Replies

• Waterman03 Posts: 35 Deckhand

  September 2011 #2

  I have been looking into the hookah market lately since i took 3 buddies with me free diving for bugs during mini season and i was the only one catching lobsters and had to split my take 4 ways at the end of the night... I was not too happy about that. What i have found is that with one battery you get about an hour of air for ONE diver. Cut it in half for 2. That's a lot of heavy batteries if you wanted to dive all day. I decided to go with a gas powered one just because a 5 gallon gas can is a lot easier to cart around then 12 batteries. If I was to get an electric one id get a hookahmax because it has the reserve tank. I know it's not the first hand experience reply that you would have liked, but I hope this info helps.

  2001 17' Maverick Master Angler

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• Captain Steve Hardy Posts: 46 Deckhand

  September 2011 #3

  Had a gas power Browine and love ran it all day lots of time and it never failed. Till age got it. Then looked into electric one and was told it real was not intened for hard uses for long peiord of time, It uses was quick clean of hull or changing of props. If you are going to go that way go gas. Scuba is great get lesson.hope this helps.

  REEL THERAPY 28 Grady White
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  Take and kid fishing or diving.

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• ZOFCHAK Posts: 26 Greenhorn

  September 2011 #4

  Thanks for the replies. :Rockon Unfortunately, the gas operated units are simply not an option for me due to the noise and my need to avoid drawing unwanted attention. I looked at the Hookahmax unit as there is a dealer here in Michigan that handles them. It would be an ideal setup for using in a boat, but looks like it would be difficult to set it up as a floating unit. Also the battery draw appears to be a bit more than the other units.
  
  Someone on another forum recommended the Keen Hydro Air and it's considerably less expensive than the other units I was looking at. It also seems to be the most efficient. Most of the time I would be diving in less than 6ft of water, so I really don't need as large a pump as some of the models offer.

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• Kevinwwings2 Posts: 1,279 Officer

  September 2011 #5

  I have the small Brownies 3rd Lung gas and it is not all that loud. They say it will run for 3 hours on a quart of gas and I have no reason to doubt that. I find that I want to come up before it is an issue. I am good for a 2 hour dive if things are right and I have never come up and put gas in it to say wow that was close. I always have 2 people on it and usually between 12 and 20' of water. I am sure the electric is quieter but doubt by much. If you need to be that quiet you must be diving somewhere your not allowed to be diving.

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• ZOFCHAK Posts: 26 Greenhorn

  September 2011 #6

  Kevinwwings2 wrote: »

  I have the small Brownies 3rd Lung gas and it is not all that loud. They say it will run for 3 hours on a quart of gas and I have no reason to doubt that. I find that I want to come up before it is an issue. I am good for a 2 hour dive if things are right and I have never come up and put gas in it to say wow that was close. I always have 2 people on it and usually between 12 and 20' of water. I am sure the electric is quieter but doubt by much. If you need to be that quiet you must be diving somewhere your not allowed to be diving.

  
  The electric hookahs I have seen in use are a lot quieter than gas units, otherwise I would definitely be going with gas. I'm not planning on using this anywhere where I am not allowed to do so, but running a gas engine at a small, freshwater public beach would not be a good way for me to make friends. Also, the riparian laws here in Michigan allow diving in just about any public waterway, but that does not stop people from complaining or calling the police. Since I will be in extremely shallow water and very close to homes I do not want to disturb people if I do not have to.

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• Trollaltdelete Posts: 661 Officer

  September 2011 #7

  I looked at the electric, but decided on gas and we are very happy with it.
  
  If noise is a concern to you, because of the requirement to not bother people, why don't you just go with a Steel 100 tank? Then they would not even really notice you except for your flag.

  Take out your boat, make a memory!

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• f1s2000 Posts: 86 Deckhand

  September 2011 #8

  A Friend of mine recently purchased a gas Browine. But prior to that we would free dive for lobster. And let me tell you what would take use hours in a good spot took us at most maybe 1/2 an hour. We were so use to free diving that I kind of felt like we didn't work for them. Our last lobster dive using the Browine was about 20 ft. of water.
  We found a spot the other day that was in 30 ft. of water and had alot of lobster. Now it will make it much easier instead of having to free dive for them. You will love it.:)

  

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