Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
Cam, a few years ago when I did research as to which scooter to purchase the general opinion of the Makos was that they will flood eventually no matter how carefully you maintained them. In fresh water this is no problem as all you have to do is open them up (presumably after dragging them out) and let them dry and they are as good as new, more or less. A saltwater flood ruins all the electronics and you have to replace them. Farallons are just too damn big and the Scubapro et al trolling motor units just all around suck for anything other than snorkeling. On the other hand I got nothing but good reports about the D/A's the only negative being the short battery run time compared to a Mako. As I have said the solution to this is to have 2 batteries and change them between dives, a procedure that takes less than a minute, if that much. So cavers tend to the Makos due to their longer run time and the handles at the back for line tow. As you saw from the pictures there are a lot of Dacors around here and I have yet to hear of one flooding while being used above 200'. We regularly use them down to 230' with the only problem being a sticking trigger which can be flipped back up with your thumb, but is easy to fix otherwise. The motor compartment is completely sealed and the bearing assembly at the prop is double sealed. As with any device which uses Orings it is a good idea to take them apart and check and clean, particularly if you have been using them to dig. What I would like to see is a Dacor drive assembly attached to a small Gavin style cylindrical front end with a wide-open burn time of about 40 minutes. This means that a small battery could be used reducing the size. 40lb thrust seems to be plenty, at least it's enough to drag my big ass around complete with stages and other assorted wrecker gear. But you can't have too much thrust (oh no here we go again, don't even start Marv) and I would not complain as long as you can throttle back. I would be nice to run all the time at blade angle 2 and have 3 for contingencies, rather than be at 3 all the time (the D/A drive assembly has 3 blade angle positions). I really wish there was a way to come up with a variable thrust "throttle" which is bullet proof. I completely understand why this is not a good idea electronically (electronics and saltwater don't mix) but perhaps a mechanical method rather than electrical, i.e. a way to vary your prop pitch while underway. I know they can do this with ships. I know that the line tow aficionados laugh at the shroud tow method, but it does serve a purpose just at much as the line tow method serves a purpose. Just because something is ideal for a tight, long-haul cave situation does not mean it's ideal for a hop-skip-jump wreck situation. And besides it seems that none of the tow-line types have even tried the shroud method do they can't really say one way or the other with any basis in fact. Don't like carabiners? Fine, use bolt snaps. So my hypothetical ideal wreck scooter would have the handles at the nose with a shroud tow ring. Perhaps the ability to move the handles to the back for the line-tow method for those who have to have it. No heavier or longer than a D/A with similar thrust & run time. And of course a max depth rating of more like 400ft or so. I would not care if it was made of "sewer pipe" or whatever, just as long as it does the job. The battery should be quick and easy to change. And of course it would help if it was priced so the average wrecker could afford it. I would like he unit to have buoyancy characteristics of the D/A (about 1.5lb negative) as wreckers frequently drop the scooter to enter wrecks or to blow sand. In caves you want a scooter to be perfectly neutral so it does not stir up the sediment or damage the cave, and once again a cave attribute does not necessarily translate to the needs of a wrecker. I don't want to take the time of have to secure the scooter every time I do this, which can be quite often. Jim ------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn About Trimix at http://www.cisatlantic.com/trimix/ > From: Cam Banks <cam@ca*.co*> > Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2001 04:24:48 -0700 > To: terry michael <OEA51@go*.co*> > Cc: Techdiver Mailing List <techdiver@aquanaut.com> > Subject: Re: Morons , bullshit and crappy scooters > > You appear to be a little slow... > > Define where the misinformation is. I stated my personal experiences with > Makos, which is pretty much un-arguable. Most people would also consider > that useful information. Your axe-to-grind may cause your mileage to > vary... > > I'll repeat the question: do you own any scooters? > > Do YOU have something to contribute to the thread? > > Cam > >> From: terry michael <OEA51@go*.co*> >> Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2001 21:29:54 -0700 (PDT) >> To: Cam Banks <cam@ca*.co*>, "Techdiver@Aquanaut.Com" >> <techdiver@aquanaut.com> >> Subject: Re: Re: Morons , bullshit and crappy scooters >> >> Sorry, but again more worthless misinformation. If you don't know what you >> are >> talking about then please sit down!:-) >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: "Cam Banks"<cam@ca*.co*> >> To: "terry michael"<OEA51@go*.co*>, >> "Techdiver@Aquanaut.Com"<techdiver@aquanaut.com> >> Date: Sat Sep 01 19:52:54 PDT 2001 >> Subject: Re: Morons , bullshit and crappy scooters >> >>> What are you talking about? It was a straightforward question, and clearly >>> written as such. Do you own any scooters? >>> >>> Yeah, I have a solution: buy something other than a Mako. That's the limit >>> of my experience. I'm now shopping for something else and trying to figure >>> out what's best. >>> >>> Cam >>> >>>> From: terry michael <OEA51@go*.co*> >>>> Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2001 19:29:15 -0700 (PDT) >>>> To: Cam Banks <cam@ca*.co*>, Trey <trey@ne*.co*>, >>>> "Techdiver@Aquanaut.Com" <techdiver@aquanaut.com> >>>> Subject: Re: Re: Morons , bullshit and crappy scooters >>>> >>>>> I know the downsides to the Mako: no access to the leaky motor >>>>> compartment,>oval hull with leaky o-rings, both hands required for good >>>>> control, low >>>>> depth limit (180fsw if you're lucky), difficult to replace battery quickly >>>>> with spare, etc. >>>> >>>> Perhaps you'd care to elaborate? Do you have some solutions or any >>>> information >>>> what so ever or are you just rattling an empty can? >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: "Cam Banks"<cam@ca*.co*> >>>> To: "Trey"<trey@ne*.co*>, >>>> "Techdiver@Aquanaut.Com"<techdiver@aquanaut.com> >>>> Date: Sat Sep 01 14:31:46 PDT 2001 >>>> Subject: Re: Morons , bullshit and crappy scooters >>>> >>>>> Okay, I'll bite. Please tell us what is wrong with the Silent Submersion >>>>> scooter. Some friends and I are actively considering pro-level scooter >>>>> purchases in the next year or so (Have two crappy Makos already, >>>>> obviously). >>>>> >>>>> We have also heard that there is at least a 9-month wait for Gavins, and >>>>> that Trey is the sole source for production. >>>>> >>>>> We also wonder what there is to a scooter, other than a rewound Mako motor >>>>> and a cylindrical hull? >>>>> >>>>> I know the downsides to the Mako: no access to the leaky motor >>>>> compartment, >>>>> oval hull with leaky o-rings, both hands required for good control, low >>>>> depth limit (180fsw if you're lucky), difficult to replace battery quickly >>>>> with spare, etc. >>>>> >>>>> All comments welcome. Thank you. >>>>> >>>>> Cam >>>>> >>>>> From: trey@ne*.co* (Trey) >>>>> Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 21:12:18 -0400 >>>>> To: "Techdiver@Aquanaut.Com" <techdiver@aquanaut.com> >>>>> Subject: Morons , bullshit and crappy scooters >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Will the list of morons who said that there was a web link to GUE which >>>>> stated that 95's were required for classes please show me the link again. >>>>> There is no such. You assholes are really getting to be a pain in the >>>>> ass.Why don't you try learning from the pros instead of constantly fucking >>>>> with them. None of you pussies dives, none of you pussies has done jack >>>>> shit, and I am really sick of the constant crap surrounding GUE and the >>>>> WKPP. You morons do what we do, then tell us how it is done. >>>>> >>>>> The fact is that nobody but IANTD is stupid enough to have divers dive >>>>> ocean >>>>> with steel tanks and a wetsuit, the fact is that aluminum 80's are the >>>>> tank >>>>> of choice for ocean, 104's are the tank of choice for drysuit cave, and >>>>> aluminum 80's are the tank for wetsuit cave. Florida is a drysuit cave >>>>> dive, >>>>> Mexico is a wetsuit cave dive. >>>>> >>>>> None of you morons even understand why we do what we do, and I am sick of >>>>> explaining it over and over only to have you screw it up , misinterpret >>>>> it, >>>>> and drivel about it when none of you has the experience to tie my shoes or >>>>> JJ's. >>>>> >>>>> I'll be glad to pick apart anything the rest of the agencies are doing ad >>>>> infinitum, and I will show why what we do is right. Any time any of you >>>>> want >>>>> to argue that, I will make you look like the morons that you so obviously >>>>> are. >>>>> >>>>> As for this scooter thread, if anyone wants to know why the silent >>>>> submersion ' is a ghastly piece of crap, I'll be glad to explain that as >>>>> well. >>>>> >>>>> None of you has a clue, trust me - not a fucking clue. What you do and >>>>> what >>>>> we do are galaxies apart. Let me quite Lee Iacocca , "Lead, follow , or >>>>> get >>>>> out of the way". >>>>> >>>>> None of you can lead, and I personally don't want you following me and >>>>> screwing is it up, so get out of our way. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ___________________________________________________ >>>> GO.com Mail >>>> Get Your Free, Private E-mail at http://mail.go.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> >> >> ___________________________________________________ >> GO.com Mail >> Get Your Free, Private E-mail at http://mail.go.com >> >> >> -- >> 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'. > -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]