Stick With The Winners

[padrediver]

My common sense tells me to stick with the winners. Yes there are a lot of newer regulators out there today just as there were fourty years ago. At least half of those companies are history, The survivors like Aqualung/Scubapro/Dacor/Mares/Cressi sub have survived for a reason:the divers who used those brands mostly survived themselves...and surviving the dive is the name of the game. OK..your Aquacon Seasnake 2000 may breathe 10% easier
than my Titan...but it's been recalled for spring failure. (gives new meaning to the term "cracking force", doesn't it.)

Correct me on this (I'm SURE you will)if I'm wrong, but Aqualung/USD is the
only reg not GOVERNMENT recalled for a dangerous failure at some point.
(Yes I know about USD non-govt voluntary recall of Conshelf....in 1977)

No one on my boat joked about my 1965 Calypso back in the sixties...they all tried to borrow it!

 

[BrianV]

I don't know that I buy into your thought process, but whatever works for you. I think Zeagle and Oceanic make fine regulators as well and don't know of any data that says people diving those 'die' more.

 

[Scottri]

I would not hesitate to dive with Mares, Oceanic, Scuba Pro, Apeks, Aqual Lung/USD, Atomic, Zeagle or any other major manufacturers gear. My Atomic has never been recalled by the government and it's a fairly new brand. Does that mean I'm going to live or not

 

[djanni]

My common sense tells me to stick with the winners. Yes there are a lot of newer regulators out there today just as there were fourty years ago. At least half of those companies are history, The survivors like Aqualung/Scubapro/Dacor/Mares/Cressi sub have survived for a reason:the divers who used those brands mostly survived themselves...and surviving the dive is the name of the game. OK..your Aquacon Seasnake 2000 may breathe 10% easier
than my Titan...but it's been recalled for spring failure. (gives new meaning to the term "cracking force", doesn't it.)

Correct me on this (I'm SURE you will)if I'm wrong, but Aqualung/USD is the
only reg not GOVERNMENT recalled for a dangerous failure at some point.
(Yes I know about USD non-govt voluntary recall of Conshelf....in 1977)

No one on my boat joked about my 1965 Calypso back in the sixties...they all tried to borrow it!

So if your true to your logic you drive a "FORD."

 

[wilkie]

So if your true to your logic you drive a "FORD."

How much real world difference (at normal recreational depths) is there when comparing "Ford" to "Ferrari"? This is a serious question; I dive an 10 year old reg.,and would consider up-grading to a new one if there have been substancial improvements, but if a reg. will deliver all the air that you and your buddy need at 80-100', what more should one ask?

I understand that the requirements of divers on this board vary, but I see a lot of responces to equipment questions, that if put in automobile terms might read something to the effect:

Q: Hi I'm a day-care mother, and have decided to purchace an SUV to "haul the kiddies", would a Ford be OK ?

A: Dude.....Get you a Ferrari, love mine......I'ts Black too!!!!

I'm not saying this is applies to your post, and I'm not trying to start anything here. Like I said "This is a serious question"

 

[djanni]

How much real world difference (at normal recreational depths) is there when comparing "Ford" to "Ferrari"? This is a serious question; I dive an 10 year old reg.,and would consider up-grading to a new one if there have been substancial improvements, but if a reg. will deliver all the air that you and your buddy need at 80-100', what more should one ask?

I understand that the requirements of divers on this board vary, but I see a lot of responces to equipment questions, that if put in automobile terms might read something to the effect:

Q: Hi I'm a day-care mother, and have decided to purchace an SUV to "haul the kiddies", would a Ford be OK ?

A: Dude.....Get you a Ferrari, love mine......I'ts Black too!!!!

I'm not saying this is applies to your post, and I'm not trying to start anything here. Like I said "This is a serious question"

Okay, A serious answer then.

Padrediver puts forth the notion that one can judge a manufacturer's product by looking at the longivity of the company. He calls them the "survivors" and names 5 of them.

So if someone holds that premise to be the criteria by which quality should can be judged then that individual could only be true to themselves and their principles if they drive a Ford.

So my reply had nothing to do with comparing one car to another or 1 reg to another but rather it was a test of whether or not he truly believed in the principle by which he judged manufacturers in general.

I could have asked if his electric range was a manufactured by Hotpoint - Hotpoint was the first company to build one and that was in 1910. Interestingly, GE gets better ratings just a Atomic, the upstart reg manufactuer makes the top rated reg.

 

[padrediver]

In a sense I do drive a Ford. I drive a VOLVO which was purchased
by Ford several years ago. Several years ago an old Volvo Wagon
of mine saved my life (EMT's at scene said so)when I was "T-Boned"
by a woman running a stop sign at sixty (60+) MPH. Several "friends" had recommended I buy one of the NEW "hybrids". I'd be dead/or permanently disabled
if I had listened to them. This being the internet, I have no way of
knowing whether or not someone recommending an "Aquacon Seasnake 2000"
is a sales rep for the company or was given a FREE Seasnake 2000 for
plugging the reg., or the Aquacon Corp. CEO.
Scuba Diving Mag. reg. reports has been called into question regarding
credibility, and there is no "consumer reports" yet for regulators.
Past success is the ONLY real guide.

Okay, A serious answer then.

Padrediver puts forth the notion that one can judge a manufacturer's product by looking at the longivity of the company. He calls them the "survivors" and names 5 of them.

So if someone holds that premise to be the criteria by which quality should can be judged then that individual could only be true to themselves and their principles if they drive a Ford.

So my reply had nothing to do with comparing one car to another or 1 reg to another but rather it was a test of whether or not he truly believed in the principle by which he judged manufacturers in general.

I could have asked if his electric range was a manufactured by Hotpoint - Hotpoint was the first company to build one and that was in 1910. Interestingly, GE gets better ratings just a Atomic, the upstart reg manufactuer makes the top rated reg.

 

[The Chairman]

Yeah...

what have you done for me lately? If a manufacturer can NOT keep producing improvements then there is no reason to reward them for their lack of innovation. After all, quite a few of these manufacturers were started by employees who were stymied by management. Atomic was created by two AL engineers who were not allowed to make a Titanium regulator. (If I have the companies mixed up, please let me know).

 

[The Chairman]

This being the internet, I have no way of
knowing whether or not someone recommending an "Aquacon Seasnake 2000"
is a sales rep for the company or was given a FREE Seasnake 2000 for
plugging the reg.

Welcome to www.ScubaBoard.com: the home of some of the BEST BS-O-Meters in the world. Maunufactures have learned quickly to ID themselves and to do it quickly or face the wrath of our users.

 

[djanni]

In a sense I do drive a Ford. I drive a VOLVO which was purchased
by Ford several years ago. Several years ago an old Volvo Wagon
of mine saved my life (EMT's at scene said so)when I was "T-Boned"
by a woman running a stop sign at sixty (60+) MPH. Several "friends" had recommended I buy one of the NEW "hybrids". I'd be dead/or permanently disabled
if I had listened to them. This being the internet, I have no way of
knowing whether or not someone recommending an "Aquacon Seasnake 2000"
is a sales rep for the company or was given a FREE Seasnake 2000 for
plugging the reg., or the Aquacon Corp. CEO.
Scuba Diving Mag. reg. reports has been called into question regarding
credibility, and there is no "consumer reports" yet for regulators.
Past success is the ONLY real guide.

It is a guide... but not the only one and maybe not the best one.

Volvo was born in 1927. Being aquired by Ford, who was born in 1908, doesn't count. What about Rolls Royce born in 1904. BTW: The Ferrari was born in 1929 so it's right up there with your Volvo in terms of quality.