Sherwood Maximus - negative feedback?

[dallasM5]

I'm new to diving, but I think I've decided on the Maximus for a regulator, but I wanted to check in and hear if anyone had something negative to say about it. I've done a search here and read a ton and it seems to be mostly positive. However, it doesn't seem to pop up when people talk about their "favorites".

Here's my plan for its use: Warm, clear water only (Caribbean or it's equivalent) less than 25 dives per year and under 120 ft.

Thanks for any feedback!

 

[JohnF]

dallasM5 once bubbled...
I'm new to diving, but I think I've decided on the Maximus for a regulator, but I wanted to check in and hear if anyone had something negative to say about it. I've done a search here and read a ton and it seems to be mostly positive. However, it doesn't seem to pop up when people talk about their "favorites".

Here's my plan for its use: Warm, clear water only (Caribbean or it's equivalent) less than 25 dives per year and under 120 ft.

Thanks for any feedback!

Based on my experience with my Sherwood Blizzard in a combination of warm Caribbean diving and some cool (temp wise) Great Lakes diving, you'll have no reason to regret the choice. Sherwood seems to be a popular rental reg in the Caribbean, so service shouldn't be an issue.

JohnF

 

[cstreu1026]

Sherwoods are not the best breathers, but they are far from the worst. They also take a beating. I know one cave diver that swears by his sherwoods becuase of their reliability.

 

[shrwdtech]

I can toss in plenty of glowing remarks and very few negative ones. But then again... my point of view on it is just a tad biased.

Enjoy what ever you choose!!!!!!!

 

[Diver0001]

dallasM5 once bubbled...
I'm new to diving, but I think I've decided on the Maximus for a regulator, but I wanted to check in and hear if anyone had something negative to say about it. I've done a search here and read a ton and it seems to be mostly positive. However, it doesn't seem to pop up when people talk about their "favorites".

Here's my plan for its use: Warm, clear water only (Caribbean or it's equivalent) less than 25 dives per year and under 120 ft.

Thanks for any feedback!

I have a Sherwood Maximus. I made 100's of dives with it before replacing it with a regulator that doesn't breathe so wet. I'm picky about this and mine just breathes too wet when inverted (like every time you tilt your head down when you're horizontal) and got tired of it.

I now use the Maximus as an octopus. I have confidence in it to work in any conditions and it can be detuned enough with the cracking adjuster to not freeflow and I can adjust it on the fly to breathe well when I need it. Also the under-the-arm routing of the Maximus makes it ideally suited for a necklace setup, which is what I use.

Having said that. My regulator was one of the ones recalled because of a faulty part in the 2nd stage. That doesn't breed confidence. Also, where I live there is only one "service centre" in the entire country for Sherwood regs and they are *completely* incompetent. I was waiting 6 to 7 weeks for normal maintenance and after my reg was in the shop for the recall I got it back from them literally in non-working order. I was fit-to-be-tied. I fixed their mistake in about 30 minutes having never had the 2nd stage open before and decided on the spot to start servicing it myself. It's not difficult but I do spend an inordinate amount of time trying to "acquire" service kits. The moral of this story is check around first and make sure you have some options for getting it serviced. Their regs are good but the aftersales service blows in some areas.

R..

 

[Bill H]

I've been diving with a Maximus for about three years. I have never had a problem with it, and am particularly pleased with it's design in a couple of different areas.

First, it has a rather small, lightweight second stage. I've never had much jaw fatigue with other units, but I almost forget I have this one stuck in my mouth. I also have really grown to like the hose swivel arrangement of the Maximus. It is specifically designed to run under, rather than over, the arm and thus provides one less thing to snag.

All things considered, if I had it to do over I'd buy this one again.

 

[shrwdtech]

The part you refer to in the Maximus Second stage was 2nd stage orifice.

If failed on a grand total of 2, World Wide out of all of the regs manufactured in 1999-2002. In cooperation with the US Consumer Protection Safety Commission, and with their help, Sherwood instituted a voluntary recall of the effected units.

I myself still have one of the effected regs and have as of yet to install the upgraded part. Not to say it isn't important, I've just not done it yet. I don't use it much, preferring my Oasis.

There was no litigation, and no pressure from anybody to institute this recall except from Sherwood internally. When the 2 effected units were returned to Sherwood and inspected, it was then decided that something could and should be done.

Also, you mention the regulator not breeding confidence due to this recall. I guess, in our defense I'd ask what it is you are diving with? Not trying to start any mud slinging, but just want to make you aware that in the 23 years I've been involved in scuba every single regulator manufacturer has been involved in either a voluntary or a forced recall of one sort or another. Just since 1997 alone, Sherwood (I'll name us first to be fair), Oceanic, Atomic, Zeagle, Apex, Scubapro, US Divers/Aqualung, Poseidon and U.S.I. have all experienced a recall for one reason or another on their regulators.

This may not sound good, on the surface, but be comforted by the fact that we (the manufacturers) are working to minimize these troubles, identify them when they do surface and repair them before there are any problems every single day.

Enjoy!

 

[Diver0001]

shrwdtech once bubbled...
The part you refer to in the Maximus Second stage was 2nd stage orifice.

If failed on a grand total of 2, World Wide out of all of the regs manufactured in 1999-2002. In cooperation with the US Consumer Protection Safety Commission, and with their help, Sherwood instituted a voluntary recall of the effected units.

I myself still have one of the effected regs and have as of yet to install the upgraded part. Not to say it isn't important, I've just not done it yet. I don't use it much, preferring my Oasis.

There was no litigation, and no pressure from anybody to institute this recall except from Sherwood internally. When the 2 effected units were returned to Sherwood and inspected, it was then decided that something could and should be done.

Also, you mention the regulator not breeding confidence due to this recall. I guess, in our defense I'd ask what it is you are diving with? Not trying to start any mud slinging, but just want to make you aware that in the 23 years I've been involved in scuba every single regulator manufacturer has been involved in either a voluntary or a forced recall of one sort or another. Just since 1997 alone, Sherwood (I'll name us first to be fair), Oceanic, Atomic, Zeagle, Apex, Scubapro, US Divers/Aqualung, Poseidon and U.S.I. have all experienced a recall for one reason or another on their regulators.

This may not sound good, on the surface, but be comforted by the fact that we (the manufacturers) are working to minimize these troubles, identify them when they do surface and repair them before there are any problems every single day.

Enjoy!

My main reg is an Aqualung LX supreme. I bought it because it's dryer and it breathes easier than the Sherwood (mostly because it's drier) and not because I felt compelled to replace the Sherwood because of the recall. As I said, I still use the Sherwood and as my backup (both the 1st and 2nd stages - I dive with dual 1sts ) and I'm quite willing to trust my life to it.

I acutually knew that the recall was precipitated by only 2 failures and what the problem was. On the one hand it's nice to know that Sherwood feels responsible enough to issue the recall knowing what it would do to their reputation but on the other hand when you're diving with it you have to have the feeling that it's 100% and any recall will cast doubt on that. I know it's a problem for the whole industry and on balance I can say that the rational part of me appreciates that the manufacturers are either responsible enough or worried enough to do something about potentially dangerous defects but the "other" (emotive) part of me made a couple of hundred dives with it before they fessed up......

R..

 

[marco]

for about 3 years and never had any troubles with it and would recommend it to anyone who want one. At the time I used to work part time for a divestore who stopped selling Sherwood, and I got a fantastic deal on an Apex reg but was more than happy with my maximus. The only comment I can make is that after the first service it did not seem toi breath quite as smoothly, so they may be finiki to service or maybe it was the guy who serviced it.

 

[coberry7]

I've had a Maximus and an Oasis for 8 years. I have never had any problems with them whatsoever. They do not breathe as easy as some regs, but as was said before they are not even close to being the worst.

I have never had another reg be as comfortable in my mouth as the Sherwood with the swivel and underarm configuration.