Voit Cyclone Navy Royale HPR

[Terry]

Earlier this week I just finished a project which involved upgrades to one of the Voit Navy regs that I own. I decided to keep one of them strictly vintage, and to make some changes to the other. First I decided to replace the original unbalanced first stage with a new balanced Cyclone first stage nozzle, and then to replace the original second stage assembly with a new HPR assembly; both parts from VDH. Since this reg was undergoing some major changes I also wanted to give it somewhat of a new look; so I decided to replace the original gray Voit hourglass mouthpiece with a new curved black AMF Voit mouthpiece from The Scuba Museum. I really liked the look of the contrast between the gray Voit hoses and black mouthpiece. Now that I had a "new" Voit reg I also decided to come up with a new label for it; so it was off to the paint program in my computer to come up with some designs. As for a label I wanted one that would give recognition to what this reg once was; a Voit Navy, and to also give recognition to the new parts this reg now had; the Cyclone first stage and HPR second stage. After completion I was very happy with the outcome and I can't wait for the weather to break so I can get it in the water.

Now; as for pictures of it?? I've tried numerous times to add the attachments of the 2 pictures I wanted to post with this thread. As usual since I'm not the sharpest crayon in the box when it comes to attaching pictures I had no luck in doing so. If anybody would like to see them I would be more than happy to email both of them to you; or if someone else (SURFLUNG; WHERE ARE YOU?) would like to post them with this thread I'll be glad to email the to you so you can do so.
Anyway; safe diving to all of you and bring on the warm weather! Terry

[SeaRat]

Terry,

You need to use either Photobucket.com or another photo hosting site to post photos here. Jaybird has some good information on that too, but I beat him to the post. We have used up the allotted space for photos here, and are not willing to pay an hefty amount to get more space.

John

[drado]

Here you go Terry

[Terry]

Thanks Drado; I appreciate you posting these pics. Caught me by surprise; wasn't expecting to see them!
Tery

[diverdon]

Would be nice if you could debut that reg in a nice clear quarry where we could get some good footage and even post them here for you
I think I have just the place...

DD

[Terry]

Don it's good to hear from you! I don't suppose that place you're referring to with clear water could be in da U.P.; could it? Provided that "Murphy" doesn't do my dive planning for me this year I'm REALLY hoping to make it up there this season

John; thanks for the suggestions on posting photo's. I've tried to do just what you've suggested for pics I've tried to post here or VDH and nothing but aggravation. Let's just face it; ya just have to take into account who you're dealing with here when it comes to posting pics with these threads!
Thanks anyway; your comments are greatly appreciated. Terry

[nikeajax]

Ahoy matey! If you do have a some place that is hosting your images, then use this method:



The text itself is an image, because if it was text, you wouldn't be able to read it, the site would only see it as HTML-code: I hope this helps?

Jaybird

[surflung]

Look What I Got!

- I received in the mail today a nice note and two extremely rare Voit Cyclone Navy Royale HPR regulator labels just like you see in the photos above. Thanks Terry that's very kind of you. Also a very neat and courageous idea for a customized one-of-a-kind Voit NAVY double hosed regulator.
- I say "courageous" because those doggone Voit NAVY regs are hard to come by and expensive. I finally now have one original Voit NAVY myself but was inclined to leave it UN-embellished as a restored collectors item.
- I really like the look of your Cyclone Navy. The blue label reminds me of Rob's blue Voit Lung... Sharp!
- Terry, I still have some of my "Faux Navy" tribute labels and will mail you a couple for your collection. This Faux NAVY reg now has a Phoenix nozzle on it but not an HPR (yet, anyway).
- Let's make a pact: You meet me at Fortune Pond the first or second weekend in May and we'll both dive our custom label Voit Navy regs... It will be a first and only event in the world... Newspapers and TV will want to be there! ... Or at least some other double hose divers!

[Terry]

Thanks for your comments Eben. I also like your ideas about Fortune Pond in May, and I'll give that some serious thought. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we'll have some descent water temps by then. I definitely want to get up there this year and I'd like to do it this spring or early summer. You mentioned that you thought that the newspapers and TV would probably want to be there, and don't forget the Paparrazzi!

Also Thanks to Jaybird for posting the info regarding attachment of pictures!

Terry

[surflung]

Thoughts on the Cyclone Nozzle and HPR Upgrade...
- I did a balanced first stage Cyclone nozzle upgrade and an HPR 2nd stage upgrade to a beat up DA AquaMaster I had previously restored. Here are some thumbnail pictures of my Cyclone installation with a Banjo fitting and original long yoke. You can see the extra length of the balanced Cyclone nozzle leaves a little gap between the yoke and the regulator body and the yoke seems looser because of it.

- Cyclone is a Balanced First Stage that's better than the original Royal Aqua Master first stage. The reason is two-fold: First it is engineered for better flow using modern computerized design. Second, it is designed for compatibility with modern high pressure scuba tanks. I've used mine on a 3300 fps tank with the original yoke but there is an optional high pressure yoke available, too.
- HPR is an Improved 2nd Stage that's better than the original DA and Royal AquaMaster first stage. Sensitivity is slightly better and combined with a new diaphragm improves potential ease of breathing. But I think the biggest benefit is the ability to adjust the Venturi by blocking the secondary Venturi ports to a great or lesser degree. I got advice from SwimJim and Luis Heros (the designer) on this topic and set up my HPRs with one secondary venturi port completely blocked. The result is amazing. Here's a photo from the VDH website that shows the HPR second stage installed. Note the plastic cuff under the left screw is set to block the left secondary venturi port.

- The Cyclone HPR DAAM I have been diving has become my "Go-To" favorite regulator.
- So, Terry's "Voit Cyclone NAVY Royale HPR" upgrade is far more than a cosmetic change... I predict he will grow to like diving it more than all of his other regs! (Yes, it's THAT impressive.)

[scubadiverbob]

Surflung,

I still like my Hydrotwin II better than a RAM or my DAAM. Someday I might have enough money to put all the new stuff in my DAAM (if I don't sell it first, just to see how it would work (you got my interest up). So, have you ever dove a Hydrotwin II? If so, how do you think it compares to all the new stuff on VDH?

It looks like the Hydrotwin II is still easier to service and repair than any USD regulators.

Ok, please don't anyone get upset about what I posted. It's all expressing my opinion and what I like. Everyone likes different things. (I still wish I could get Andrew to try out a double hose; Last time it was "wheres the purge button?")...

[surflung]

Bob,
- Everyone's entitled to a favorite... And for whatever reason. From what I've seen, Hydrotwins are hard to find, expensive when they're for sale, and difficult to find replacement parts for (I think). My personal favorite is the downstream VCR2 Voit 50 Fathom... Also rare and expensive.
- For us guys who like restoring, customizing, upgrading, etc... The DA Aquamaster is the easiest to find, cheapest to buy, and most heavily accessorized with reproduction parts and modern technology upgrades.
- I posted the info on the Cyclone and HPR here so that folks reading about Terry's customized NAVY would know what those two upgrades are and what they're capable of.
- I haven't tried a Hydrotwin but have heard it is one of the best vintage regs ever designed. Congratulations on owning one.

[nikeajax]

Vive la différence! Robert, some people say that about the Nemrod Snark-III also; that is much easier to work on and breathing better...

I really appreciate all the different regs people share on this site, and what they've done with them.

We definitely have a second generation of old time divers, or is that third? Hopefully well have a forth; people who are in their 20's and 30's right now, who are willing to explore and say, "Yes, those old machines are still good, let's use them again!" I hope my niece, who is 13 now, will say something like, "Uncle Jay's gear still works perfectly, I'm going to use it what it was meant to be used for."

Jaybird

[scubadiverbob]

Jaybird,

Yup! I used to own a Snark III back in the 80's. Wish I still had it, also. They are great regulators; but, my Hydrotwin II I sorta like it better. I like the fancy design work on the Snark III is why I bought it; not because it was a good regulator or easy to work on. When I left Norfolk, (I was stationed at NSGD, CincLantFlt) I sold most of my stuff or gave it away. Also, wish I had kept my custom made wetsuit I purchased at dealers cost .... A dive buddy of mine got it. Live and learn ....

Robert