The trouble with Vintage

[luis]

I am not using nitrox now but I am positive I can clean my RAMs for nitrox use should I desire to do so.

Nemrod

I have used Nitrox with my good old RAM several times and of course it is not a problem. No special cleaning required for EAN with less than 40% O2.

To oxygen clean a RAM it is easier than normal since there is only one O-ring to replace and you can get it from a O2 kit for the Titan.

The DA Aqua Master has no O-rings, so cleaning it for high O2 would be just that, cleaning it.

[dhaas]

To James,

I don't doubt boosting the IP and tuning a RAM it could breathe well. And you are right in that Bryan (and others) have encouraged me to find a clean Royal Aquamaster and try that versus my love for the simple Mistral double hose. But another thing that killed double hose regs in favor of single hose was position underwater and breathing resistance in various modes.....

Swim on my side to breathe better? Not if you're trying to get a photograph upside down, all twisted around, etc. I am able to adapt using my Mistral and get photos but believe me, it's a bit harder than with a modern regulator. Plus certain types of diving such as in high currents, inside wrecks with things just waiting to snag your hoses, and the maintenance of those corrguated hoses....These are things where the double hose was seen as an impediment to sport diving growing and thus the single hose became more popular.

Oh, by the way, I dive the little Aqualung Titan LX, modern style Conshelf first stage, and Apeks coldwater reg designer's balanced second stage. Smaller first stage than the Legend, but both of these produce more RMV volume in testing than you're likely to get out of even the best double hose reg.

James, as we've seen you is super fit (YAY !!!!) and love the physical part of diving, too, as do I even in my current slightly rotund condition!

But most of today's scuba divers would likely take up leisurely bicycling or whatever if they had to use our double hose rigs. The saying I have for even modern divers who don't work out, aren't decent swimmers, etc. is they are usually just trying to "Survive the Dive" and make it back to the bar where they can then brag about what great divers they are

So in closing, who has a Royal Aquamaster they want to sell me cheap?

Tee Hee......

Dave Haas

[treasureman]

Did i read somewher that nemrod uses a scret fix to get his RAms to function so well.

Do tell us this fix.

Actually, any extra tips and tricks to squeeze the most performance out of a RAM or DAAM is appreciated.

I use conshelf seat and regular RAm seat both IP at 145. seem to work well.

[Nemrod]

"James, as we've seen you is super fit (YAY !!!!) and love the physical part of diving, too, as do I even in my current slightly rotund condition! "

No, I wish, twenty years ago I weighed 156 lbs and could run a marathon in the morning and then go swim two or three miles for a cool down. Now, I do good to get up and down the stairs, that running has ruiuned my hips and knees and all the swimming and motorcycles/motocross accidents has done in my shoulders, darn that asphalt. There is much good to be said for being slightly rotund . Whales are rotund and they swim just fine .

When I said swim on the side, I mean roll a few degrees --not 90 degrees. I just swim regular anyway, don't need no trick swimming with a Royal. Now,with the Mistral and the DA, they do benifit noticeably from turning to the side. My Royals just do not seem as position sensitive.

The trouble with vintage is that once you taste the darkside there really is no returning, when I had to use my modern gear to dive in Pensecola, I felt handicapped, weighted down, not in balance.

David, actually--shhhhhhhh-I am planning on getting a new legend or such as that--shhhh-----I need at least one regulator I can hopefully dive without overhauling betweenn dives. I may even just take it to the LDS and let them work on it---ugggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh--arrrgghhhhhhhh---well, we shall see. I get just wore out with working on stuff. You know, I don't even change my own oil, I would not touch a wrench on a car, I just buy a new one every couple of years--if I even have to open the hood I go get another, like many mechanics, we like to do other things for recreation other than wrench. People are always bringing me stuff to fix, I cannot take it anymore.
Nemrod

[JES]

David, actually--shhhhhhhh-I am planning on getting a new legend or such as that--shhhh-----I need at least one regulator I can hopefully dive without overhauling betweenn dives. I may even just take it to the LDS and let them work on it---ugggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh--arrrgghhhhhhhh---well, we shall see. ... Nemrod

James,

If you're really serious about purchasing a modern regulator then buy the Aqualung Titan LX. You would be hard pressed to find a better regulator for the money.

Enjoy!

- Joe

[kgehring]

It would be a good time to buy a LX Titan. You get a free octo with it!
Email me if you want a price quote.

[dhaas]

Oh my God, what have I done? Getting Vintage Divers to BUY a modern single hose regulator?

As Joe Wilhelm testified in the Ocala dive store (and I have mentioned a few times at VDH.com) the Aqualung Titan LX is a little powerhouse of a regulator. I think Joe said it is so close in performance to his $500+ Scubapro, and test reports prove it out that it's a "Best Buy" .

One thing, the "standard" Titan LX has a stamp on the yoke, < 10C. There is a Titan LX Supreme with cold water cap avaiable, too, if you think you'd like to use it in less than 10C temp water.

Plus Karl can help us out!

Adios Amigos,

Dave Haas

[JES]

David,

Jack's last name is Wilhelm, mine is Strickland. I know, everyone from Florida looks alike.

And you are correct, I did say exactly that about the Titan LX and the Scubapro S600 & MK25. I like the Titan LX so much that I own 2 of them.

Like you said the Titan LX is a "Best Buy".

[luis]

Ehhh…I was talking about the reliability of the environmentally sealed second stage in a double hose.

In order to be DIR acceptable, don’t this single hose second stages have to be easily opened underwater to be able to clean sand and other contaminants out of them?

I guess in theory they could make an environmentally sealed single hose second stage, but the extra check valve would kill the venturi flow and therefore its performance.

[Nemrod]

You are correct Luis, those regulators, the Titan etc, are not DIR or so I have been told. They cannot be taken apart underwater. Now, the Tekna 2100 can be taken completely apart underwater--oops--where did that thingmabob get off to.
Well, I will have to think on it, I sorta like that Legend but it not being DIR and my being so loathing of modern stuff I just have to consider more on it. I have not bought a new regulator in 18 years and I don't use it, I use the older stuff, MR12 IIs and Teknas because they work better and breath better and are more reliable and now with three awesome RAMs why would I?
James

[JES]

They might not be DIR but they perform absolutely incredible!

Here's a link to the test results:

http://dive.scubadiving.com/html/200210regs_charts.html

[luis]

I wouldn’t shy away from a good regulator just because it is not DIR or not easy to open underwater. Being able to open a second stage is particularly a nice feature for an octopus since it is exposed to the elements more than the regulator in your mouth, but for most diving environments, most regulators are very reliable.

Did anybody notice that at Silver River I had to open the octopus on Christine’s regulator and clean out a lot of sand from Alexander Springs? It is nice to be able to open an octopus without any tools and that the only loose pieces are the diaphragm cover, the diaphragm, and the large threaded ring. It was free-flowing at first, but it was easy to clean.

The sand in Alexander Springs got everywhere; every pocket in Christine’s BC was full of sand. It was amazing some of the places were I found sand. The only place I didn’t find any sand was in either of my Royal Aqua Master’s.

When I use an octopus on my DH I have been using the Oceanics because they are easy to open and clean and the fact that they are plastic means that if they bang against my vintage gear they don’t make noise and scratch my regulator. I like to think of them as vintage friendly.


The Titan is a great regulator. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a regulator that uses many of the same parts as a Royal AM.


In any case, shouldn’t we be having this discussion over at “boringsinglehose.com”?

[Bryan]

In any case, shouldn’t we be having this discussion over at “boringsinglehose.com”?

Thank you Luis! This kind of discussion belongs over on Scuba Board....You guys get back to discussing real regulators....Let your grandchildren discuss the merits of the 2006 Aqua-Lung line in 40 years!

[dhaas]

I apologize for:

Calling Joe "Wilhelm" versus Strickland.

Bending this thread to "what to buy".

I DO have several questions regarding "vintage" single hose regs and will see you over at that forum....

Dave Haas

[Bryan]

Thank you David!