Wheatondiver:
I have noticed that Sea Base offers used equipment. I am thinking of purchasing the BC/regulator combo package for my son. Does anyone have any experience with this equipment? Is it serviced before shipping?
Thanks for any responses.
I saw their gear advertisement also and thought it sounded like a good deal.
They do this every year. I'm sure there is nothing wrong with this gear as I've never heard any complaints and you've seen people ask a similar question on here about it in past years.
http://www.bsaseabase.org/store/SCUBA.pdf
First consider this stuff is used every week in salt water essentialy as "rental gear" by the campers. Even if they maintenance it, it's still gets a lot of salt water use.
However
So since the equipment comes with no warranty, here's what you can buy it new for from a 'no warranty' dealer. (Leisure Pro).
Aqualung Calypso Regulator.................... $175
Aqualung Calypso/Titan Octopus.............. $ 90
SeaQuest Analog Double Gauge................$155
SeaQuest Spectrum 1 BCD...................... $175
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Cost new from LP ..................................$595
So you save about $200 buying it used.
However, hopefully you'll want to get the regulators serviced for safety before you son uses them. The Sea Base ad says they inspect them, but does not do annual service, which after one year of ocean dives on a weekly basis you would definately want. So figure $60 labor + $60 parts for annual service. $120 total.
That raises your inital cost from $400 to $520. You can buy new from LP or other places for $595. For the extra $75 bucks, I'd rather have new.
I'd also buy better gear than this too. This is bottom of the line. You'll just end up upgrading later and spending more money in the long run.
Hope that helps.
-Mike