Two Zeagle FH6 vs. one Scubapro or Aqualung?

[rostyvyg]

After reading about SP and AL warranty policies and them discouraging LDS's from servicing the online bought regulators I found MK17/G250V and Aqualung Legend LX Supreme (with high end octopusess) at local LDS's each for $700.

Now, on another hand, I saw an authorized online Zeagle dealer selling their Flathead VI (as last year model) for $360. I am wondering if I should by 2 Zeagles, a long yellow LP hose, store one first stage for future (when I am ready for doubles) and use second stage as an octopus. Same money, lifetime warranty, free parts while rebuilding... What am I missing? Will a second stage Zeagle be more prone to fee flow then a Zeagle octopus?

And if I want to travel I can just throw the parts kit in my bag to have handy if this setup needs to be serviced at a remote location (Zeagle part kits can be easyly purchased online not like SP or AL).

Any thoughts?

 

[Jimmer]

Now, on another hand, I saw an authorized online Zeagle dealer selling their Flathead VI (as last year model) for $360. I am wondering if I should by 2 Zeagles, a long yellow LP hose, store one first stage for future (when I am ready for doubles) and use second stage as an octopus. Same money, lifetime warranty, free parts while rebuilding... What am I missing? Will a second stage Zeagle be more prone to fee flow then a Zeagle octopus?


Any thoughts?

Yes, do the highlighted thing. Flathead VI's are great regs, very reliable, and ideal for deep, cold water. I use them for my doubles, and Zeagle DSV's for my stages. I couldn't be happier with my regs. They are dead simple to service yourself too.

Also, the Zeagle octos are absolutely identical to the standard second stages, so no worries there.

Jim

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Another vote for the Flathead VI. Hard to beat the current prices on it.

I'm a "Mares" guy, but recently had the pleasure of rebuilding a well-used Flathead VI that I picked up on E-bay. It is a really well designed, well-build reg, and super-simple to service.... and the parts are available and inexpensive from ZeagleExpress and I'd guess other places.

The used Flathead VI cleaned up so nicely that it is now a "keeper", and I'm watching E-bay for other used & abused Flathead VI's to "rescue".

Have fun with whatever you decide.

 

[keyshunter]

The Zeagles are very good breathing and easy to service regs. They should be since they are very heavily, uhhh, "borrowed" from Apeks designs. Zeagle distributed Apeks regs in the US until about the year 2000.

 

[Jimmer]

The Zeagles are very good breathing and easy to service regs. They should be since they are very heavily, uhhh, "borrowed" from Apeks designs. Zeagle distributed Apeks regs in the US until about the year 2000.

Yep, then they took what they liked about Apeks, fixed what they didn't and started making them for themselves.

 

[rostyvyg]

I live on Long Island, NY and non of the LDS's around carry, or have in stock Zeagle regulators and everyone gives me speeches about SP, or AL, or Oceanic being around for long time and availability of parts for 20 years old regulators and Zeagle being a newcomer (or going out of business soon) and leaving me high and dry without parts in the future. Should I really be that concerned about this? Can Zeagle first and second stages use Apex parts if necessary?

 

[meesier42]

Zeagle rocks, I don't care what your LDS is saying, I have no idea why anyone would say they are going away

 

[Brandon]

I love the FH6 - I have two and use them for diving here in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Always cold and sometimes deep, I've never had a problem in the 200 dives I've put on them. The regulator leaves nothing to be desired, and I will keep it until I can no longer get parts to service it (which, according to Zeagle, will be a damn long time, as all their regulators use the same service kits).

As for Zeagle being a newcomer - they've been in business for 30 years. Whatever shop told you they were inexperienced and going out of business soon is on crack. Sure, they haven't built dive gear that entire time (started in the early 80s), but they transitioned from an equally unforgiving industry - skydiving gear. I think if they were trusted to make parachute harnesses, we can trust them to make regulators and BCDs.

Oh, and although they don't really need any more credibility - Zeagle pretty much invented the back inflate, weight integrated BC as we know it today...

-B

 

[pollywogg]

I would go ahead and get the two flatheads. I have a flathead 6, and a dsv, they are both great regs. The customer service at Zeagle is second to none. Scott Zeagle is usually available here on the board, but even if you can't find him here, customer service is a simple call away, and they are more than happy to help.
I put in my vote for the Zeagles!

 

[Jimmer]

I live on Long Island, NY and non of the LDS's around carry, or have in stock Zeagle regulators and everyone gives me speeches about SP, or AL, or Oceanic being around for long time and availability of parts for 20 years old regulators and Zeagle being a newcomer (or going out of business soon) and leaving me high and dry without parts in the future. Should I really be that concerned about this? Can Zeagle first and second stages use Apex parts if necessary?

While it is true that Zeagle hasn't been making regulators for as long as AL or SP etc. but one thing they have going for them is the fact that all of their diaphragm first stages use the same repair kit, regardless of the age of the first stage, and all of their second stages use the same kit. So as they've phased out or evolved reg designs (ie. DS4-->DS5 and FH6-->FH7) all the older "phased out" regs still have full service parts available.