Used Gear Purchase Question

[Pryme_Minister]

Used is not bad. I buy plenty of used gear. But a new diver has zero clues about what is what. Better to pay retail than to pay twice or thrice.

I get the feeling that this hobby will be similar to my other hobbies, which is to say I'm going to end up buying 3 or 4 sets of everything anyway eventually. Right now I'm just getting started, but this would definitely not be the last gear I buy. Though with all the recommendations I'm getting I am leaning away from this gear at this time.

 

[Pryme_Minister]

Price stuff you want online and give the LDS an opportunity to price match or come close. But don’t get ripped off paying double to support a scuba manufacturers distributor network and high margins.

I do get that. I mostly want to support them because they are really good about giving discounts and advice. I've talked about used gear with them and they actually said there are some things it makes sense to get used even though it's money out of their pocket so to speak.

 

[davehicks]

I do get that. I mostly want to support them because they are really good about giving discounts and advice. I've talked about used gear with them and they actually said there are some things it makes sense to get used even though it's money out of their pocket so to speak.

If you are going to need the LDS to help support and service your gear, consider buying those items from them. Regulators especially. Mask's are so individual to fit you really need to try them on, so that too. Wetsuit as well as you need to get one that fits well, and used wetsuits are dodgy. They get damaged quickly, lose thermal protection if old, and may be gross.

For things like a BC or BP&Wing, Dive Lights, Fins, Computer look at good online shops like Dive Gear Express.

A used regulator is going to need to be serviced at substantial additional cost, so don't bother. If you can't get a top end model for 1/3 of retail it is likely not a good deal.

 

[lowwall]

I like to think that I'm smarter than the average bear when it comes to technical things like this. I was formerly an automotive and aviation mechanic. I actually really like the idea of tinkering with my own gear, so I may keep my eye on the used market anyway. I also have a passion for reviving and using old gear. I still have a Windows XP PC from 2002 that honestly runs better than most of what you'd get from best buy. I realize that's a lot different than a regulator at 60 feet.

This also wouldn't be the first time I've taken my life into my hands, I participate in quite a few extreme sports and have always trusted my own work over that of another shop or tech. Diving is a new experience for me though as the risk is much higher.

Here's the deal with servicing scuba gear. Regulators (and a few related bits of hardware including tank valves, hose ends, and inflators), were made to be serviced and rebuilt. All the wear parts, mostly o-rings, are replaced during a service. The manufacturers have service kits for their regulator stages that include all the needed replacement parts.

The big issue with DIY is that the mainline manufacturers do their best to block self service. They do not make service manuals available to the public, they won't sell parts or service kits directly to the public, and they won't let their dealers sell them either.

It's possible to work around all of this. I happen to like Mares regs and so I've built up a library of their manuals. Forum member @Tanks A Lot has an extensive collection of manuals and other info as well. You do need to sign up to access it.

I've ordered parts from Italy and from a shop that had dropped their dealership agreement with Mares and so was free to sell of their remaining stock. Parts and service kits also appear on eBay regularly. Finally, since the service kits are generally made up of off the shelf parts, there are aftermarket companies like scubagaskets (service kits main page) that assemble kits for you or you can source your own stuff.

Another option is to get regs from one of the few sources that support DIY repair. Deep6gear.com is the best example. They make their excellent service manual (written by forum member @rsingler - an anesthesiologist who moonlights as a reg tech instructor and troubleshooter for his local dive shops) available to all. They sell service kits to anyone and other parts to anyone who has taken their class or can demonstrate that they won't hurt themselves. I'm not sure if they'll accept an A&P certificate, but they do accept certification on other reg types or rsingler's class.

Service Manual

www.deep6gear.com

Other DIY-friendly options are HOG Edge which allows you to buy parts if you take one of their service courses offered through TDI and the aforementioned scubagaskets which has just started marketing their own regulator.

Outside of regs, scuba gear is not particularly amenable to self-servicing. You can replace fin and mask straps and probably swap the battery on your computer. You can patch holes in wetsuits, but neoprene is inevitably going to degrade over time. Traditional BCDs are made of laminated fabrics and are designed to be disposable. That's one of the many reasons why a lot of us have switched to backplates and wings.

 

[James79]

Used is not bad. I buy plenty of used gear. But a new diver has zero clues about what is what. Better to pay retail than to pay twice or thrice.

Hence the part about check with reputable members here.

 

[GJC]

Thanks for coming to my defense, but I'm not worried about some constructive criticism online. I like to think that I'm smarter than the average bear when it comes to technical things like this. I was formerly an automotive and aviation mechanic. I actually really like the idea of tinkering with my own gear, so I may keep my eye on the used market anyway. I also have a passion for reviving and using old gear. I still have a Windows XP PC from 2002 that honestly runs better than most of what you'd get from best buy. I realize that's a lot different than a regulator at 60 feet.

This also wouldn't be the first time I've taken my life into my hands, I participate in quite a few extreme sports and have always trusted my own work over that of another shop or tech. Diving is a new experience for me though as the risk is much higher.

If you are comfortable servicing and repairing the brakes on your car by yourself, you will be OK servicing your own scuba regulator and other gear, but the consequences of doing either wrong have similar results.

I service my own gear because I like doing it and have trust issues with anyone else messing with my stuff.

 

[lowwall]

If you are comfortable servicing and repairing the brakes on your car by yourself, you will be OK servicing your own scuba regulator and other gear, but the consequences of doing either wrong have similar results.

Better automotive analogies would be servicing a brake master cylinder or a basic carburetor rebuild.

 

[Pryme_Minister]

Better automotive analogies would be servicing a brake master cylinder or a basic carburetor rebuild.

All of which I have done. I also have pretty extensive experience working with extreme gas pressures from welding and pre-charged pneumatic pellet guns.

 

[Pryme_Minister]

After taking in all the responses here, and doing some more research on new gear I have managed to put together a kit under $1200 that actually includes more than the used gear I was looking at (granted its only 1 of everything, but I can't wear 2 sets of anything at the same time anyway so it really doesn't matter). I was able to add a hood, float/flag, line/reel, and SMB to my kit and after a discount code the total comes out to $1130.


Thoughts on the kit?

Nathan's Starter Kit List

www.scuba.com

 

[Pavao]

After taking in all the responses here, and doing some more research on new gear I have managed to put together a kit under $1200 that actually includes more than the used gear I was looking at (granted its only 1 of everything, but I can't wear 2 sets of anything at the same time anyway so it really doesn't matter). I was able to add a hood, float/flag, line/reel, and SMB to my kit and after a discount code the total comes out to $1130.


Thoughts on the kit?

Nathan's Starter Kit List

www.scuba.com

That BCD is a perfect example of what I meant in my earlier post when I said most of us bought the wrong gear first only to go and buy another later on when we learned that isn’t optimal.
I’m not speaking of that particular model, or the manufacturer, it’s about the design, which happens to be the most popular in the industry, may be confusing to hear the most popular design is the least preferable? Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Welcome to scuba, the industry has many flaws.

Don’t buy wearables online, you want to try it on, they don’t always fit the same, even within the same manufacturer, diffren5 models may fit differently, you said you want to support your local shop, this is definitely it, go try it on, just don’t be that guy who uses the resources of the local shop to figure stuff out when you know full well you’re buying online. But if they don’t have what you want, don’t feel you need to buy what they sell.
Invest the money on a quality suit, it’s your comfort, you’d be wearing one for a reason.

A mask is definitely something you don’t want to buy online, you need to know it fits you, fits you in a way it won’t leak and is also comfortable. Again, here’s a great chance to support your local dive shop.