Chuck wrote:

> About half the time, I have my low-power inflator hose disconnected
because
> the Air II tends to dribble air into the BC and screw up my bouyancy.  It
has been
> serviced several times.  Almost always gunk in the valve but that is a
fact of life in
>Texas lakes - the water is not exactly crystal clear.  IMO, the inline
alternate inflator
> reg is a techno-gimmick to sell gear (and yes I fell for it - twice - and
have had
> problems with both the Air II and the Sherwood Shadow.)

I shopped around a lot before I settled on an inflator/alternate.  My choice
was the SeaQuest Air Source.  Functionality was my first consideration and
several of the available units were eliminated because, in use, they
interfered with something, generally my higher volume USD mask (now gone).
The SeaQuest got the nod because it worked well, it was larger and
reportedly easier to service, came with an extended inflator hose that let
me turn my my head to the right and because it was on sale.  In the long
run, cost wasn't that great since I bought SeaQuest BCs to go with the unit
instead of the more normal other way around.  I never regretted my choice.
The only time either of them gave me problems was in Coz when Jayna's
shoulder dump cable broke, something common to all inflator hoses and not
related to the regulator function.

When I got my Halcyon gear, I tried to attach an inflator/alternate to it.
This time, I chose the Oceanic unit because the BC attachment was the right
size.  I think I was on the boat with you when I used it the first time.
Regrdless, it leaded that time, I took it apart, tried to adjust it a bit,
tried to clean it a bit and it still leaked.  It's been in my closet ever
since.

Lee