SPG....Give it the boot?

[Gdaaym8z]

I have almost got my BP/W rig ready to dive, the last thing I need is a SPG.

The guages I am finding local all have a rubber boot. (Easily removable)

I am wondering what the views are for DIR and the rubber boots on a SPG?

Does it really matter either way? Why?

 

[PfcAJ]

No boot. Its not needed (so why take it?), it can hide wear and tear, trap water, hide small leaks, and increases the bulk of the spg. In time, you're going to possibly have a lot going on with that hip d-ring.

Make sure you get a brass and glass spg, not that plastic stuff.

 

[Akimbo]

I am not speaking for any group, but here is an engineering oriented answer. Bourdon tube pressure gauges are relatively sensitive to impact due to small brass parts and calibration issues. A thin layer of resilient material can significantly reduce impact forces that can damage any instrument.

Pressure measurement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I am unaware of any SPGs on the market, but helicoil tube direct drive mechanisms are much more forgiving to G-forces and may be worth the extra money if you can find one.

A more practical answer is, other than scratches to the chrome or glass, the risk of damage is relatively low in the water. Entering and exiting the water is where inertia meeting hard surfaces is greatest. Piling gear on top of your tank when it is on the bottom of a rubber boat is probably higher. Placing it on a steel deck and dropping a tank on it is probably beyond design specifications on the boot. Early SPGs didn’t have boots. I am sure that manufacturers added them for protection and aesthetic reasons.

My simple answer is take if off if you find it annoying and tend to baby your gear. Nobody is going to die if the life of a pressure gauge is a little shorter. My gauges are in a boots, I am not overly nice to them, and they are about 30 years old. I have no idea if you are trying to conform to some merit badge standard.

 

[UCFKnightDiver]

I have almost got my BP/W rig ready to dive, the last thing I need is a SPG.

The guages I am finding local all have a rubber boot. (Easily removable)

I am wondering what the views are for DIR and the rubber boots on a SPG?

Does it really matter either way? Why?

Make sure you get a brass and glass SPG vs a plastic spg. If brass and glass, no need for a boot. If a plastic one... one could make an argument for a boot.

 

[adm3745]

Glass and Brass and no boot. I know Halcyon is only making 2.5" gauges in glass right now which I don't like. I have the old 2" ones. Not sure if any companies are still making 2" glass ones but I like those the best. Dive Rite does I think.

 

[ScubaSam]

Glass and Brass and no boot. I know Halcyon is only making 2.5" gauges in glass right now which I don't like. I have the old 2" ones. Not sure if any companies are still making 2" glass ones but I like those the best. Dive Rite does I think.

XS Scuba makes a 2" brass and glass SPG.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Not sure if any companies are still making 2" glass ones but I like those the best. Dive Rite does I think.

Lots of companies do. Hog Edge, XS Scuba and Dive Rite come immediately to mind. I'm sure there are others ... they're probably all just rebranded from the same Italian factory ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[PfcAJ]

Glass and Brass and no boot. I know Halcyon is only making 2.5" gauges in glass right now which I don't like. I have the old 2" ones. Not sure if any companies are still making 2" glass ones but I like those the best. Dive Rite does I think.

I believe this to be incorrect. They at least still have the smaller ones, as well as the larger 2.5 inch ones. I am not sure of the status of the 2 inch SPGs.

 

[LiteHedded]

well the smaller ones are plastic

 

[rjack321]

well the smaller ones are plastic

Funny thing is I have broken a few brass and glass one (the face glass cracks) but never broken a "fragile" plastic one - go figure.

Good thing they still work even cracked, at least for the rest of the dive. I don't use boots although for awhile I did have one on my single tank plastic spg and in that case the boot just to gave it some extra heft.