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Drmike · 7th August 2006, 06:51

Quote: (Originally Posted by rogeringebo)

-Don't you find the long hoses being a problem? No not at all - why is this a perceived issue? Hoses are a great plus point on the unit. some add lead to them to keep them down.

-Can they be shortened? No

-Are you happy with the harness that comes with it? No Its crap - easy to thread in normal one piece harness to backplate

-Can you take that off and use a standard backplate with webbing.
Yes but why change the backplate? (unless you want to add even more weight to the already heavy unit by using a heavier one - but why make traveling more expensive) - I just changed the harness

-Is it a bad thing that you cant mount bigger onboard tanks? Yes and no. The unit was designed to be an EXPEDITION/EXPLORATION rebreather [factory]. For expedition dives (big, long, deep) you are going to be carrying offboards anyway so its only a real issue when people use the unit for short sports dives or where they cant get high pressure O2. imo if you buy a boris you need a mini booster too. The unit is already heavy (and ass heavy) adding bigger tanks than the 3L that can be used will only make that worse.

-Could it be possible to live far away from the servicecenter (tropical island on the other side of the world) if something starts to malfunction?

So far factory has been great. Service and speed of service has been as least as good (if not better) than APD (to Singapore)

-Most Borisdivers I have seen have quite a "seahorse style" trim...(yes,Instructors too)..is that something one gets use to or can it be avoided? Tell me about it! I noticed that before I took the course based obn pics Id seen.

Good trim is possible just like any unit (See course pic of me on one of 1st dives on the unit. http://drmike.smugmug.com/gallery/1416936/3/67202078 - it just takes a while [a change of wing, lots of lead (wetsuit) or use of a drysuit helps

)

- How is it to penetrate with...does it feel bigger (higher)than other competing brands?

Yes and no. The ability to lay flat on your chest means your effective height is less (takes a brave man to lay on his OTS CL and drag them through a wreck opening. But yes its a big unit. OTOH as Cedric learnt when challenging me to follow him through a tight hole in a wreck in the Philippines a few weeks ago, where he was scrapping the back of his meg to fit - I followed no problem but I took part of the wreck that broke off with me

-Is it more of a "expedition rebreather" than a "swimaround in wrecks" rebreather" Where trim can be sacrificed for more important advantages?

Of course, it is an expedition rebreather, for shallow tight wrecks Id get a sports kiss.
There is no reason good trim cant be obtained - it just takes some doing

-Is the cover tough enough for bumpy speedboatrides and dodgy trollies on crapy piers or are you always worried it will crack?

So far no problem but like the MK15 series covers don't expect it to last as long as the rest of the unit - its a consumable item. Mindset change needed.

- Have you had problem with any part of the electronics?

I flooded a hud (may have been 2Obar ambient pressure) There was a bug in 1st VPMB software that gave incorrect TTS (since fixed) Electronics are great.

-Do you like the HUD?

Yes its great - simple- green is good, vibrator is great too

How is it to load the scrubber,travel with and set up for a dive? Very easy to fill and setup. Pain to travel with as its heavy/bulky - cant go in one box.

Its an expedition rebreather designed for big dives and exploration dives (factory) so no point comparing to dives that can just as easily be done on a sports kiss or OC

For the traveling diver the weight, (man its heavy when its got all the trim lead on it) and its size and its shipping weight (Have to split it into 3 boxes now for many airlines) makes it only really sensible for big dives, or longer trips (not just weekend) - again IMO.

I find the MK15.5 to be lighter (in and out of the water), smaller, easier to trim (wetsuit diving) and easier to travel with. WOB of Boris is far superior though as is the electronics.

The original wing is useless, no ass lift and far too short. Fine for drysuit divers - but the whole world doesn't always dive dry

even when dry on long cave dives (non scooter) I find it too ass heavy. Kevin is making a new wing that should be available shortly that solves the problems some have with the original.

Long hoses? - a non-issue. The hoses are great I like them. I'm using cloth hose covers to stop them getting raggedy.

Really fantastic electronics

Forced pre dive setup is great (adds safety and you know you enter the water with a fully functioning and correct;y prepped unit every time.

Good scrubber - considerably outlasts similar sized scrubbers @sub 100m range

No condensation on cells even after 8 hours on scrubber

No hose gurgles even after 8 hours on scrubber

Easy to dive

Easy to maintain

Good support from factory

Wet contacts are a pain on land - but Ive made up a simple solution for that (plastic cap) Factory is changing that design.

Don't even bother diving it without the membrane. Forget talk of it being hydrophobic (it may be but the fit isn't so water leaks through) its there to stop sorb dust falling through mesh and getting into CL. It does that job perfectly.

Meg is a lot easier to travel with and trim (wetsuit) If you don't mind OTS CL then a Meg is likely a good alternative for all but the most extreme dives IMO especially with the new radial scrubber

7th August 2006, 06:51	#7 (permalink)
Drmike Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Ouroboros Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,322	Re: Honestly,how is it? Quote: (Originally Posted by rogeringebo) -Don't you find the long hoses being a problem? No not at all - why is this a perceived issue? Hoses are a great plus point on the unit. some add lead to them to keep them down. -Can they be shortened? No -Are you happy with the harness that comes with it? No Its crap - easy to thread in normal one piece harness to backplate -Can you take that off and use a standard backplate with webbing. Yes but why change the backplate? (unless you want to add even more weight to the already heavy unit by using a heavier one - but why make traveling more expensive) - I just changed the harness -Is it a bad thing that you cant mount bigger onboard tanks? Yes and no. The unit was designed to be an EXPEDITION/EXPLORATION rebreather [factory]. For expedition dives (big, long, deep) you are going to be carrying offboards anyway so its only a real issue when people use the unit for short sports dives or where they cant get high pressure O2. imo if you buy a boris you need a mini booster too. The unit is already heavy (and ass heavy) adding bigger tanks than the 3L that can be used will only make that worse. -Could it be possible to live far away from the servicecenter (tropical island on the other side of the world) if something starts to malfunction? So far factory has been great. Service and speed of service has been as least as good (if not better) than APD (to Singapore) -Most Borisdivers I have seen have quite a "seahorse style" trim...(yes,Instructors too)..is that something one gets use to or can it be avoided? Tell me about it! I noticed that before I took the course based obn pics Id seen. Good trim is possible just like any unit (See course pic of me on one of 1st dives on the unit. http://drmike.smugmug.com/gallery/1416936/3/67202078 - it just takes a while [a change of wing, lots of lead (wetsuit) or use of a drysuit helps ) - How is it to penetrate with...does it feel bigger (higher)than other competing brands? Yes and no. The ability to lay flat on your chest means your effective height is less (takes a brave man to lay on his OTS CL and drag them through a wreck opening. But yes its a big unit. OTOH as Cedric learnt when challenging me to follow him through a tight hole in a wreck in the Philippines a few weeks ago, where he was scrapping the back of his meg to fit - I followed no problem but I took part of the wreck that broke off with me -Is it more of a "expedition rebreather" than a "swimaround in wrecks" rebreather" Where trim can be sacrificed for more important advantages? Of course, it is an expedition rebreather, for shallow tight wrecks Id get a sports kiss. There is no reason good trim cant be obtained - it just takes some doing -Is the cover tough enough for bumpy speedboatrides and dodgy trollies on crapy piers or are you always worried it will crack? So far no problem but like the MK15 series covers don't expect it to last as long as the rest of the unit - its a consumable item. Mindset change needed. - Have you had problem with any part of the electronics? I flooded a hud (may have been 2Obar ambient pressure) There was a bug in 1st VPMB software that gave incorrect TTS (since fixed) Electronics are great. -Do you like the HUD? Yes its great - simple- green is good, vibrator is great too How is it to load the scrubber,travel with and set up for a dive? Very easy to fill and setup. Pain to travel with as its heavy/bulky - cant go in one box. Its an expedition rebreather designed for big dives and exploration dives (factory) so no point comparing to dives that can just as easily be done on a sports kiss or OC For the traveling diver the weight, (man its heavy when its got all the trim lead on it) and its size and its shipping weight (Have to split it into 3 boxes now for many airlines) makes it only really sensible for big dives, or longer trips (not just weekend) - again IMO. I find the MK15.5 to be lighter (in and out of the water), smaller, easier to trim (wetsuit diving) and easier to travel with. WOB of Boris is far superior though as is the electronics. The original wing is useless, no ass lift and far too short. Fine for drysuit divers - but the whole world doesn't always dive dry even when dry on long cave dives (non scooter) I find it too ass heavy. Kevin is making a new wing that should be available shortly that solves the problems some have with the original. Long hoses? - a non-issue. The hoses are great I like them. I'm using cloth hose covers to stop them getting raggedy. Really fantastic electronics Forced pre dive setup is great (adds safety and you know you enter the water with a fully functioning and correct;y prepped unit every time. Good scrubber - considerably outlasts similar sized scrubbers @sub 100m range No condensation on cells even after 8 hours on scrubber No hose gurgles even after 8 hours on scrubber Easy to dive Easy to maintain Good support from factory Wet contacts are a pain on land - but Ive made up a simple solution for that (plastic cap) Factory is changing that design. Don't even bother diving it without the membrane. Forget talk of it being hydrophobic (it may be but the fit isn't so water leaks through) its there to stop sorb dust falling through mesh and getting into CL. It does that job perfectly. Meg is a lot easier to travel with and trim (wetsuit) If you don't mind OTS CL then a Meg is likely a good alternative for all but the most extreme dives IMO especially with the new radial scrubber __________________ Cave diving is a sport Wreck diving is a sport Diving in general is a sport 'Rebreather diving' is not a sport its the delusional obsession with a highly dangerous and often inappropriate piece of equipment Last edited by Drmike : 7th August 2006 at 06:54.
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