Sherwood Magnum Blizzard

[NudeDiver]

I just acquired a Sherwood Magnum Blizzard rig, with 1st stage, primary, Octo, drysuit hose and LP inflator hose.

Supposedly has 4 dives on it, but was last used 10 years ago. Looks like new - no scratches or anything. What's something like this worth? What should I expect to pay to have it serviced, parts and labour?

Tia!
nd

 

[spectrum]

As a starting point you can look to Leisure Pro where $379. buys a brand new unit. If you subtract $75 for the obligatory servicing the buyer will need to get it serviced they are at $304 to buy a 10 year old regulator. I believe that is at least one generation back in 1st stage style and several for the 2nd.

IMO the alternate & hoses sweeten the deal but may not do that much for the selling price. They may do better alone or kept for your spares collection.

I've bought a few of the current generation on eBay and paid Between $125 - $150 for the 1st, second and inflater hose. With your accessories they command closer to $200. These are for the current straight satin body 1st. If you're is the older style it will probably fetch less.

Watching this for a few weeks will give you an idea of what people are really paying.

If you keep it the kits are cheap and the servicing easy so the $75 will cover it nicely in many cases.

Pete

 

[NudeDiver]

As a starting point you can look to Leisure Pro where $379. buys a brand new unit. If you subtract $75 for the obligatory servicing the buyer will need to get it serviced they are at $304 to buy a 10 year old regulator. I believe that is at least one generation back in 1st stage style and several for the 2nd. IMO the alternate & hoses sweeten the deal but may not do that much for the selling price. They may do better alone or kept for your spares collection.

Do you think I can have the first, primary and octo all serviced for $75?? If so, then my effective cost for this setup is going to be very reasonable. Subtracting out values for the other things in the collection I bought, I figure I have about $50 into the reg setup, plus whatever it costs me to get it serviced, minus the value (if any) of the Oceanic compass, for which I need to get a mount/boot/whatever.

FWIW, I got it as a backup, or as a unit for my wife - I don't plan to sell it. So, if the cost of getting it serviced is reasonable, I should be in good shape. The guy said he had it serviced last time he used it, 10 years ago. If that's true, and if it really only has 4 dives on it, then maybe I got a deal for once

Given the name of the thing, I assume this is a good cold water rig?

Thanks for the info!
nd

 

[SDAnderson]

What is an old budget regulator that's been unused and stored in unknown conditions for ten years worth? Assuming that the hard parts were clean and well-lubricated when the regulator was put away, they will have some minimal scavenge value. The soft parts (including hoses and diaphragms) deteriorate even if you don't use them, sometimes more because you don't use them - and probably aren't safe to dive with and should be replaced.

Barnum's Law often overrules the rational market for garage sale items like this so figuring out "what it's worth" is problematic. Not much, certainly. The cost of overhauling it will vary based upon where you are located but if you include the hoses, diaphragms and HP swivel along with the service kits you're essentially buying a new regulator built on old technology - and with a lot of scratches.

If you could service it yourself, it might be worth something. Otherwise, I'd say you should consider pitching the regulator. Unless its your wife you're looking to get rid of...

 

[tfsails]

Sherwoods haven't changed a whole lot over the years. If your reg is in reasonably good shape on the outside, get it serviced and enjoy it. Those regs are bulletproof! You can't kill them.

They are not the most "sophisticated" regs out there but they are extremely sophisticated in their simplicity and ruggedness. The people who coined the term "KISS" got it right regarding this reg. BTW, the Magnum is not the entry-level reg for Sherwood. That would be the Brut. As a backup or for occasional use you can't do a whole lot better than what you've got.

A properly-functioning Sherwood first stage will emit a tiny stream of bubbles from a black rubber opening nestled between the hose ports. That is entirely normal.

 

[Couv]

.....for your wife? It is probably just fine, save the money on servicing and treat yourself to a dive trip.

 

[widget]

Hmm, I guess its all about your own perspective of value isnt it.?

As someone else said, Sherwoods (apart from the SR1) havent changed much over the years, so you would be getting pretty much the same technology Sherwood product wise today, as you did 10 years ago,- certainly, its unlikely you would be any better off getting a new one, if, as you say this one appears to be in good nick.

I would have it well serviced, (external appearance can be decieving), change out the hoses as a matter of course, and I believe you will have a good reliable regulator you could use for years to come.

Yes, the Blizzard is the Sherwood cold water reg.

 

[NudeDiver]

All:

Thanks for your advice. I've checked with the local LDS. He agreed that the exterior appearance of the rig appears to jive with the "only used for 4 dives" story. He quoted $132 for a complete overhaul of the first, second and octo - which I agreed to (before you jump on me - prices in Alaska are higher for everything). He said he will test the hoses and if there are any problems, he will replace them with used shop hoses for no extra charge. I dunno how used "used" is, but I know he's not going to give me something crappy.

I'm going put the octo on my existing regulator set, replacing the Air2. That will leave me with the first & second as a backup rig of sorts, or for use with a future pony bottle. He confirmed that it would make a great pony rig. I elected to get the Octo serviced NOW so I can put it on my existing regulator, and not get the first & second serviced until I get the pony bottle, probably in the next 6 months or so.

By the way....about the comment of maybe using this rig for my wife....no, I don't think she deserves inferior equipment. However, fact is, I have a rig already, she does not. I also dive a lot more than she does (she isn't really into the cold water stuff), and she is probably only going to go diving when we are out traveling somewhere. I figure bringing her a known good reg set from home is likely to be more reliable than something from an unknown rental fleet. Anyway, that's why I was considering this rig as something for her to use, not because I want to give her crappy stuff. If I thought there were anything crappy about it, I wouldn't let her use it.