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New Vintage Scuba YouTube Channel

Discussion in 'Vintage Diving & Equipment' started by AhoyFed, Mar 30, 2021.

Page 2 of 8
  1. Akimbo

    Akimbo Just a diver Staff Member ScubaBoard Supporter

    10,640
    8,891
    My first buoyancy compensator was the Bouée Fenzy. It was designed as a Mae West that could be inflated at depth and had an OVP, but we added a power inflator on the hose around 1971. I think the power inflator was cannibalized from the early semi-dry suits of the day, but can't remember for sure.

    full.jpg ​

    My non-diving dad made me wear this stupid thing when I started my Scuba class. Useless.

    full.jpg ​
     
    Akimbo, Apr 2, 2021
    Akimbo, Apr 2, 2021
    #11
    Sam Miller III, AhoyFed and jadairiii like this.
  2. jadairiii

    jadairiii Solo Diver

    659
    776
    I've seen a bunch of Fenzy's that look like the material they were made from was Hypalon, or something close to Hypalon? Was that the case with the earlier ones?
     
    jadairiii, Apr 2, 2021
    jadairiii, Apr 2, 2021
    #12
    AhoyFed likes this.
  3. John C. Ratliff

    John C. Ratliff Instructor, Scuba

    # of Dives: I'm a Fish!
    Location: Beaverton, Oregon
    2,929
    1,578
    Here's a segment from me.



    Enjoy,

    John
     
    John C. Ratliff, Apr 2, 2021
    John C. Ratliff, Apr 2, 2021
    #13
    Yawana-Dive, CT-Rich, AhoyFed and 1 other person like this.
  4. AhoyFed

    AhoyFed Registered

    # of Dives: 25 - 49
    Location: Ontario
    55
    38
    I think it said somewhere on the BC it had 52 or 58 pounds of lift. That’s enough for double tanks!
    AhoyFed
     
    AhoyFed, Apr 2, 2021
    AhoyFed, Apr 2, 2021
    #14
    John C. Ratliff and jadairiii like this.
  5. AhoyFed

    AhoyFed Registered

    # of Dives: 25 - 49
    Location: Ontario
    55
    38
    You wouldn’t believe the number of times I get ID’d at the liquor store and when I go to buy lottery tickets!

    Thank you!

    AhoyFed!
     
    AhoyFed, Apr 2, 2021
    AhoyFed, Apr 2, 2021
    #15
    boat sju and John C. Ratliff like this.
  7. AhoyFed

    AhoyFed Registered

    # of Dives: 25 - 49
    Location: Ontario
    55
    38
    That thing looks like a big orange tire! Can’t imagine how awkward it must have been to wear and inflate.

    Which doublehose regulator did you use when you started? Don’t show PADI that photo, you don’t have an octopus or power inflator!! :)

    AhoyFed
     
    AhoyFed, Apr 2, 2021
    AhoyFed, Apr 2, 2021
    #16
    John C. Ratliff likes this.
  8. Akimbo

    Akimbo Just a diver Staff Member ScubaBoard Supporter

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    It wasn't bad when deflated. You tended to notice the HP inflator cylinder but it wasn't bad at all. It helped get my arse out of some dicey situations more than once. Here is a photo of the newer Fenzy next to mine that another diver was using:

    bernie-andra-doria-jpg.431341.jpg

    I went from that Fenzy to a wing purchased as spare parts for a Watergill Ad-Pac.

    full-jpg-441164-jpg.458971.jpg
     
    Akimbo, Apr 2, 2021
    Akimbo, Apr 2, 2021
    #17
    Sam Miller III, jadairiii, John C. Ratliff and 1 other person like this.
  9. Akimbo

    Akimbo Just a diver Staff Member ScubaBoard Supporter

    10,640
    8,891
    That is a Voit V66 Navy, the same as the US Divers Aqua-Master. US Divers made the regulator and Voit molded the rubber parts in a cross-marketing deal.
     
    Akimbo, Apr 2, 2021
    Akimbo, Apr 2, 2021
    #18
    Sam Miller III, John C. Ratliff and AhoyFed like this.
  10. AhoyFed

    AhoyFed Registered

    # of Dives: 25 - 49
    Location: Ontario
    55
    38
    They look fairly streamlined when deflated. Were there any pouches on the Fenzy Vest? I liked that feature on the big yellow USD best since it can fit just about anything, even a small spare mask.

    Thanks for sharing the photos Akimbo. I’m a huge fan of black and white, I still shoot and develop and make enlargements from 35mm B/W film. Yes, I’m old enough to remember the film days :) my first camera was a Kodak disposable. I’m not sure if it even had a flash.

    While we’re on the topic of vintage photography, recently I acquired an Ikelite MD housing as well as two canon F1 cameras from a local diver. He gave it to me with the hopes I’d be able to resurrect it and use it in the future. Challenge accepted!

    AhoyFed
     
    AhoyFed, Apr 2, 2021
    AhoyFed, Apr 2, 2021
    #19
    John C. Ratliff likes this.
  11. AhoyFed

    AhoyFed Registered

    # of Dives: 25 - 49
    Location: Ontario
    55
    38
    Now that’s a sweet regulator. Do you still have it? I’d have to sell a kidney to pay for one of those Voits, each year the price keeps rising.

    AhoyFed
     
    AhoyFed, Apr 2, 2021
    AhoyFed, Apr 2, 2021
    #20
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