What do you think of buying a used BCD as a 1st gear purchase?

[parachute]

I am PADI AOW, about 50 dives completed. Up until now, I have rented gear. I will be purchasing my own set of gear soon.

I have used and like the Seaquest BCs. Since this is not an insignificant investment for me, I am thinking about buying a used BCD instead of a new one, mainly because of the cost of a new one and also up until now I have used jacket-style BCs, but perhaps I may eventually like to switch to a back-inflation or bp/w.

I just would like to hear any comments or advice any of you folks would care to share...

Thank you.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

As long as it is in good shape I think this is a great idea of you feel you'll move to something else later. But if you look around you may be able to put a BPW set up together within your budget and be that far ahead. Me I have 5 bc's including 2 BPW's. You can never have too much gear!

 

[reticentDiver]

It is a good idea, just make sure the previous owner knew how to take care of it (and did so) and that the inflator and overpressure valves work properly. There are plenty of people out there with second hand BCDs that work perfectly well (think of how many times your rentals have been used...).

I would personally try to rent or borrow a backplate/wing setup and use it a few times before buying anything. If you like it you won't have wasted money. I was very comfortable with a jacket BCD, but after a tried on a BP/Wing I decided to buy that type of setup, and I haven't looked back.

By the way, you say "first purchase". Wouldn't it make more sense to get a decent mask and a pair of fins that fit you well? Being comfortable with those two things makes such a big difference....

Just my 2cents.

 

[spectrum]

Like the others have said check it out and go with it. I don't know what you have been paying for rentals but I bet you can have your money back and then some soon. Then if you want to move to something else you can still sell it and recover some of that money or keep it for travel or spare.

A BC has not been pee'd in and is not as precise an item as a regulator so you should not be in for a big bill just to have it initially serviced. Of the big ticket items to buy used this is probably the best bet. Since initial BCs are frequently poorly chosen and sized there is a lot of lightly use stuff ripe for the picking. If you happen to be a small female your options every Sunday night on eBay may be phenomenal. Any decent BC with reasonable care should be good for well over 500 dives.

I'll add that you can dive every bit as well in a properly chosen jacket as in a PB&W so don't think you are selling yourself short unless you see doubles in your future. If so the resale option is always there. Meanwhile act on your plan to enable frequent diving with your own gear.

Pete

 

[1_T_Submariner]

I have been diving a used Zeagle ranger for 4 years. If you find a quality it could be worth it. You only get one dive out of a new BC anyway then they are all used BC dives.

 

[djanni]

I'll add that you can dive every bit as well in a properly chosen jacket as in a PB&W so don't think you are selling yourself short unless you see doubles in your future.
Pete

The truth has been spoken!!!

 

[H2Andy]

yeah, in general, those things which make your dive more comfortable are up there on the list of things to buy first. exposure protection and a BC are up there.

just make sure that it works for you. you really should not skimp on a good BC. i would say that's probably your key to diving well.

however, since you are thinking of going to a bp/wings anyway, i would say just plunk down for the bp/wings right now. they can not be beat for customability (you basically get a "custom fit" by adjusting the harness ... no other BC has that ability)

 

[herman]

No reason at all not to buy a used BC, mine have hundreds of hours on them....the newest one is a 99 model and the oldest is a 84ish model, both still work fine. As long as they hold air for a reasonable amount of time, say a couple of hours, they should be fine. And even if they don't, before wrighting it off, check to find out why/where it's leaking air. It's fairly common for sand or salt buildup to be holding a dump valve open a little. A quick cleaning and it's fine, air leaks in the bladder it's self is another matter and should be avoided. I would suggest you avoid some of the Aqualung models with the small inflators and hoses. They were POSs, use non standard inflators and are impossible to get replacement inflators for. You see these fairly often on Ebay.

I agree with Pete on the BP route. Tried them and was not impressed, too dang much work to adjust them, no real improvement in trim and I don't do doubles. I was hyped up on them and really wanted one until I actually got the chance to dive one, a real dissapointment. I was moving from a good back inflate to the BP so I had a good bit of time in both jackets and back inflates at the time. None of the promises really panned out so I went back to my back inflate BC and still dive it.

 

[The Kraken]

Good advice given above.

If it's not defective, it'll work just as good as a brand new B/C.

Enjoy !!!

the K

 

[redacted]

When $$ is tight, used is the way to go. A friend of mine spent $25 on an old Scubapro BCD from ebay about 5 years ago. It was coming out of a shops training/rental stock and was quite faded but held air and the valves worked. It served her just fine for a few years.