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Someone wrote <<<The regs are pretty expensive new, but common enough used that you >shouldn't have to pay much for one. The only thing to watch out for is it should go up to 160 psi or thereabouts, to match the IP requirement of the dive 2nd stage(s) - most O2 welding regs don't go high enough.>> On the Wahoo we have a few different oxygen systems, all are pretty much the same though. But used for different things. In the main cabin we have a 300 cubic foot cylinder with a large flow "welding oxygen" regulator. Attached to this is a Y valve with on off knobs (typical welding rig) one hose is approximately 75 feet the other about 40 feet both have a Beauchat VS 10 second stage the end. The reason for the length is we can put a hose at anytime anywhere on the boat. So rather than have to fumble with little O2 kits for emergencies "most anyone" can "Go get the Red oxygen hose quick and turn it on." We can get an o2 reg in the mouth of a diver who has blown his deco in under 30 second while he is still on the ladder getting stripped of his gear. Once back on board, an O2 hose can be placed where ever he needs to be, whether in the main salon or in his own bunk. 300 cubic feet is sufficient for two divers for up to three hours each, which is about an hour longer than most of the day trips we do. For longer trips we take more Oxygen. The second system we have is for In-water Oxygen decompression. This unit is for the crew to conduct oxygen decompression. (Yes anyone can use it if they need to but it is not a provided item on day trips) here we keep the oxygen cylinders in a rack up on the bow of the boat. for this we use a Broco Underwater Welding regulator what has very high flow to it. it has one 35 foot hose which goes to a T valve with two ten foot whips with Beauchat VS10 second stages on them too. A shot line is dropped over the side with a 25 lbs. mushroom on it to about 40 or 50 feet depending on the day -- that lets it drop about 40 fsw or so in the water. The oxygen rig is clipped to a large fish stringer -- the stringer has a 4 lbs. weight on it and the whole thing loops around the shot line and will drop down. When you get there -- just pick up a reg and ride it up. The reason for the long hoses is it allows a diver to clip a Jonline/Garvin hook to the shot line and play out in the current and still have plenty of hose. The fish stringer also allows us to slide it down the anchor line so the tie-out diver can pop the anchor and still have O2 shimmied down to him. We also have another set up like the above one for two more hoses --- when its a big trip we put out the second one. Plus we have a third one with 60 feet of drop hose that goes to a ScubaPro first stage for EAN deco gas when needed on special trips. On many of the deep three and four day trips its not uncommon for us to have 1500 - 2000 cubic feet of oxygen in big cylinders up front. Each crew member on their walk-abouts on the boat -- will check the cylinders in use to make sure there is plenty of gas available. All the systems have HP and LP pressure gauges on them. Hope this helps those who are looking to set up a system. Joel Silverstein wahoo web page http://www.wahoo2001.com -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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