New Scooter

[tdmp]

http://www.scuba.com/newsletter/email050906/index.html

What do you think? Kidde pool toy or scooter for the budget caver? Sounds kinda like a newer version of the old Dacor / Tekna scooters.

[michael-fisch]

probably another POS that goes slower than I swim underwater. It's no fun having to slow down because your buddy is using a scooter.
Good scooters start at several thousand dollars, and bad scooters aren't worth wasting your time and money on.
The max speed is suspect, since all the junk scooters also claim 3.3mph, whis comes out to 290 fpm or 50% faster than a Gavin. I'm sure that the only way these scooters will ever get up to 3.3mph is while riding in the back seat of the car on the way back to the store where you bought it.

Michael

I'm sure it will hit 3.3 mph - coming out of Manatee when the flow is up!

[michael-fisch]

Unless You get pushed up under the lip at the exit, then it gets really exciting, trying to work your way down far enough to get blown out by the flow.

[curtschu]

It might cause Mako/Oceanic to put a reasonable price on that machine. Competition is a good thing. Any of the shop owners out there willing to do a test?

One of the shops I work in sells these. There's about as much difference between it and a Mako as there is between a Mako and a Silent Submersion.

[billyf]

Here is an independent report prepared by DSAT, FYI they used the VS SUPERCHARGED not the EXPLORER.

http://www.seascooter.net/pdf/dsat_report.pdf

[Dave Lizdas]

how much drag does a snorkle create? I'm sure they didnt consider a diver with trilam drysuit, doubles, and a stage when they gave that speed rating.

by the way, how many pounds of thrust do cave scooters generate?

[Dave Lizdas]

"by the way, how many pounds of thrust do cave scooters generate?"

based on the above document,
Gavin is 53
Mako is 50

[bernieflyer]

A friend of mine tried one last year. Made by Bombardier the Quebec co that also makes planes, trains, ski-doos (snomobiles) etc. Brand new it was OK but they don't last the long run, the body is made of some urethane wich eventually gives out or bends and the switches are also fragile. I'd say borrow one for fun but don't buy one........