When is dive equipment considered old?

[drbill]

I still have dive gear that is 30 years old (although nothing is left from 50 or even 40 years ago as far as I can remember). In fact, some of it is no longer manufactured, but I still prefer diving with it to buying some of the new stuff. Of course regulators and BCDs may require servicing, but as an old geezer myself I see nothing wrong with diving gear that is younger than myself as long as it is still functional!

 

[Goat_Tower]

I'm still diving my 8 year old Oceanic Alpha 7 when assisting instructors. I only replaced my BC to upgrade to a BP/W, and I'm expecting to get some mileage out of it. I also picked up some new regs two years ago for a twinset.

My mom is still diving her old conshelf 14 from open water certification.

 

[Bigd2722]

It's old when YOU decide you want new gear

 

[rhwestfall]

the line is constantly becoming more blurred:

 

[KD8NPB]

Past about 15 years, I'd start to consider dive equipment "old". That doesn't mean it isn't serviceable and usable though.

 

[agilis]

2006? 2006?! It practically still is 2006.

Nothing much non-electronic has changed since the 80s, with the possible exception of lighter BCDs with less junk.

 

[sealark]

I still have maintain and use coshelf regulators from the 70s

 

[rhwestfall]

I think it possible some of my 109's may almost pre-date me.....

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

A 2006 regulator is way too old to use and is dangerous, you could die!
You need to sell it to me, cheap!
I'll make sure it's used... ahem, I mean disposed of properly.

Let's see.
I have one reg that I use that I can get parts for that's 54 years old.
I have several that I can get parts for that are from the mid to late 60's
I have regs from the 70's, 80's and 90's and only two from the 21st century and all of them I can get parts.

2006 is practically brand new!

 

[Nemrod]

I bought my first regulator in 1966, a Calypso J, it still works just fine and I still occasionally use it. About the same time I was given a Mistral DH regulator which was manufactured in 1956 and I still dive it. I have Conshelfs (XIV) from as early as 73 I still use and prefer often. My Jet Fins are circa 1980-4?, not exactly sure and they replaced ones lost I bought about 73. My SP109 regulator set I put together some years back dates from the 70s and it is a very good regulator set. I have one wing that dates to 1984 which I still use, a Seatec, and I have spgs that I still routinely use from as far back as 73.

To answer your question, regulators from AL, SP, Atomics, Apeks and a few others are likely to be serviceable possibly for decades. BCs, it is a bag of air, I do not get to attached to a cloth bag, they last a few years, maybe a few decades, who knows. My favorite BC ever, I used it off and on for thirty years, then it fell apart. Wetsuits, a few years before they look like crap and stink too bad to dare use.

The USD RAM is from 73, the USD spg I bought in 73, the SP console I bought at a shop I worked in about 74 and the Tekna depth gauge I bought circa 1986, the USD Calypso riding shotgun is mine from (since) 1966 bought at a feed and seed store in Louisiana by me. I rode to the f&s store on my Raleigh 1964 English Racer to get it, about 20 miles one way. No big deal, I rode that far regularly to get feed for my menagerie of animals I had:

Some people think they need the newest and therefore think it best, I prefer older because I know it better. But maybe that is because I am getting older and better.

N