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Post by surflung on Jan 17, 2019 7:24:32 GMT -8
My Sea Hunt Forever Tanks are Ready...- The hero of the Sea Hunt TV show, Mike Nelson, used single 72s, double 72s, and triple 44s... But he eventually settled on Twin 38s and that's the way I always remember him when I watched Sea Hunt back in the early 60s. My favorites were the round bottom tanks. AND I was fortunate to pick up an old set in deceptively good condition about 5 years ago (Sea Hunt Jerry told me, "You gotta Buy These Hog Tanks!") They looked like heck with rusty tank bands and dirty harness. I offered the guy $50 and he said "Cash?" So I took them home. - They definitely were military surplus with the "USN Shatterproof" markings and 1940s dating. But to my happy surprise, the insides were literally rust free and the outside had been galvanized. The manifold was in good shape, too. After they passed the hydrotest, I cleaned them up, re-painted with Galvalite 96% zinc paint, and re-assembled them as you see here. (Harness by Allan is faded from 5 years of heavy use). - My Recent Hydrotest required taking it all apart again. Insides are still pristine and passed hydro fine. But last night when I re-assembled the manifold, I had a leak on the reserve side. When the ball joints are clean, they usually seal just fine. So, I suspected the O-ring in the J-Valve. And sure enough, when I opened the J-valve up, the O-ring had extruded, hardened, and cracked... No wonder it leaked. At the same time, I discovered the J-valve spring was broken in the middle. So, in addition to replacing the O-ring, I replaced the spring as well as the seat (Thanks Captain) . So now, the J-valve should work like new... I just need to test it to be sure. - This time re-assembly went without a hitch... No leaks. They look a little dirty and scratched up right now. I've thought of re-painting them but they may actually be more authentic this way. Anyway, my Sea Hunt Forever Tanks are ready for the show!The Sea Hunt Forever Show is part of the Florida Springs Fest on Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3, 2019. Our cast of about 20 divers will be re-enacting underwater scenes from the 1960s Sea Hunt TV Show. Visitors to the park can watch the underwater show from glass bottom boats.
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Post by vance on Jan 17, 2019 8:02:57 GMT -8
Those tanks are very cool. They would be great for mounting a Snark III on, since the outlet is so low! It would be better placed to breathe easy. A Silver might be too modern looking for them, but a V1 or V2, or an early blue label would look right!
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Post by surflung on Jan 18, 2019 6:28:54 GMT -8
No Snarks... Mostly Voit!- Being as true to the Sea Hunt TV Show as possible, cast members can't just dive "vintage"... The equipment has to be authentic to what was actually used in the TV Show... And there just isn't a single scene that anyone has found where a Snark III was used. - The "official" regulators are the Voit Lung VR1/VR2 and the Voit 50 Fathom VCR2. The Voit NAVY was never used on the TV Show. Neither was the Polaris nor the blue plastic bodied 50 Fathom VCR2. As you can know, Voit regs are pretty rare on Ebay and when you find one its usually over $400 before you spend a bunch to restore it. So its quite a treat to see so many Voit Double Hose regulators diving together at Sea Hunt Forever. - I say "Mostly Voit" in the title above because if you look closely at the underwater scenes, you will often see a USD regulator disguised as a Voit with gray hoses. You can tell because the label is rectangular. And in fact, the first episode has Mike Nelson diving a USD plastic bodied Jet Air. - Why Voit? I think the original green hoses showed up better on black and white TV than the original USD black hoses. After that, I think Voit became an official supplier and the switch to gray hoses showed up even better on black and white TV screens. IMHO The Sea Hunt Forever Show is part of the Florida Springs Fest on Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3, 2019. Our cast of about 20 divers will be re-enacting underwater scenes from the 1960s Sea Hunt TV Show. Visitors to the park can watch the underwater show from glass bottom boats.
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Post by snark3 on Jan 19, 2019 12:24:33 GMT -8
Were the tanks also made by Voit? I have a set of USD triple 44's, were these triples ever made by Voit?
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Post by Seahuntjerry on Jan 19, 2019 21:26:10 GMT -8
Tripples never made by Voit
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 21, 2019 8:26:11 GMT -8
So, technically, if someone showed up with a Waterlung, no one could complain... JB
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Post by scubalawyer on Jan 21, 2019 19:13:26 GMT -8
So, technically, if someone showed up with a Waterlung, no one could complain... JB Technically, an early model Sportsways Waterlung, single hose (T- shaped tubular exhaust, chrome face with light brassy label) appeared in at least Sea Hunt episodes #1081 and 1092. Therefore, I believe it would be acceptable to use in the re-enactments at Sea Hunt Forever 2019 in March. That said, specific models of Voit and USD double hose regs used in the show are so iconic that it almost seems blasphemous to use a single hose. My 2psi. Mark
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 21, 2019 19:59:16 GMT -8
Yeah, but it was just too much fun not to be a brat and not say something Blaspheme is my middle name... JB
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Post by vance on Jan 22, 2019 18:04:07 GMT -8
Eb, email sent.
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Post by SeaRat on Jan 25, 2019 11:16:11 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2019 11:26:48 GMT -8
Didn't know that flat bottomed tanks were available back then.
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Post by SeaRat on Jan 25, 2019 13:34:35 GMT -8
Didn't know that flat bottomed tanks were available back then. Converted fire extinguisher CO2 tanks, I think. John
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2019 15:18:27 GMT -8
Interesting note: Diveriteinscuba is offering a FABER 40cuft HP steel tank (rebreather tank) without valve. Length is 17.7 inches long, or about a inch longer than my twin 38's without valve.....weight empty is 14.8 lbs (twins would be 29.6lbs + valve empty, comparable to a 80cuft aluminum at 32 lbs + valve empty.) Dia. is 5.5 inches. With custom made harness bands, new or rebuilt twin HP manifold, this would make a fine setup for a retro looking with a round bottom, but modern HP twin setup that won't break ones back. I and several others, including many women, are not tall and twin tanks of 38-40 cuft each are much preferred to the new alum. 80's or even the old 72's (as we called them) and these steel FABER's are uncommonly light compared to other types. If I had the loot to spend and were wanting an additional set to my two twins or just a new set of twins.....I'd go this route instead of taking my chances on someones old tanks off ebait or garage sale. Here is the link: www.diverightinscuba.com/high-pressure-40-steel-tank-14317.htmlol'mossback
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Post by scubalawyer on Jan 25, 2019 15:52:40 GMT -8
Interesting note: Diveriteinscuba is offering a FABER 40cuft HP steel tank (rebreather tank) without valve. Length is 17.7 inches long, or about a inch longer than my twin 38's without valve.....weight empty is 14.8 lbs (twins would be 29.6lbs + valve empty, comparable to a 80cuft aluminum at 32 lbs + valve empty.) Dia. is 5.5 inches. With custom made harness bands, new or rebuilt twin HP manifold, this would make a fine setup for a retro looking with a round bottom, but modern HP twin setup that won't break ones back. I and several others, including many women, are not tall and twin tanks of 38-40 cuft each are much preferred to the new alum. 80's or even the old 72's (as we called them) and these steel FABER's are uncommonly light compared to other types. If I had the loot to spend and were wanting an additional set to my two twins or just a new set of twins.....I'd go this route instead of taking my chances on someones old tanks off ebait or garage sale. Here is the link: www.diverightinscuba.com/high-pressure-40-steel-tank-14317.htmlol'mossback I put together a set of HP 40's a year or so ago. Love them. Mark
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2019 16:45:14 GMT -8
Interesting note: Diveriteinscuba is offering a FABER 40cuft HP steel tank (rebreather tank) without valve. Length is 17.7 inches long, or about a inch longer than my twin 38's without valve.....weight empty is 14.8 lbs (twins would be 29.6lbs + valve empty, comparable to a 80cuft aluminum at 32 lbs + valve empty.) Dia. is 5.5 inches. With custom made harness bands, new or rebuilt twin HP manifold, this would make a fine setup for a retro looking with a round bottom, but modern HP twin setup that won't break ones back. I and several others, including many women, are not tall and twin tanks of 38-40 cuft each are much preferred to the new alum. 80's or even the old 72's (as we called them) and these steel FABER's are uncommonly light compared to other types. If I had the loot to spend and were wanting an additional set to my two twins or just a new set of twins.....I'd go this route instead of taking my chances on someones old tanks off ebait or garage sale. Here is the link: www.diverightinscuba.com/high-pressure-40-steel-tank-14317.htmlol'mossback I put together a set of HP 40's a year or so ago. Love them. Mark How do they ride on your back? Comfortable?
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