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Post by sitkadiver on Oct 1, 2015 21:45:32 GMT -8
I own a couple of Hydro Twin II regs, although they both wear NED labels. I enjoy diving them and I am proud to say that they both have been restored as best I can, with NOS parts and valves. Rob at the Scuba Museum has been very generous in providing NOS diaphragms and mouthpiece valve. I doubt I'll ever be able to get a return on my investment of NOS parts if I ever sell them, but I can pull them off the shelf and a moments notice and know they are safe to dive. Additionally, I also own a couple of Krakens. One of which has the unique DD serial number!(How's That for Bragging Right?!?!?!?!? Yeee HAW!! ) If I were to compare a Kraken to a Hydro Twin, all I can say is there would be NO COMPARISON! None of the Hydro Twins I've dove breathe as well as my RAM's or a nicely tuned DA. The phoenix regs are on a whole other plain and the Kraken is yet another step above that. I'll also add, that my Kraken's still have the factory tuning - I haven't done anything to them. I spent hours tweaking my Phoenix regs and adjusting the HPR's to get them to perform like a finely tuned instrument. I'll venture to guess that if I played around with my Kraken's I could get them to perform a bit better, but it's almost not worth it to me. I've been to 117 feet with the Kraken, in 45 degree water and I see no reason to change the reg at all. As far the duckbill eliminator goes, I love them. I can change hoses, and not have to worry about the duckbill moving around or pulling out of the horn. When the DBE and the HPR were introduced, I realy thought double hose diving had come into it's own. I now had easily tunable components that performed at a very high level. the icing on the cake, was that I was a diver buying these components from divers. The parts had been tested in real world dives and were backed up by people who spent time in the water, like I do.
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Post by herman on Oct 2, 2015 2:24:57 GMT -8
And it's going to get better, we have a new DSV mouthpiece under development that has some really cool features. Test dives on a prototype are hopefully going to happen in Nov. Plans are for it to be standard on Krakens once it's available. It will fit on existing USD/Voit hoses so it can be added to any reg you have. Now if you want to brag, mind doesn't have a serial number, the cans and hoses are both from the initial prototype run (installed on a table during a test dive in Mexico) and some of the internal parts are not plated because they are prototype parts made in my shop.
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Post by surflung on Oct 2, 2015 6:42:37 GMT -8
...When the DBE and the HPR were introduced, I realy thought double hose diving had come into it's own. I now had easily tunable components that performed at a very high level... - Thanks for bringing that up Sitka. I sometimes wonder how many DAAM owners know how good they can make that regulator. I have one I totally upgraded from a "Mystery Mess" damaged, corroded hulk. It now has the DBE, HPR, Cyclone Balanced first Stage, super sensitive diaphragm, etc. It's tuned for optimum venturi flow... And that thing is my go-to favorite for most dives. I love it. - I have 2 more Cyclones, HPRs, and DBEs I bought quite awhile ago that I'm planning to use on a couple of projects this winter. One will go on a like-new DA Aqua Master with perfect high gloss chrome. I have a repro- "Royal Master" label I got from Alan Klauda that I'll finish it off with. The other is going to be a satin cans reg... Debating which label to put on but I'm leaning toward the Kawasaki label because I have the T-Shirt! - Back to the topic of the Kraken Owner's Group... Our fearless leader and friend SwimJim torture tested one of the Kraken prototypes under the ice at Fortune Pond. Jim lets me hang out with him once in awhile... That's the extent to MY bragging rights!
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Post by surflung on Oct 2, 2015 7:09:02 GMT -8
Let it be known that many a vintage diver would love to buy a Kraken piecemeal. Staring with the hoses and mouthpiece #1 Diverdon #2 Scubadiverbob #3 #4 Any other takers? Hey Don, the previous post about the Cyclone, HPR, DBE, etc are the way to do it piecemeal. Those components can be ordered for dirt cheap prices to bring any DA Aqua Master awfully close to the Kraken. I'll let you try my Cyclone DA next time we dive together.
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Post by diverdon on Oct 2, 2015 7:17:20 GMT -8
Sounds good buddy But I wanna start with red hoses. We need a feet stomping arm crossed type smiley. I bet JB can come up with something... Anyway, I do have an HPR, a DBE and new diaphragm etc. in my DA. All I'm missing is the sooped up first stage fee-nix thingy. So I would like to compare our regs. I believe the phoenix is the only difference the two. One more trip to Crystal? DD
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Post by surflung on Oct 2, 2015 9:52:28 GMT -8
- I'm out of time for another trip this Fall. But regarding your HPR, you should get in touch with SwimJim for how to tune your HPR. It makes a big difference when its tuned just right. BTW - We don't have any rules, dues, elections in the Kraken Owners Group BUT... You have to own a Kraken to get in. We also don't have any benfits, secret handshake, or free stuff... Just a knowing look and a nod between brothers...
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Post by luis on Oct 3, 2015 12:09:20 GMT -8
I can honestly say that the Argonaut Kraken was engineered and designed in all its aspects and components, but I would never claim that it is all original design. There are a few original details, but in real live we find very few complete original engineering designs.
There is no question that I have studied every vintage design that I have had the opportunity look at. There is nothing to be gained by re-inventing the wheel. My preference is to build on the previous experience, both the good designs and the mistakes have lessons to share.
The design of the exhaust is indeed similar to some previous regulators, but it does have some details that may not be immediately obvious.
1) The flow path was carefully looked through with the help of 3D modeling to generate smooth transitions and reduce flow restrictions. I calculated flow peak velocities and corresponding Reynolds numbers for all the critical cross sections in the exhaust path.
2) The actual valve size was determined to match the flow rate and area as the other mouthpiece valves. I have calculations and we have lots of empirical data of years using this size valves and size hoses.
I have studied re-breathers and their flow characteristics. They are using larger hoses and valves because they pull and push the gas against their counter-lungs. They do not have any pneumatic advantage of compressed air or venturi flow.
There is no advantage of making the exhaust valve any bigger (you are always constrained by the “weakest link”) and there is definitely disadvantage. A larger valve would cause a free flow if the regulator cracking effort is tuned too light. The dimension of the exhaust radius limits how light you can tune the cracking effort on any regulator
3) The design eliminated any dead air space in the exhaust path. I did not want places that would trap water, either during the dive or after the dive. When you blow the exhaust clear, there should be no residual water left in any corner. The Healtways, Sprotways, Nemrod, and a few other exhausts that I have looked at all will collect water in some portion of the exhaust.
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Post by scubadiverbob on Oct 4, 2015 11:08:09 GMT -8
I still might get a Kraken for my son, Andrew. As some have said (bitched about) ... (on VDH), he doesn't dive "vintage", he really might try double hose diving if I get him a non-vintage doublehose regulator. I just bought him a Sealife digital camera for his birthday; I still use my Nikonos stuff (it's "vintage" and I know how to use it). Hope he starts taking some cool photos! He wasn't into film. Myself, I'm sticking to my Hydrotwin II .... it's a totally great regulator! I hope the red hoses become available for my Hydrotwin ... they look cool! Anyone want to trade their red hoses for a set of black hoses?
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