On board scuba tank compressor

[Low Country Home Builder]

Do any of you have a compressor on board to fill your scuba tanks? If so is it operated by gasoline or electricity?

[Ram]

gas Bauer

[Brogan007]

I used to work in the scuba industry...it was always the "high pressure" part of the fill that took the time/energy. So.....having large tanks...80's or 100's ...and filling them to lower pressures ( ~2000 ).....would make more sense, than trying to pump a tank up to 3000psi.
Of course, you have to be chilled out underwater and good on air.
Just my 25c.

[DtM]

We have a compressor that runs off electricity. We have a 9kva Onan to power it.

[Katiusha]

Originally Posted by Ram

gas Bauer

Happy with it?

[Ram]

Originally Posted by Katiusha

Happy with it?

yes its as good as they come- fills a 80 cubic tank in 20 min- no troble- Hard to beat A BAUER--

GERMAN- TEC- & Jap-HONDA engine- uses little fuel

[PhilDuhs]

I've got one on board too - Bauer Junior 2, can I get you to give me a lesson in using it tomorrow afternoon or Saturday morning - I've never used it since buying it 5 years ago but am keen to this summer!

Phil
S/Y 37 Rocks

[Teremoana]

I've also been happy with a gas powered Bauer. If you have a large boat with lots of electrical generating capacity an electrical system might make more sense. I once worked on a dive support boat that had truly massive amounts of power available, and we had a medium sized electrical dive compressor with enormous banks of storage bottles. You could literally fill an 80 in about 30 seconds. It meant you didn't have to have a lot of tanks around.

[Ram]

Originally Posted by PhilDuhs

I've got one on board too - Bauer Junior 2, can I get you to give me a lesson in using it tomorrow afternoon or Saturday morning - I've never used it since buying it 5 years ago but am keen to this summer!

Phil
S/Y 37 Rocks

yes, im happy to show you -this is the same unit I have- you need to change the oil NOW- bring it with you- this is important to get breathing compressor oil

[PhilDuhs]

Great! There is brand new oil on the boat x 2 (well it's 5yrs old but in unopened bottles!)

[Ram]

Originally Posted by PhilDuhs

Great! There is brand new oil on the boat x 2 (well it's 5yrs old but in unopened bottles!)

perfect!

[fishpie]

Another option is a Rix compressor.
It has big advantages over a traditional compressor.
1. It is oil-less which means that there is no chance of it producing poisonous gasses.
2. Can be run without expensive filters.
3. Doesn't burp out a nasty oily mess every 15-20 minutes only clean water.

[Brogan007]

Don't forget the service aspect....Bauers are used by scuba shops worldwide...folks know how to service them in these far flung places. VERY crucial!

[Katiusha]

We were suggested a Coltri compressor as the lightest and world-wide serviceable. Any thoughts on those?

[svrevelations]

We have a Bauer Mariner 320 onboard - gas powered.
Bauers are the very best money can buy and serviced the world over.