Little Help....

diverreb · 9th May 2007, 21:41

Quote: (Originally Posted by diverreb)

I picked up my new Optima FX today and was attempting to put it together. All seems OK except the tank position. Using the 27's. They seem to be too close to the foot.

What kind of clearance should there be between the regs & the foot?

I only have one more hole to drop down. Some of the pictures I've seen have them just about on the bottom. My concern is on a choppy sea with the boat pounding a bit that there should be some clearance there....

My class isn't for another month and a half and I won't be trying the unit out until then, but I'm just getting a feel for assembly & disassembly ahead of time. Also want to see how it fits with my current wing & harness set up.

Thanks,

Richie

I just got my frame back from my local machine shop. It's now solid as a rock. Basically I had them fabricate a new SS adjustable piece (The one that the foot screws into) that is twice the thickness (Heavier Gauge) of the original. Made it a little taller and used two bolts to secure it to the plastic case. Then I had them make a Delran foot that is twice as thick as the original and about an inch bigger on three sides. Left the edge that is closest to my body about the same.

There is no more flex or rocking when the unit stands up (Using 27's for now) and the OPV's on the regs are a good half an inch away from the foot. The unit doesn't lean back on the regs like it did with the original piece. It's much, much sturdier than the original. I probably added about 3 pounds to the unit. I'll have to wait & see if it does anything to the trim in the water, but it's a major improvement from a ruggedness standpoint.

Still don't think I'd try dropping it from 30' onto concrete though....

Richie

n2diving · 10th May 2007, 14:10

These weight vs durability of design decisions are a tough call, but overall most O2ptima prospects and users seem to have been focused on keeping weight to an absolute minimum. As someone who has sat in their bedroom with a bathroom scale while packing for a trip and trying to decide if I want to take a few disinfectant tablets or a t-shirt, I can certainly understand.

I'm sure your beefed up replacement is an improvement. However, in practice the factory designed foot seems to work well enough and I've not yet had a request to supply a replacement due to damage.

Jordan · 10th May 2007, 18:12

I feel about the same way Mark.

I guess it would be nice if the unit stood a bit more stable (even though the FX stands up much better than the Classic), but I don't know if that would be worth the extra weight down there....especially when using the steel 27's (I already feel a bit butt heavy with the 27's). Now with the AL13's, they sound a bit attractive...

Cheers

diverreb · 10th May 2007, 20:51

Quote: (Originally Posted by n2diving)

These weight vs durability of design decisions are a tough call, but overall most O2ptima prospects and users seem to have been focused on keeping weight to an absolute minimum. As someone who has sat in their bedroom with a bathroom scale while packing for a trip and trying to decide if I want to take a few disinfectant tablets or a t-shirt, I can certainly understand.

I'm sure your beefed up replacement is an improvement. However, in practice the factory designed foot seems to work well enough and I've not yet had a request to supply a replacement due to damage.

I wasn't concerned about damage and I do understand the concerns about weight & flying. I do most of my diving within the US at this point in my life, and mostly in driving range up & down the East Coast. If I do fly, I'll go back to the factory parts for weight reduction.

All I can tell you is that the unit was not very stable when standing up. A slight push or lean and it tipped. With the new set up I did I don't have to worry about that.

IMHO I think the conditions here in the Northeast can at times be fairly rough with the boats taking a pounding for long periods of time. I just wanted to get the frame a little beefier. A few of the other Optima guys up here are also doing similar mods on their units.

Probably none of this is an issue if you are using the smaller tanks.... I'll probably switch over to them at some point.

Richie

diverklondike · 10th May 2007, 21:06

Richie,

Do you have any pictures that you could post?

Thanks

Mark

diverreb · 10th May 2007, 22:55

Quote: (Originally Posted by diverklondike)

Richie,

Do you have any pictures that you could post?

Thanks

Mark

Be happy to... I'll be on the water Tomorrow & Saturday so I'll try to get them up on Sunday.

It's basically the stock parts only a little bigger & thicker.....

Richie

diverreb · 13th May 2007, 20:46

Quote: (Originally Posted by diverreb)

Be happy to... I'll be on the water Tomorrow & Saturday so I'll try to get them up on Sunday.

It's basically the stock parts only a little bigger & thicker.....

Richie

Mark,

Water was a toasty 43 - 45 degrees Fri. & Sat. Vis was OK, not great. Got a few bugs & some Sea Bass.

Here are some shots of the heavier base & SS bracket with some comparison shots of the original.

Richie

diverklondike · 14th May 2007, 00:16

Richie,

Great pics! Thanks for sharing... Diverite has been great in their willingness to improve the Optima... Maybe you have invented the FXX.... or FX2

Was out yesterday... 45 or so on the bottom... Vis 25-30...

and a few things were found for several mothers day dinners...

Dive Safe...

Mark

JCdesign97 · 16th May 2007, 15:03

Agreed - great pics, Rich. And from the looks of the beefed up bracket/foot, my money might have to be on your Special FX winning that 'dropped 20 feet onto concrete' bet!!

I know of a certain two people who will be interested in licensing your technology ...

mriopel · 17th May 2007, 01:11

Good pictures, Rich not a bad ideal to beef-up the foot like that.

9th May 2007, 21:41	#11 (permalink)
diverreb DE/MD/NJ Wreck Diver Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 598	Re: Little Help.... Quote: (Originally Posted by diverreb) I picked up my new Optima FX today and was attempting to put it together. All seems OK except the tank position. Using the 27's. They seem to be too close to the foot. What kind of clearance should there be between the regs & the foot? I only have one more hole to drop down. Some of the pictures I've seen have them just about on the bottom. My concern is on a choppy sea with the boat pounding a bit that there should be some clearance there.... My class isn't for another month and a half and I won't be trying the unit out until then, but I'm just getting a feel for assembly & disassembly ahead of time. Also want to see how it fits with my current wing & harness set up. Thanks, Richie I just got my frame back from my local machine shop. It's now solid as a rock. Basically I had them fabricate a new SS adjustable piece (The one that the foot screws into) that is twice the thickness (Heavier Gauge) of the original. Made it a little taller and used two bolts to secure it to the plastic case. Then I had them make a Delran foot that is twice as thick as the original and about an inch bigger on three sides. Left the edge that is closest to my body about the same. There is no more flex or rocking when the unit stands up (Using 27's for now) and the OPV's on the regs are a good half an inch away from the foot. The unit doesn't lean back on the regs like it did with the original piece. It's much, much sturdier than the original. I probably added about 3 pounds to the unit. I'll have to wait & see if it does anything to the trim in the water, but it's a major improvement from a ruggedness standpoint. Still don't think I'd try dropping it from 30' onto concrete though.... Richie
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10th May 2007, 14:10	#12 (permalink)
n2diving Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 272	Re: Little Help.... These weight vs durability of design decisions are a tough call, but overall most O2ptima prospects and users seem to have been focused on keeping weight to an absolute minimum. As someone who has sat in their bedroom with a bathroom scale while packing for a trip and trying to decide if I want to take a few disinfectant tablets or a t-shirt, I can certainly understand. I'm sure your beefed up replacement is an improvement. However, in practice the factory designed foot seems to work well enough and I've not yet had a request to supply a replacement due to damage. Last edited by n2diving : 10th May 2007 at 14:20.
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10th May 2007, 18:12	#13 (permalink)
Jordan EBT called me stroppy! Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 226	Re: Little Help.... I feel about the same way Mark. I guess it would be nice if the unit stood a bit more stable (even though the FX stands up much better than the Classic), but I don't know if that would be worth the extra weight down there....especially when using the steel 27's (I already feel a bit butt heavy with the 27's). Now with the AL13's, they sound a bit attractive... Cheers __________________ Is it clear? No. Well, let's go anyways. "Those who would sacrifice a little freedom for a little order, will lose both, and deserve neither." Thomas Jefferson
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10th May 2007, 20:51	#14 (permalink)
diverreb DE/MD/NJ Wreck Diver Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 598	Re: Little Help.... Quote: (Originally Posted by n2diving) These weight vs durability of design decisions are a tough call, but overall most O2ptima prospects and users seem to have been focused on keeping weight to an absolute minimum. As someone who has sat in their bedroom with a bathroom scale while packing for a trip and trying to decide if I want to take a few disinfectant tablets or a t-shirt, I can certainly understand. I'm sure your beefed up replacement is an improvement. However, in practice the factory designed foot seems to work well enough and I've not yet had a request to supply a replacement due to damage. I wasn't concerned about damage and I do understand the concerns about weight & flying. I do most of my diving within the US at this point in my life, and mostly in driving range up & down the East Coast. If I do fly, I'll go back to the factory parts for weight reduction. All I can tell you is that the unit was not very stable when standing up. A slight push or lean and it tipped. With the new set up I did I don't have to worry about that. IMHO I think the conditions here in the Northeast can at times be fairly rough with the boats taking a pounding for long periods of time. I just wanted to get the frame a little beefier. A few of the other Optima guys up here are also doing similar mods on their units. Probably none of this is an issue if you are using the smaller tanks.... I'll probably switch over to them at some point. Richie
(Online)

10th May 2007, 21:06	#15 (permalink)
diverklondike Just one of the Peasants Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Delaware, USA Posts: 1,613	Re: Little Help.... Richie, Do you have any pictures that you could post? Thanks Mark
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10th May 2007, 22:55	#16 (permalink)
diverreb DE/MD/NJ Wreck Diver Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 598	Re: Little Help.... Quote: (Originally Posted by diverklondike) Richie, Do you have any pictures that you could post? Thanks Mark Be happy to... I'll be on the water Tomorrow & Saturday so I'll try to get them up on Sunday. It's basically the stock parts only a little bigger & thicker..... Richie
(Online)

14th May 2007, 00:16	#18 (permalink)
diverklondike Just one of the Peasants Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Delaware, USA Posts: 1,613	Re: Little Help.... Richie, Great pics! Thanks for sharing... Diverite has been great in their willingness to improve the Optima... Maybe you have invented the FXX.... or FX2 Was out yesterday... 45 or so on the bottom... Vis 25-30... and a few things were found for several mothers day dinners... Dive Safe... Mark
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16th May 2007, 15:03	#19 (permalink)
JCdesign97 My unit can beat up yours Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: PA, USA Posts: 385	Re: Little Help.... Agreed - great pics, Rich. And from the looks of the beefed up bracket/foot, my money might have to be on your Special FX winning that 'dropped 20 feet onto concrete' bet!! I know of a certain two people who will be interested in licensing your technology ... __________________ Cheers, John Cogan
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17th May 2007, 01:11	#20 (permalink)
mriopel Sadly Missed (RIP) Current Rebreather/s: Optima Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: usa Posts: 167	Re: Little Help.... Good pictures, Rich not a bad ideal to beef-up the foot like that.
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