Buddy slimline service

[bridgetjones]

Does anyone know of anywhere else to get my buddy bcd serviced rather than AP Valves? I have just looked on their website & they cahrge a min of £75.00! :confused: Thanks Bridge

[PeteM]

Does anyone know of anywhere else to get my buddy bcd serviced rather than AP Valves? I have just looked on their website & they cahrge a min of £75.00! :confused: Thanks Bridge

Depends what needs to be done. If it is just a basic clean up and check the valves are OK then your local dive shop should do it. If it is anything more complex then the £75 is likely to be a bargain as they come back functionally as good as new (will still be as faded as it went away but everything else should be perfect).

[bootneck]

I know it sounds expensive from AP valves, but I had a buddy commando serviced by them a couple of years ago, they changed every buckle on the BCD to improved ones, fitted a new bladder, even added a buckle that I had never had before, it was worth every penny all within the service price

[OneDragons]

Got mine serviced a few years ago, thought they would just give it the once over and make sure it basically worked ok and clean it a bit.

When it came back it was practically a new jacket. If you have a bottle they replace it as well I believe (didn't have mine on the jacket at the time). Got bits on it I didn't even know were missing.

Very very good service.

[Ron Evans]

Got mine serviced a few years ago, thought they would just give it the once over and make sure it basically worked ok and clean it a bit.

When it came back it was practically a new jacket. If you have a bottle they replace it as well I believe (didn't have mine on the jacket at the time). Got bits on it I didn't even know were missing.

Very very good service.

I think AP Valves are superb at customer service, and have given me free replacement parts for my BC. I would not heistate to use them, even if you think that they are a bit pricey - service over and above is what you will get.

PS: I don't work for them!

[Roz]

Spend GBP75 with AP Valves, send it in and get it serviced. What you get back will be worth above and beyond the money you spent. I sent in my Slimline Commando and I got back a different jacket. It is so worth the money you will spend. Seriously. It's a 'no brainer'.

[robforrest]

I was in SDS (Sheffield) earlier and noticed they charge £18 (excluding parts) for a BCD service. Not sure what they do, but suspect not as much as you get for your £75 from AP valves.

[Hickdive]

Does anyone know of anywhere else to get my buddy bcd serviced rather than AP Valves? I have just looked on their website & they cahrge a min of £75.00! :confused: Thanks Bridge

Buddy jackets, although not the most lightweight or elegant, can be like the proverbial 200 year-old spade.

£75 may seem like a lot of money but for it you'll get back a jacket that is 100% functional, just like brand new, the only clue to its age will be fading of the outer cover.

OTOH what exactly do you think needs serviced on the jacket?

If you fully inflate it and it hold air overnight then all the dump valves are fine. If the inflator valve is sticky or leaky then they're relatively simply to dissasemble, clean, lube and re-assemble yourself. If any of the o rings in the inflator need replacing then you can phone AP and get them as spares for a fee plus p&p, just like you can get every other part that you might service or replace on a DIY basis.