Second hand BC and reg

[Spongebobscubasteve]

Is it safe to buy a second hand BC and reg. I don't really see the problem with it if they come with a gaurantee, what do you all think?
I would obviously want to test them in a pool etc and see if it all works ok. We have a place here that sells second hand sports equipment, and they have quite a few second hand BC's and regs, the guy was very helpful over the phone and said the vary in quality and age but all are functioning well. He made the good point by saying that seeing that all of his stock was privately owned and in better condition then rental gear and I was perfectly happy diving in rental gear. They also all have a FSH.

So if I get an older BC and reg to start off with it is sure to save me money on rentals in the long run and I can save for my own new gear. What do you all think?

 

[The Kraken]

A sound and prudent decision.

But, as you mention, do an in-pool test first, if possible.

the K

 

[Spongebobscubasteve]

mmm, I think so too, being a newbie I am a little nervous of the gear, I would hate for it to go tits up at 20 meters. I think the point of it having being less used than rental gear is a good one. I will check it out really well though. I am going to save about R3000.00 which is around $430.00. That is allot if you live on a budget. I only have so much to spend and a new BC and reg will bankrupt me, so I would rather get second hand then none at all!

 

[Damselfish]

There's nothing wrong with used gear - after all once you buy new stuff it soon becomes used. Of course, you usually don't know where 2nd hand gear has been or how it was maintained. I agree there's a good chance rental gear was used more, though not always. Whether rental or private gear would have been better maintained it's hard to say and I wouldn't make any assumptions there. If this is from a place selling all sorts of used sporting equipment, it's likely the person really knows little about dive gear so I'd be careful about their advice.

You do need to make sure the stuff is in good shape, finding someone with more experience who knows about gear to help you look and choose would be a good idea. And I would want to get any 2nd hand reg that didn't come from a dive shop serviced before using it, not just try it in a pool.

 

[Rick Inman]

And I would want to get any 2nd hand reg that didn't come from a dive shop serviced before using it, not just try it in a pool.

I agree with this.

I just sold 2 used regs, and I advertised the sale with the following disclaimer:

*Regulator Disclaimer: Scuba regulators are life support gear, and are sold as is, used, without warranty. A certified regulator technician should service any used regulator before using. Purchasing any used regulator and assuming that it functions properly, without having it serviced by an authorized technician can cost you your life. I am not a certified regulator technician, and therefore make no warranty as to the condition of the above regulators.

Look, regs should be serviced regularly anyway. If you buy a used one, you should start with a servicing, that's all.

 

[Spongebobscubasteve]

That is all good advice, the guy who I spoke to dives himself. So he has some equipment knowlege. He did say that he is a recreational diver and advised me to take the reg to be serviced once I bought it. He said he will give me a list of people who I can take them to that won't charge over the top rates for servicing. When I asked my instructor if he would service he said he would levy a charge for not buying through him.

Thanks for all the answers, this is a really helpful forum, I hope to stick around and learn more from you guys.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Agree with Damselfish. Many times privately owned gear does not get used as much as rentals. This can be a double edged sword however. Regs that are used infrequently many times need servicing before those that get in the water on a regular basis. Seals seats, and o-rings dry out, get grooved, things crawl in them, and diaphragms stiffen or get stuck. I also would recommend getting it checked out before you even go into a pool with it. A weak hose may not show until you are sitting on the bottom of the pool and then let go. For an experienced diver no big deal really. But for a new one what if you have just taken a big breath and it happens and you get rattled and head up while forgetting to breath out. Lung expansion injury possible.

And what kind of guarantee? Is he going to service it? Is he qualified to service it? If not the money you save may end up going right back into it and cost you the same as if had you bought rental gear. The bc is less of an issue but it is still life support gear. not as many things to go wrong but there are things that can. How old is it? Has it been stored properly? Is it dry rotted inside? Will the inflator come off the first time you really yank it to use the pull dump? Is the mechanism clean and free of corrosion, sand, dirt, or small furry animals? If you cannot afford to have it checked out before use I'd pass. While I firmly believe that gear ownership is a must for someone who really enjoys the sport and dives regularly, I also believe you should get the best that you can afford and not cut cormers. It is better to rent for awhile and save your pennies to get good safe gear. Do you need a 1200 dollar reg? Absolutely not, but you do need one in good safe working condition. Do you need a 600-700 dollar bc? Again no, but it has to fit, hold air, be able to dump air and carry the stuff you want to carry. Go to your lds, explain your situation, they may be more agreeable than you think to help you out in order to keep your business. And you will most likely get gear that is not going to get you hurt. At the very least take someone with lots of experince with gear to at least do a good inspection should you decide to go the other route.

 

[mantagirl]

I actually sell used gear that I buy for my company, use one year and sell. I keep it all in excellent condition,bring it on all trips and haul it all home, all top of the line Aqualung. My gear has on average 25-60 dives. Let me know if you need something, though I see you are in Cape Town, as in S. Africa? If so, that may be difficult but we can keep in touch. I'll be coming down for the sardine run in June! Drop me a note if you are interested

 

[divinginn]

even new gear is used gear after the first dive

 

[Gator Diver]

even new gear is used gear after the first dive

I think the politically correct term now is "preowned"....hehe