Newbie Question - Buying used bcd's

[dlawrence]

Hi, new to the forums, I have a question about getting a used bcd checked out. I bought a used Sherwood Freedom BCD on ebay. I can't find a model number, but it looks a little on the older side.

It inflates and deflates easily and doesn't appear to have any leaks (I fully inflated it and left it inflated for a few days). All the webbing appears to be in good shape as do all the clasps. After reading another forum post about springs in the dump valve going bad, I visually inspected the spring (the low pressure inflater just screwed off and the spring was easily visible). It looked to be in good shape, no rust.

Do I need to get this professionally inspected? I imagine I probably should. And if so, should my local dive shop be able to handle that, and what should I expect to pay?

[maggs_the]

Originally Posted by dlawrence

Hi, new to the forums, I have a question about getting a used bcd checked out. I bought a used Sherwood Freedom BCD on ebay. I can't find a model number, but it looks a little on the older side.

It inflates and deflates easily and doesn't appear to have any leaks (I fully inflated it and left it inflated for a few days). All the webbing appears to be in good shape as do all the clasps. After reading another forum post about springs in the dump valve going bad, I visually inspected the spring (the low pressure inflater just screwed off and the spring was easily visible). It looked to be in good shape, no rust.

Do I need to get this professionally inspected? I imagine I probably should. And if so, should my local dive shop be able to handle that, and what should I expect to pay?

ANYTHING that involves protecting you life should be professionally inspected until you are trained to do so yourself i'm not sure what the cost would be to inspect it.. maybe $100? but I know if you took it to MY local dive shop, you better be prepared for their snobbery lectures about how you have totally undermined the value of your LDS and the BC is probably a death trap that said, aren't ya glad you're not going to my LDS??

seriously tho, yes, $100 now or cost of heli-vac and emergency room services later. i know people who've got good deals buying used equipment but they are more technically inclined than i am. i will buy my accessories at a cheaper cost, but anything that has to do with my life preservation, BC, Regulator, Computer even.. will be new and come with a warranty. even then, they want you to get your gear serviced once a year to make sure there's no problems. and with any new gear, i always take it into a pool and play before i go out in open water. things are a little more tricky underwater with all the gear on.

[FishFood]

No, don't bother. You've checked half of what the "pro's" might check. If you want to go another step, check the o-rings on the pull dumps. However, the fact that it holds air is a sign that they are intact.

Even if the orings are bad, it's not life threatening.

Of course, make sure straps/buckles that hold the tank on are in good shape. Pretty hard to faul that up though...

i'm not sure what the cost would be to inspect it.. maybe $100?

$100 to "inspect" a BC? What could be done that would cost $100?

[in_cavediver]

Originally Posted by maggs_the

<snip>
seriously tho, yes, $100 now or cost of heli-vac and emergency room services later.

I don't get it. Why does everyone assume a gear failure = getting bent/embolized. Do we have that low of expectations in our basic dive skills????

[newways]

Better safe than sorry. If possible, call around. i have a selection of dive shops to shop for best price.

[BSea]

It sounds like you've done your homework to me. I don't see you having to take it to your LDS. But if you do, just ask what it cost to service a BC. I'll be it's way less than $100.

[dlawrence]

Originally Posted by FishFood

No, don't bother. You've checked half of what the "pro's" might check. If you want to go another step, check the o-rings on the pull dumps. However, the fact that it holds air is a sign that they are intact.

That was easy enough. The o-ring looks good. Like new.

Originally Posted by FishFood

Even if the orings are bad, it's not life threatening.

That was my thinking to. Since I'm new, I don't want to be overconfident, but I'm wondering what could malfunction in my bcd that would be life threatening. I would think worse case scenerio, my bcd can't hold any air and I have to call off the dive and swim to the surface. I imagine that could be pretty bad if I was also injured or extremely tired and needed it to stay afloat at the surface. But, that seems like a pretty remote chance that could happen if I punctured a brand new bcd. But, like I said, I'm very new to this and would definitely defer to experience here.

[cummings66]

Considering my LDS views things like that as gravy it shouldn't be too much money for what they're going to do. It's mostly labor.

[FishFood]

That was my thinking to. Since I'm new, I don't want to be overconfident, but I'm wondering what could malfunction in my bcd that would be life threatening.

Someone else chime in here to, but the only thing that I could think of is if your tank were to come loose and rip your reg out of your mouth. That could be a tad bit bad

[awap]

Folks who can't or won't learn how to test and inspect their own gear have little choice but to pay mthe price and hope their LDS does a good job. You are obviously not in that group. For warm water recreational diving, I look upon a BC as a convience, not life support equipment.

You got the main points, the bladder holds air and the controls function. You also want to check the connectors that hold the corrugated hose on the BC and on the inflator. I like to put 2 zip ties on each of those connections. If in doubt, go ahead and add some new ones.

Congratulations on a smart buy.