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I wonder why they all can't be that way. Good job! At 08:57 AM 1/4/98 -0500, RMC wrote: >Thanks Kevin. > >In addition to keeping units in stock immediate service as the rule, we >have also reduced the cost of the HALCYON. Out of pure respect to our >early customers, we also credited their accounts to reflect the new, >much lower price they could have waited for. > >Have fun! > >rmc > > > >Mr. Dude wrote: >> >> At 1:45 PM 1/3/98, Atle Aamodt wrote: >> >Why can't the rebrather industry do like the experimental aircraft and >> >helicopter industry. >> >Sell the damn think as a homebuilders kit. I refuse to belive that it's >> >harder to assemble a Cis-Lunar type of machine that it is to assemble and >> >tune a 2 seat helicopter kit. I would even bet that my Radio controlled >> >X-cell 60 size helicopter is more difficult to assemble and tune, than a >> >well designed rebrather kit. >> > >> >I'd like comments on this one. >> >> Atle, >> >> The real problem, as I see it, has two parts: >> >> 1) Most divers lack of basic mechanical knowledge. >> >> 2) Most "manufacturers" lack of basic veracity in their public proclamations. >> >> Lets address each one, shall we? >> >> 1) From what I have seen, (and this is no reflection on the >> mechanically-inclined out there - you all know who you are), most divers >> who want to get into rebreathers lack some extremely fundamental knowledge >> of mechanical systems, electrical systems, and gas transport systems >> necessary for a true understanding of what is going on during a rebreather >> dive. >> >> This information is really (in my opinion) more critical than most people >> recognize. A fundamental requirement of anyone who buys a rebreather >> should be that they learn not only how to actually dive it, but HOW IT >> WORKS. They should learn how to fix it, how to tear it down, put it back >> together, and understand down to the most basic level what the rebreather >> is doing at any given moment during the dive. >> >> Evidence of this lack of basic knowledge is all around us - just scan the >> archives, and you'll see what I mean. This is why Bill set up this >> newsgroup, to assist all of us to learn more about diving, and the rigs >> themselves. >> >> With that in mind, selling someone a "Kit" to build at home is a recipe for >> disaster. If you build a kit airplane incorrectly, it probably won't >> start, or fly. But you could, in theory at least, assemble a rebreather >> incorrectly, and dive it successfully for a few minutes, before everything >> goes South... >> >> You are absolutely right when you say that your RC helicopter is more >> complex than a rebreather - however, we're not talking about something with >> an engine that either flies, or not. A rebreather is essentially a "Gas >> Management Life Support" device. And the physics of gas managment at depth >> can be very unforgiving. As such, it MUST be assembled correctly, tested, >> and verified as fully functional within its design parameters. >> >> Now, lets look at #2 >> >> 2) From the time I bought my rebreather, I have been witness (as have we >> all) to endless claims of different companies that they were going to >> introduce the newest, hottest, rebreather in the world, very, very soon. I >> have also seen many "experts" come and go. As of today's date, there are >> only 2 or 3 companies that I know of, who have actually delivered on their >> promises - and even some of those companies have had to recall some of >> their machines for upgrades/repairs. >> >> I work in the entertainment business, and I have to admit I thought I had >> met all the wanna-bees and charlatans that there could possibly be on this >> earth. I'm here to tell you, I was wrong. The diving business has >> absolutely no equal when it comes to hype, and pure unadulterated bullshit. >> >> How this came to be, I don't know. Maybe it's the general "macho" attitude >> in the diving world that influences it. Maybe there are too many rich, >> gullible divers out there, eager to have someone fleece them of their >> money. >> >> What I do know is this: If the diving business was run by BUSINESSMEN, >> you would see a lot more workable products on the market today, and a lot >> less "pretenders." >> >> I know this sounds harsh, but it is unfortunately true. >> >> How many times have we heard claims of some new-fangled rebreather to hit >> the market "soon" that never happens? How many claims are made by people, >> not even qualified to change the oil in your car, that they are developing >> the "next generation" of rebreathers? >> >> I understand that there are companies out there, who HAVE delivered the >> goods, and this diatribe is not aimed at them. They have fulfilled their >> promise, to a degree, and are providing customers with units. >> >> With that in mind, who out there would YOU trust if they announced the >> "new" rebreather-kit? Would you plunk down a deposit? >> >> It would seem to me that the term "caveat emptor" was designed specifically >> for the rebreather industry. >> >> In summation, all I can say is that I believe that there will probably >> never be a "kit" rebreather for sale anywhere in the world, and that the >> industry will be plagued by false promises, misleading advertising, and a >> general lack of integrity for years to come. It is unfortnate, but true. >> >> Of course, (as I said above) there ARE many companies out there who are >> quite honorable, produce products that operate as advertised, and support >> their customers, but these organizations know who they are, and they should >> know that the opinions expressed above don't pertain to them. >> >> That should keep some of the flames off my butt... >> >> Just one reporters opinion... >> >> Kevin Juergensen > >-- >Robert M. Carmichael > >http://www.browniedive.com SSA, Mixed Gas & Tank Fill Compressors >http://www.halcyon.net Rebreathers, Harness Backplate & Wings >http://www.selfrescue.com Responsible Diver Self Rescue P.S.A. > >"Simplify diving and restore the ADVENTURE.................Do it Right" >-- >Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. >Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.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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