63 is a matter of choice and need. My wife would kill for a 63 because it fits her better (she's 5'4") and she doesn't need the volume of air in an 80. Try to dive with a 63 and see if you like it. If you run low on air first in your buddy group, them maybe it isn't the best idea. If you are tall(ish), you won't have any issues with an 80 either. If the 80 fits, I would get that over the 63, but I loved diving with a 63 when I could get away with it.

 

[bjf123]

Just took his to get hydro'd and filled up.. My LDS prices. $42 Hydro, $10 Visual, $7 refill. BrandNew 80 Tank with valve and fill $180. Is this a good deal?

Just run the numbers. The only thing you need that you don't show is how much your LDS charges for a tank rental. Add the $180 + $42 + $50 (5 annual Visuals) + $7 times the number of times you'll think you'll need a fill over five years. Compare that to whatever your LDS charges for a rental times the same number of times you'd need to fill your own tank over five years. That gives you what it will cost to own a tank for five years vs just renting a tank as needed. How big of a difference is there between the two amounts?