bdbrown 0 #1 July 16, 2004 what would be an acceptable age limit on buying new gear regardless of # jumps, see lots of rigs with reserves. 10+ yrs old....will there be a need to replace reserve in a short time period or will your get some time to jump equip.... any help would be appreciated -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #2 July 16, 2004 You just asked a huge question. There are few rigid guidelines. Some manufacturers publish age limits: Cypres = retirement after 12 years GQ Security= 15 years Parachutes Australia = 20 years Strong Enterprises tandems = mandatory inspections after 8 and 13 years with retirement after 18 years. Strong's policy just puts numbers on standard business practices. For example, if you have not worn out a tandem main in 8 years, you are in the wrong business. While other tandem manufacturers have not set rigid numbers .. the last 13-year-old tandem Vector that came through my loft was faded and frayed to the point that I told the owner to retire it. Generally, rigs that are more than 20 years old are out of fashion (round reserves), or require maintenance procedures unfamiliar to younger riggers (i.e. acid mesh on round reserves). A few national aero clubs try to enforce age limits on old gear. Shelf life has little affect on airorthiness. Consider changes in skydiving fashion. {recision introduced its Raven series of reserves 20 years ago. Ravens were among the first modern square reserves with main-style steering lines. Precision has done numerous minor updates to their Raven series until they introduced their R-Max series of reserves last year. Also consider features like BOC and Cypres, both introduced about 13 years ago. While these can be sewn on to older rigs, it can become a case of throwing good money after bad. Also consider that older gear may not be compatible with newer skydiving disciplines (ie. sit flying). While many of the older Velcro-based designs can be sit flown safely, few modern skydivers are willing to replace Velcro often enough to keep older rigs airworthy. During the last decade, manufacturers have made major improvements in bridle protection, etc., making containers more skydiver-proof every year. A simple guideline for buying 10 year old gear is to ask if that model is still in production. If it is no longer in production, then resale value will drop. If the factory has closed, then you have difficulty buying spare parts or getting major repairs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #3 July 16, 2004 Wow. Couldn't ask for a more informative response than that. Thanks RiggerRob.... ....are you sure you don't want to head south and work with me? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdbrown 0 #4 July 16, 2004 ty for info.....couldn't ask for more..... -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
