DIYBOD or other RB.

[Finless]

I suspect from the hints that have been dropped that some of you YDers are building your own rebreathers.

Firstly, is this topic like solo diving but much worse - i.e. not something that is discussed in polite diving society?

I know it does go on because I was with Rob Evans at LIDS when he was talking to a self builer who had a stand there. In fact Rob got the video, which reminds me, I must ask if I can borrow it.

Can you buy YBODS in kit form? No, I guess not.

Any web site recommendations? PMs will be treated in the strictest confidence! Apart from the electronics and O2 injector thingies, I can't see that there is much to a rebreather that shouldn't be easy enough to self build?

I don't suppose I would ever trust something I'd built but I would like to learn a bit more about it. I like solo diving and love the YBOD idea! I also love my FFM! Am I a bad person? A "naughty stroke" perhaps?

[Simon A]

Finless,
This thread http://www.yorkshire-divers.co.uk/fo...ad.php?t=10436 is a good place to start, and covers a lot of the sites you'll want to look at.
I'm just starting to get the bits together myself.
I guess some time this winter there will be enough of us to organise a lunatics workshop!

HTH
Simon A

[NotDeadYet]

Well, seeing as I got a red blob for writing the post Simon refers to above, I guess some people do consider it a taboo subject. Why?

The most popular commercial rebreathers are all just homebuilds: the Inspiration (by Dave Thompson), the KISS (Gordon Smith), the Meg (Leon Scamahorn), the PRISM/TOPAZ (Peter Readey), the RB80 (Reinhard Buchaly). I'm sure there are more.

Homebuilding isn't a black art, most of us put a hell of a lot more thought into what we are putting on our back than the average diver does. DIYRBs have a better safety record than commercial RBs do. And for arguments that homebuilt RBs are useless, well... have a read not bad for a homebuild. There are others too, Rodney & Suzi Nairne of Silent Submersion have done some fairly deep wreck dives (the Andrea Doria for one) on their homebuilds, as have many others. Still, it didn't stop the bobble-hatted, clipboard wielding twat giving me grief at Dorothea the other week, even though he was giving the single cylinder'd air divers of his group directions on how to reach the -57m tunnel.

If you don't know what you're doing then buy a commercial rebreather. But then if you don't know what you're doing don't dive any kind of rebreather. It isn't a cheap option either, I could have bought an Inspiration on what I've spent on homebuilds. If I'd cost my time at the same rate I charge work then I'd reckon it's cost about £10k at least. But then even with the best training there is no way I'd know my unit the way I do now. Homebuilding doesn't have the happy-clappy "nice" front that a lot of commercial rebreathers do, the reality is all RBs will kill you easily and building your own brings this to the front of your mind. It is bloody good fun though.

So as Simon suggests, any interest in a homebuild get-together? I know it's a bit out of the way for some but Dorothea would be perfect, no-one to tell you off or give you grief about CE markings.

Cheers,

Stuart

[Duncan Price]

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

So as Simon suggests, any interest in a homebuild get-together? I know it's a bit out of the way for some but Dorothea would be perfect, no-one to tell you off or give you grief about CE markings.

Would be interested.

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by Finless

Can you buy YBODS in kit form? No, I guess not.

Yes its called a KISS

ATB

Mark Chase

[Finless]

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

Well, seeing as I got a red blob for writing the post Simon refers to above, I guess some people do consider it a taboo subject. Why?

The most popular commercial rebreathers are all just homebuilds: the Inspiration (by Dave Thompson), the KISS (Gordon Smith), the Meg (Leon Scamahorn), the PRISM/TOPAZ (Peter Readey), the RB80 (Reinhard Buchaly). I'm sure there are more.

Homebuilding isn't a black art, most of us put a hell of a lot more thought into what we are putting on our back than the average diver does. DIYRBs have a better safety record than commercial RBs do. And for arguments that homebuilt RBs are useless, well... have a read not bad for a homebuild. There are others too, Rodney & Suzi Nairne of Silent Submersion have done some fairly deep wreck dives (the Andrea Doria for one) on their homebuilds, as have many others. Still, it didn't stop the bobble-hatted, clipboard wielding twat giving me grief at Dorothea the other week, even though he was giving the single cylinder'd air divers of his group directions on how to reach the -57m tunnel.

If you don't know what you're doing then buy a commercial rebreather. But then if you don't know what you're doing don't dive any kind of rebreather. It isn't a cheap option either, I could have bought an Inspiration on what I've spent on homebuilds. If I'd cost my time at the same rate I charge work then I'd reckon it's cost about £10k at least. But then even with the best training there is no way I'd know my unit the way I do now. Homebuilding doesn't have the happy-clappy "nice" front that a lot of commercial rebreathers do, the reality is all RBs will kill you easily and building your own brings this to the front of your mind. It is bloody good fun though.

So as Simon suggests, any interest in a homebuild get-together? I know it's a bit out of the way for some but Dorothea would be perfect, no-one to tell you off or give you grief about CE markings.

Cheers,

Stuart

Stuart,

You have answered a few of my questions - firstly, cost is a big factor and I would have expected homebuilds to be cheaper (?).

I am aware of the ease in which these things can kill if you do it wrong and/or don't pay attention.

In a general kind of way, I am just interested in learning what is involved. Perhaps you should have recorded your self build exploits.

Rgds
Bryan

[Finless]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

Yes its called a KISS

ATB

Mark Chase

They look really good (not exactly critical but ...) but, AIUI, they are even dearer than YBODs.

Perhaps I'll settle for the upgrade to SBP, decent wing and twin twelves + a bit of home brew normoxic trimix.

[NotDeadYet]

The KISS is a good bit cheaper, by at least a grand. The KISS is about £2700 IIRC. The only downside is you need to go to Canada and pick it up. Not too bad, you can pick a flight to Vancouver up for about £300-350.

You will need to add a backplate/wing if you don't have one and a couple of bottles. It's a very good value piece of kit.

[turbanator]

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

The KISS is a good bit cheaper, by at least a grand. The KISS is about £2700 IIRC. The only downside is you need to go to Canada and pick it up. Not too bad, you can pick a flight to Vancouver up for about £300-350.

You will need to add a backplate/wing if you don't have one and a couple of bottles. It's a very good value piece of kit.

Sport Kiss is complete for 1,000 USD cheaper, but I'm still going for a classic.

[Digger]

Well, I'm learning the hard way at the moment. It's not cheap, unless you've done it a few times before. I've spent a good £50 in B&Q already, and now have a vast array of bits I don't need. I do have a functioning rebreather, but it does have it's, ahem, quirks.

Once you've bought the KISS valve and ppO2 monitoring, and sorted counterlungs and all the rest of it, for my money yo umight as well buy the KISS. I've been looking at it, and eventually most of the stuff I started with is going to get replaced. It's just the nature of things, probably because I like to fondle my stuff, and I'm always trying to improve anything I do.

If anyone wants to employ me as their runner to Vancouver, buy me a flight and some spending money and I'll do it for you. I'd quite like to meet the guy responsible for this whole business, and I nee da few bits he could helkp me out with...