Status of Apeks Regulators

[Robinlee]

Hi. As we all know Apeks has been brought out. But surprisingly they are still churning out new products like the limited edition 50yrs regulator and the Apeks RK4 Fins

so... Are we suppose to let go of our regulators? what about their overhaul kits?

Anyone can poilnt out where to get their overhaul kits incase apeks wont supply them anymore.? i have several sets of single tank diving, doubles and stage regulators. approx totals to about 8 sets. too hassle to replace all of them.

Love my Apeks Ocea Reg. Hope it stays strong!

 

[FreqFlier]

Barings took over Aqualung's debt from Montagu/Alize. The latter (private equity joint) put AL in a huge financial trouble while draining it of cash to the point of (just a guess...) no return. Lots of assets were sold, $$$ disappeared... I believe the only reason for Barings to take over was that the initial Montagu financing was provided by Barings.
From VC standpoint AL is done. They lost ridiculous amount of staff and R&D people. Unless Barings comes up with some fantastic and magical ideas soon - I would be very careful choosing AL products, especially new ones.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Barings took over Aqualung's debt from Montagu/Alize. The latter (private equity joint) put AL in a huge financial trouble while draining it of cash to the point of (just a guess...) no return. Lots of assets were sold, $$$ disappeared... I believe the only reason for Barings to take over was that the initial Montagu financing was provided by Barings.
From VC standpoint AL is done. They lost ridiculous amount of staff and R&D people. Unless Barings comes up with some fantastic and magical ideas soon - I would be very careful choosing AL products, especially new ones.

I don't disagree. I love my AL Legends and hope to be able to keep using them for years to come. However, I would not buy anything new from AL or Apeks.

I've also starting adding Dive Rite XT1/XT4 regs to my inventory to ensure I always have regs I can dive. I have a full singles set that I've started diving in rotation with my Legend Elite setup, and I plan to buy a another XT1/XT4 combo for my pony bottle as well.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

I'm getting tired of being out of the water with regulators that need a servicing kit ordered about a month ago. They may make great regulators. But who wants a regulator that they can't use. They are killing a brand.

Now, I’m curious; are you not using the regulators because they haven’t been serviced yearly, or because they have a problem? I simply use my regulators until there is a problem, then service them myself. But I have a lot of vintage regulators, that have no servicing kits available. My Mistral regulator, a vintage double hose regulator, has only five moving parts.

SeaRat

 

[jmorgan007]

You can get kits from me.

Until your kits on hand dry up and Apeks isn't supplying much of anything any longer it seems. LDS shops and good tech shops have dropped the brand due to lacking supply and hassles. We feel it's a grim situation and have very little hope Apeks will fully recover and be a top producer as it once was. Cut bait and move on to other brands. We got no time for Apeks games.

 

[jmorgan007]

I don't disagree. I love my AL Legends and hope to be able to keep using them for years to come. However, I would not buy anything new from AL or Apeks.

I've also starting adding Dive Rite XT1/XT4 regs to my inventory to ensure I always have regs I can dive. I have a full singles set that I've started diving in rotation with my Legend Elite setup, and I plan to buy a another XT1/XT4 combo for my pony bottle as well.

Dive Rite XT1/XT4 is the migration route I have made going away from Apeks. Great pricing, available spare parts to anyone who wants to work on their own rages without requirements, great performance even in cold water. Thanks Paragon Dive Group for turning me on to this bit of kit. Cheers, #SeattRingHunter

 

[buddhasummer]

Until your kits on hand dry up and Apeks isn't supplying much of anything any longer it seems. LDS shops and good tech shops have dropped the brand due to lacking supply and hassles. We feel it's a grim situation and have very little hope Apeks will fully recover and be a top producer as it once was. Cut bait and move on to other brands. We got no time for Apeks games.

I keep nothing on hand, I'm not a shop.

I've had zero issues getting Apeks kits and although a bit slow I've had no issues getting any AL parts or kits

 

[happy-diver]

Until your kits on hand dry up and Apeks isn't supplying much of anything any longer it seems. LDS shops and good tech shops have dropped the brand due to lacking supply and hassles. We feel it's a grim situation and have very little hope Apeks will fully recover and be a top producer as it once was. Cut bait and move on to other brands. We got no time for Apeks games.

Dive Rite XT1/XT4 is the migration route I have made going away from Apeks. Great pricing, available spare parts to anyone who wants to work on their own rages without requirements, great performance even in cold water. Thanks Paragon Dive Group for turning me on to this bit of kit. Cheers, #SeattRingHunter

Mate you sound like you've just walked out of a motivational seminar of hacks
all hopped up on coffee substances, that have overestimated, their capabilities

 

[Umuntu]

There’s a lot of misinformed and overblown statements in this thread.

Unlike “US Divers”, Apeks has always been run as a separate subsidiary of AL and has not been just subsumed within the AL brand. Apeks has always been profitable and files separate company accounts. It has excellent products and a wide product matrix, and enjoys an excellent reputation. It has a broad customer base, not just recreational and technical divers, but including military, public safety and professional customers. Many (most?) of its products are not available to the recreational market.

It’s regulators are the most widely imitated diaphragm regulators in the industry. Imitation as flattery.

Whatever AL’s broader business issues, Apeks as a standalone business would always be an attractive company, either on its own or to another owner.

 

[JMBL]

I must say this thread seem rather weird too me. Maybe because I'm living on the other side of the Atlantic.

Got back my 2 DS4 today from service, no hassle, just 10 days delay which is more or less the average for a good LDS around here. Had those regs for years, dived them in all possible kind of water without a glitch. No talk of ending maintenance on older models or about spare part availability.

Just on thing : service kits are no longer available to the "lay-man" in France. But that's the case with many brands, and there's always fleabay and the internet...