New Dolphin Diver -- Need help.

Quiet Diver

Recently purchased a nice slightly used Drager Dolphin, and it was sent in a grey with red latch rolling ZAG (that's what the logo appears to be) hard case. However, it is missing the wheels. Who is the manufacturer of this case, and where can I find replacement wheels (missing both) and red latches (missing one).

Does anyone have any other recommendations for transporting these units?

My gear seems to have doubled in weight since I ventured into the Rebreather world, and I am quickly appreciating the invention of the wheeled hard case, compared to hauling this in my arms all the time.

Thanks!!

tamorgen

Quiet Diver,
First of all, welcome to the bubbleless world. I think you'll find you will never go back to open circuit diving.

The box you are referring to
can be found here. However, there is no reason you can't do with something else. It won't void your warranty from Dräger if you choose to use something other than the box they ship it with. When I bought mine, it didn't come with one at all. What I would recommend, is that you buy two boxes. One for local, and one for airline travel. The local one, I would simply go down to Home Depot or Lowes, and buy a big Rubbermaid container, with or wheels, and when you get it, punch a couple of drainage holes in the bottom. This will insure that your Dolphin doesn't get mildew or any of the other problems associated with water, especially in the hoses and lungs. I'd keep your Dolphin in this most of the time, if you do local diving.

If you are going to travel with your Dolphin, I'd recommend either the Storm Case im2720, or the Pelican 1620. If you go to Google, click on Froogle, and do a search for either one of them, you can usually find them for around $140, although the Pelican has been cheaper lately. If you go to your LDS, expect to pay $300 +. You don't need to buy them with foam, which usually ads around $50. The Pelican is a little bit heavier, which can be a little bit of a problem with airlines, but if you are flying with rebreathers you have to expect that. Either one, plus the cost of excess weight, is better than the baggage handlers destroying your rebreather, and the airlines telling you that they aren't responsible.

Happy diving!

4ster

There is a thread on this topic here:
http://www.rebreatherworld.com/semi-...ggestions.html

__________________
Steve
"My problem is that I have trouble reconciling my gross habits with my net income." Errol Flynn

grandizer52

Hea bro, welcome to the dolphin family...don't let anyone tell you different...they are a great unit to dive. i carry mine in a pelican case cause extra 50 bux for heavy baggage is better than some i don't give a **** TSA guy messing up your stuff. i recently came back from guam, they pulled the batteries out of my 8-d cell light and put them in a shopping bag...it got wet luckily nothing was dammaged. so deffinatly invest in a god shell case besides you can fill it with fresh water, toss the unit in on the drive home
laytah
steve

Quiet Diver

Thank you for the links and feedback! I'm going to attempt to contact the site and find out where I can get replacement wheels. But in the meantime may lean towards on of these.Rubbermaid®
45 Gallon Wheeled Roughtote® Storage Box


[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/CHARLE%7E1.IBM/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]

Do people usually place their tanks on the bottom of the case and then put a layer of foam and the gear on top?

Was getting some insight on best way to transport the gear to local dive spots without wrecking the gear with it banging and slapping against the tanks.

ajjaffe

Every diver you ask will give you a different rule to use when you transport gear and tanks. I leave my Dolphin in the container that it ships with. I leave all of my tanks in the trunk of the car spaced with soft weights to prevent rolling and then boxed in by the case. Oh, yeah, make sure the cylinder valve points towards you. If something should, god forbid, break the valve, might as well be a torpedo away from you!!!

As far as transporting onto a boat, go in loads - first the tanks, then the gear (cheaper if someone should walk away with it).

If you want to fit it all into one case, do you REALLY care about the pretty nature of the tanks? If so, just stick a towel in between the tanks and the gear. Also, drive slowly and cautiously!

In the legal field, we are tought to try to not reinvent the wheel. It will apply here as well - at least in this case.

-Adam