Info DPV models and specs

[stuartv]

I put together this spreadsheet of various current models of scooters that are popular (at least, among people I know).

I thought it might be useful to post as a sticky, if a mod is so inclined.

I can add more to it, if people want to provide info. In particular, I would like to have the SS Magnus info to add if someone has the data. I'm not so interested in other scooters as to spend more time going and digging for the specs myself. But, like I said, if someone else will post info (and, ideally, a link to a source), I will incorporate it into the chart.

Scooters with range under 10 miles:

	Genesis 3.1	Seacraft Future 1000	Suex XJ-S	BlackTip Travel	BlackTip Tech	BlackTip Tech	BlackTip Exploration	CudaX Tech	CudaX Exploration	Viper
Price (12/16/2023) (USD$)	8970	8778	8205	1899***	2099***	2099***	2399***	7000***	7300***	5000​
Thrust (lbs)	90+	76+	74	57*	57*	57*	57*	108*	108*
Range (at 150fpm) (miles)	8.7	9.8	5.3	3.5	3.5	5.8	7.1	5.6	11.3
Run (at 150fpm) (minutes)	306	350	185	123**	123**	205**	250**	190**	400**
Battery capacity (W-Hr)	850	1000	940	432	432	720	864	432	864	840
Feet per Wh	54.0	51.7	29.8	42.8	42.8	42.5	43.4	68.4	69.1
Weight (lbs)	34	35	44	24	28.5	28.5	37	34.1	42.3	52.5
Length (inches)	24.5	33.3	31	24	28.5	28.5	37	24.6	29.9
Depth rating (ft)	660	490	660	330	400	400	260	1000	1000
Depth rating optional	1000	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Replace batteries (USD$)	350	2700	2600	500	500	1000	1000	500	1000	1750
Sealed hull charging	Y	Y	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
Optional Power Take-off	Y	Y	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
One-hand speed control	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Infinitely variable speed	Y	N	Y	N	N	N	N	N	N
TSA-compliant	Y	Y*	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N
		* only with optional		* in Boost mode	* in Boost mode	* in Boost mode	* in Boost mode	* in Ludicrous mode	* in Ludicrous mode
		reduced-capacity		max 7 minutes	max 7 minutes	max 7 minutes	max 7 minutes	max 1 minute per use	max 1 minute per use
		battery kit		** all assuming	** all assuming	** all assuming	** all assuming	36 minutes per dive	36 minutes per dive
				Dewalt 12 Ah	Dewalt 12 Ah	custom 20Ah/36V	Dewalt 12 Ah	** all assuming	** all assuming
				batteries	batteries	battery pack	batteries	Dewalt 12 Ah	Dewalt 12 Ah
				*** no batteries	*** no batteries	*** no batteries	*** no batteries	batteries	batteries
								*** no batteries	*** no batteries

Scooters with range over 10 miles:

	Genesis 3.2	Seacraft Ghost 2000	Magnus
Price (12/16/2023) (USD$)	10970	12415	7000
Thrust (lbs)	90+	76+
Range (at 150fpm) (miles)	17.4	19.6
Run (at 150fpm) (minutes)	612	700
Battery capacity (W-Hr)	1700	2000	1320
Feet per Wh	54.0	51.7
Weight (lbs)	49.5	50.5
Length (inches)	33.6	31.5
Depth rating (ft)	660	720
Depth rating optional	1000	n/a	400
Replace batteries (USD$)	700	5500	2000
Sealed hull charging	Y	Y
Optional Power Take-off	Y	Y
One-hand speed control	Y	Y	N
Infinitely variable speed	Y	N	Y
TSA-compliant	Y	N	N

Note that "Feet per Wh" means feet of range (at 150fpm) per watt-hour of battery capacity. This gives some indication of the efficiency of the scooter as a whole. I.e. how efficient is the motor's electricity usage, how efficient is the propeller/nozzle (shroud?) assembly, etc..

Also note that these numbers are manufacturer's published specs. So, they cannot be assumed to be perfectly apples-to-apples. One manufacturer might measure range using a skinny, tiny diver in only shorts and a single tank BCD rig. Another might measure range towing an average-sized diver in a drysuit, with doubles, and a deco/stage bottle or two. They generally don't say.

All of the scooters shown can be found at one of the following:

Genesis:

Logic Dive Gear

logicdivegear.com

Future and Ghost:

Diver Propulsion Vehicles and Navigation Systems by Seacraft DPV – Diver Propulsion Vehicles Made to Explore

Most innovative Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPV) and electronic navigation and logging on the market. Motor has unique construction, working in full immersion, eliminates transmission, shaft seals and leak possibilities. Military options.

seacraftdpv.com

XJ-S:

Home - Suex

The SUEX DPVs contain technology and reliability for high-performance in absolute safety. Find out more.

www.suex.it

BlackTip and CudaX:

Dive Xtras - the Best Diving Scooters in the Universe

Dive Xtras, Inc. is the manufacturer of the highest performance diver propulsion vehicles in the world. Concentrating on lightweight, powerful diving scooters ensures that our products always offer the highest performance for technical divers. And for recreational divers, more fun than you can...

dive-xtras.com

Magnus and Viper:

Subsea Propulsion

Subsea Propulsion is a manufacturer of premium diver propulsion vehicles or DPV

subseapropulsion.com

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Look for more updated information in this thread as the OP gains new information

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[fullytek]

I will happily provide specifications for the mag and viper when we are finished accurately measuring our output.

One thing we are working on is determining a standard cruse thrust requirement.

In other words we need to determine what a real reasonable cruse speed should be and then determine how manny pounds of pulling force a dpv would have to produce to propell a standard diver at a standard speed on a standard day.

Thease are things we do in our engine shop when we dyno an engine its important to measure everything with the same stick

We are currently in the process of building a test tank with a 2 channel force gauge measuring pulling force and torque and the handel and an onboard data logger.

When you can actually measure watts per pound of pulling force you can actually calculate efficiency.

 

[mr_v]

Lots of data here - need to simplify to make comparison more manageable. What should we use as a unit for DPV?

DPVs are fun. Fun is going fast as much as you can on a single battery charge, so "dollars per fast minute" might be a good equalizer. Divide the price by the total run at 150fpm and you get a relative good idea of what a fun minute cost you. Ideally, multiply that number by 1 - <defect probability> to account for quality issues, but that would be hard to find out.

 

[stuartv]

Lots of data here - need to simplify to make comparison more manageable. What should we use as a unit for DPV?

DPVs are fun. Fun is going fast as much as you can on a single battery charge, so "dollars per fast minute" might be a good equalizer. Divide the price by the total run at 150fpm and you get a relative good idea of what a fun minute cost you. Ideally, multiply that number by 1 - <defect probability> to account for quality issues, but that would be hard to find out.

Metrics are weighted differently for each individual. Your idea of distilling things down to one metric doesn't work.

If the chart in the OP is too complicated for you, you might not be a good candidate for anything more than a BlackTip anyway...




Disclaimer: To those that think I'm being a real d!ck, Mr V and I are friends in real life. I'm just jerking his chain.

 

[j0rd1]

Seacraft GO:

Price: 4500USD
Range: 6.2m (10km)
Run at 150ft/m: 220min
Battery capacity: 582W/hr
Weight: 21.4lb (9,7kg)
Length: 20.4in (52cm)
Depth rating: 330ft (100m)
Battery replacement: ~2000USD
Sealed hull charging: Yes
Optional power takeoff: ?
One hand speed control: Yes
Infinite variable speed: No
TSA compliant: Yes

I wish it had infinite variable speed! I can confirm the runtime is absoulutely right, or even more. I used it for about 30 dives with a backmounted CCR and bailout + deco tank. Easy to finish 2 dives, total about ~200mins and come back with half battery. Of course, not spending the whole dive on the trigger at speed 3 (150ft-min).

 

[lermontov]

Mr V and I are friends in real life.

what ? you mean theres something beyond scuba board?

 

[stuartv]

what ? you mean theres something beyond scuba board?

Well... I really just meant that we are squadmates in COD.

 

[mr_v]

Metrics are weighted differently for each individual. Your idea of distilling things down to one metric doesn't work.

If the chart in the OP is too complicated for you, you might not be a good candidate for anything more than a BlackTip anyway...




Disclaimer: To those that think I'm being a real d!ck, Mr V and I are friends in real life. I'm just jerking his chain.

Friends? My toothbrush at your house says a bit more about that!

 

[stuartv]

Thanks, @j0rd1. I don't know what I was thinking to not include the Go! in my chart from the beginning.

	Genesis 3.1	Seacraft Future 1000	Seacraft Go!	Suex XJ-S	BlackTip Travel	BlackTip Tech	BlackTip Tech	BlackTip Exploration	CudaX Tech	CudaX Exploration	Viper
Price (12/16/2023) (USD$)	8970	8778	4200	8205	1899***	2099***	2099***	2399***	7000***	7300***	5000​
Thrust (lbs)	90+	76+	58	74	57*	57*	57*	57*	108*	108*
Range (at 150fpm) (miles)	8.7	9.8	6.2	5.3	3.5	3.5	5.8	7.1	5.6	11.3
Run (at 150fpm) (minutes)	306	350	220	185	123**	123**	205**	250**	190**	400**
Battery capacity (W-Hr)	850	1000	582	940	432	432	720	864	432	864	840
Feet per Wh	54.0	51.7	56.2	29.8	42.8	42.8	42.5	43.4	68.4	69.1
Weight (lbs)	34	35	21	44	24	28.5	28.5	37	34.1	42.3	52.5
Length (inches)	24.5	33.3	20	31	24	28.5	28.5	37	24.6	29.9
Depth rating (ft)	660	490	330	660	330	400	400	260	1000	1000
Depth rating optional	1000	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Replace batteries (USD$)	350	2700	2132	2600	500	500	1000	1000	500	1000	1750
Sealed hull charging	Y	Y	Y	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
Optional Power Take-off	Y	Y	?	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
One-hand speed control	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Infinitely variable speed	Y	N	N	Y	N	N	N	N	N	N
TSA-compliant	Y	Y*	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N
		* only with optional			* in Boost mode	* in Boost mode	* in Boost mode	* in Boost mode	* in Ludicrous mode	* in Ludicrous mode
		reduced-capacity			max 7 minutes	max 7 minutes	max 7 minutes	max 7 minutes	max 1 minute per use	max 1 minute per use
		battery kit			** all assuming	** all assuming	** all assuming	** all assuming	36 minutes per dive	36 minutes per dive
					Dewalt 12 Ah	Dewalt 12 Ah	custom 20Ah/36V	Dewalt 12 Ah	** all assuming	** all assuming
					batteries	batteries	battery pack	batteries	Dewalt 12 Ah	Dewalt 12 Ah
					*** no batteries	*** no batteries	*** no batteries	*** no batteries	batteries	batteries
									*** no batteries	*** no batteries

 

[Whitrzac]

For the magnus data, you could look at the tahoe benchmark from 2011. Add ~30% to the range for the slightly larger battery. Everything else would be the same.