Andrew, thanks for adding some perspective.
Andy, I agree that Rebreather users should have a 'save-the-dive' kit available, just as most divers do. SMI offers it for the PRISM, they'll provide advice individually as to what it should contain based on the diving profiles and locations. I don't know if anyone in Oz bothered to get one, including the importer.
Phi, funny.
Pete moved SMI with his old Mercedes Diesel and a flatbed trailer.
The electronics needed reflashing, finding the problem which was new took a while. It has been done, even on the heads that didn't have appearant problems. Another QC check has been added to avoid it in the future. Other manufacturers have and have had electronics issues, both with hard- and software. It happens, all you can ask for that they're fixed asap.
Joe, I know of at least one case where SMI has shipped a spare head (old and used but working),
PRISM spares can be ordered and secondaries cost less than Jetsam's tripple display.
Karl (Genesis, hope I got the name right), ever ordered Morgan parts in the US?
Current wait for an Aston Martin V8 is three years ... even though the company is owned by Ford. Doesn't make it a bad car or a bad company. You don't like it, buy an F-150.
Until the market supports half a dozend or more companies producing rebreathers on the scale that APD does and more (there is a wait for Vision units after all) rebreathers will be a niche within the scuba niche market. It's the nature of things, and has its drawbacks.
Steam Machines has kept a rental fleet of PRISM (and SM1600 earlier) CCRs to bridge the gap between ordering/training and delivery free of charge to waiting customers. On occasion they were made available while units were worked on. Demand has steadly increased and surpassed both production capability and availability of rentals.
The company moved to increase production, reduce overhead and catch up with the demand. Huge move for a small company with limited resources, plenty of rocks and stones (if not boulders) on the way.
They'll work it out eventually, and for most part their customers and even prospective customers trust them to do so. I've known them over two years personally, I've spend hours and hours at SMI (usually every week) during that time. I've seen them go way beyond the call of duty to help customers and non-customers with advice, spares and long, long hours at work. And per cel phone at times I would have been yelling loud enough the phone would have been redundant.
Could SMI improve the biz model, production of units and spares and more?
Yes, but it sure as hell isn't for the lack of trying.
