|
Post by SeaRat on Jun 15, 2015 13:23:37 GMT -8
I dove my Dacor Nautilus CVS again yesterday in the Clackamas River. I was using a newly acquired Dacor Pacer Aero regulator, and it is a fabulous regulator. I was given this regulator by my LDS ( Pacific Watersports, in Aloha, OR). Laurie Mannula, the owner gets these regulators in once in a while, and since there are no parts available for it anymore, she simply gave it to me. Wonderful! I think this regulator would give a Conshelf XXIV a real run for its money. Anyway, the dive went very well. I weighted myself about five pounds heavy, and the Nautilus CVS handled very well in the current. I used original Force Fins instead of my scoop fins on this dive too. I again used my GoPro camera to get video, and it will be forthcoming (at least some screen shots). I still have yet to edit the Nautilus CVS/Trieste II dive, and that also will happen fairly soon. (And don't worry, no more 40+ minutes videos--I'm learning.) I am finding that editing video is far more time-consuming than simply taking photos and posting them up on the web. John
|
|
|
Post by nikeajax on Jun 15, 2015 20:30:35 GMT -8
John, how is it different from a reg'lur Pacer? Could you show us some images of the inside of the second stage please...
Jaybird
|
|
|
Post by SeaRat on Jun 15, 2015 21:21:35 GMT -8
Jaybird,
Yes, it is very different from the regular PACER regulator. But it will take me a day or so to do that, as I'm still getting caught up on other stuff. But the Pacer Aero has a very unique venturi in the second stage. More later...
John
|
|
|
Post by cnotthoff on Jun 16, 2015 13:15:35 GMT -8
Hey John,
Next time you're at your LDS, check out the latest issue of Dive Training Magazine. Most shops have free copies. They have an article about unusual inventions for divers over the years. You'll find something you recognize.
Good Dives,
Charlie
|
|
|
Post by SeaRat on Jun 19, 2015 9:13:52 GMT -8
John, how is it different from a reg'lur Pacer? Could you show us some images of the inside of the second stage please... Jaybird Jaybird, Here are the images you requested of the Dacor Pacer Aero first and second stage. Note the large openings in the first stage, and the larger-diameter LP hose. Here's the interior of the Dacor Pacer Aero second stage, showing the interesting addition to make the venturi shoot straight into the mouthpiece. This photo shows the venturi on the second stage of the Dacor Pacer Aero, with the venturi oriented straight up into the mouthpiece. There is a vane up there that re-directs the air straight into the mouthpiece. John
|
|
|
Post by nikeajax on Jun 19, 2015 14:21:24 GMT -8
WOW!
Thanks for sharing buddy!
Jaybird
|
|
|
Post by nikeajax on Jun 19, 2015 14:22:55 GMT -8
BTW, I'm taking notes when I do my customized Divair-II...
Jaybird
|
|
|
Post by SeaRat on Jun 20, 2015 14:58:39 GMT -8
Hey John, Next time you're at your LDS, check out the latest issue of Dive Training Magazine. Most shops have free copies. They have an article about unusual inventions for divers over the years. You'll find something you recognize. Good Dives, Charlie 'Got it, Charlie. It is interesting that I have two of the Dacor Nautilus CVS "vaporware," which actually did get to production. Also, I did some work on the SeaPro Sea Wing fin, and still have it--I added springs to take away that annoying click, and also changed the angle of attack of the fin blades. Thanks, John
|
|
|
Post by SeaRat on Jul 2, 2015 14:51:14 GMT -8
Okay, I'm going to break protocol a bit and not tell you how great I am or the Dacor Nautilus CVS is for diving. I'm going to show you a problem that occurred on my dive last Monday. I'm starting to get the hang of making a video, so this 40 or so minute dive is presented to you in about seven minutes. But note that I found a problem with my dive procedure using the Nautilus CVS, and thought I'd pass it along.
In addition, I just touch on a very real problem in the Clackamas River right now. We are having an unprecedented heat wave, and the water temperatures are getting high as the water volume is getting very low. This is causing fish kills of our Chinook salmon run. I show one such fish in this video, shot last Monday when the water temperature was 68 degrees F. I wore only my shorty wet suit, and wanted to see how the Nautilus handled with its full weight load, but without much wet suit buoyancy. You'll be amused by what happened, and my reaction to it.
Today, I got back in the water with my GoPro, and shot video of the real effects of the now very warm water. The water temperature was 72 degrees today. Today's video includes about 20 salmon killed by the water temperature. I called the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and they are aware of the problem. These fish were probably Willamette River fish that wanted to go up the Willamette River, but sought colder water to "hang out" in until they could proceed. Instead, they are dying. More on that in a different video on a different thread.
John
|
|
|
Post by diverdon on Jul 2, 2015 17:04:41 GMT -8
Hey John,
Sorry to hear about the troubles you experienced right there, but I will be one to learn from that. I'm not sure how many others will, but I'm glad you kept that in your video to warn others. That right there is precisely why I made an extra set of weights when you lent me your mold. Do your feel that is a weakness of the design in the weight release? Is it easy to reproduce? Or do you feel it was more of a perfect storm if you will? Seeing this makes me want to take the Nautilus out there again though. Its too bad about the temperatures and the havoc it is wreaking on the river. Around here the temperatures have hardly been in the 70s and most evenings are still in the 40s. I would love some warmer days, so send some this way would you? Thanks again for taking the time to put your video out there.
DD
|
|
|
Post by diverdon on Jul 2, 2015 17:08:09 GMT -8
Hey John, Next time you're at your LDS, check out the latest issue of Dive Training Magazine. Most shops have free copies. They have an article about unusual inventions for divers over the years. You'll find something you recognize. Good Dives, Charlie 'Got it, Charlie. It is interesting that I have two of the Dacor Nautilus CVS "vaporware," which actually did get to production. Also, I did some work on the SeaPro Sea Wing fin, and still have it--I added springs to take away that annoying click, and also changed the angle of attack of the fin blades. Thanks, John I tried emailing DTMAG.com but it kept bouncing back to me. I was ready to send them a video of a ghost but even the email address that Karen gave me over the phone bounced back I do not have an LDS so I called them and they are sending me a copy of the magazine. I can't wait to see that article... DD
|
|
|
Post by SeaRat on Jul 2, 2015 17:09:32 GMT -8
Don, This was a "one-of-a-kind" situation, as I was sitting on the rocks with the tank over the back, so I was sitting on the weight-release pin. I rotated a bit, and I think that pulled the pin. I don't think this is a design problem with the unit though, as this is a very unlikely scenario. Rivers are pretty unique, and have weird "dressing areas." From now on, I'm getting into it in the water, or at my car and will float to get my fins put onto my feet. You'll like my next video, as it goes over an earlier dive whereby I used my Trieste II with the Nautilus, and doffed and donned the unit in deep water. John
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2015 17:10:49 GMT -8
Good Post John and a very good video......you're learning fast on all that processing........my oldest son had a mask like yours when he was diving (before he injured his right inner ear)...always took a piece of raw potato with him and smeared it around the inside.......helped quite a bit and much cheaper than the chemicals they sell for anti fogging.
|
|
|
Post by SeaRat on Sept 9, 2015 10:09:21 GMT -8
I thought you'd like to know that I have this morning molded more weights for my Dacor Nautilus CVS, so it will be back in service this fall. It's a "stinky" operation, melting down years of accumulated fishing lead weights and pouring them into the mold. A bit of nylon line, some dirt, and plastic coating melted during the process, and a bit of smoke. I did it outside, with a full-face respirator, but I still don't like doing it.
I also have a video I shot last spring which is just about ready to post. I need to find a bit of time to do the dictation on it yet, but it should be coming soon.
John
|
|
|
Post by SeaRat on Sept 21, 2015 22:58:42 GMT -8
I had a very nice dive, but in the process experienced two malfunctions. The Nautilus handled pretty well, with its new weights being balanced against my backbone and a small weight belt with six pounds making up the difference, so that I was slightly negative. My Pacer Aero had an extreme water leak; I have since determined that it is very easy to put the front cover back on, with the ring, so that the diaphragm is not sealed. I simply switched to my other second stage, a Dacor Endure, and finished the dive that way. But towards the end of the dive, the Endure started breathing hard, like it was a restrictor orifice. I figured something was wrong, as my dive computer showed over 1,000 psig. Well, what had happened is that I had turned the tank sideways a bit to get the hoses oriented toward my head and give me more room, as the Nautilus CVS keeps the tank/valve/regulator somewhat further away from my head, and when I went to open the valve, I actually closed it (it was already open), and backed it off a quarter turn. At high pressure, it breathed fine. But at 1,000 psig, the opening could not keep up with the demand, and it effectively became a restrictor orifice.
This taught me a couple of things. First, check the valve, and I probably won't back it off a quarter turn anymore. Second, inhale to a vacuum on the second stage before putting it in the water with the air off.
I have more video, and will be posting some Nautilus CVS video this week.
John
|
|