Mini G's At Stoney 7/5

**Howard Payne** · May 8th, 2006, 08:04 PM

Mini G (left) next to a Short Body Gavin (right)

In a concerted attempt to run before I can walk - I've just bought one of the new Gavin Mini G's from Rich Walker and I met up with him at Stoney yesterday to take delivery of it and go for a dive and some basic informal training.

Neil H, Crispy Fiver, Rick and PhilO were there as well so we all ended up having a chinwag in the pub. When Rich and I returned from our dive, Rick was about to go in using his Gavin Short Body so I gave PhilO the Mini G to use as he was buddying up with him.

Once the gallery's back up and running and we've sea tested it with Bob and Gledders this coming Friday - I'll write up a full test report with photos as there seems to be very little about the unit on the net.

Initial impressions are that it's an absolute riot. I found it very maneuverable and easy to us and whilst I've never used a short body or any other Gavin for that matter - I'd be surprised if they weren't much harder work for a novice. Clearly there's a lot to learn and a long way to go, but both Phil and I found it manageable first time out and neither of us have any previous scooter experience

Subjectively it was about half to two thirds the weight and about 2/3rd of the size of Rick's short body and the weight was the most noticeable thing: On a moving boat with a lot of stages, this would make a big difference when getting in and out of the water I reckon.

Rich was on his Mini G as well and he reckons it'll be his "weapon of choice" for ocean diving from now on. Apparently they're not suitable for cave diving at the moment because there is no sure fire way of burn testing the batteries. I would imagine that the maneuverability which makes them so much fun in open water would be better traded for the directional stability of a bigger unit in a cave environment. Perhaps Bob could shed some more light on this?

The reduced size means they fit inside a 1660 Pelican case which is absolutely perfect for transporting the unit and keeping it safe. For the small extra cost you'd be crazy to buy one without I would suggest. There's enough spare space in the foam lining to cut out holes for HID's etc - so I'll use the case to transport all my more sensitive bits of gear.

A really great day - thanks to Rich and good to meet a few new faces - including Rick "Jock Exley" who had us in stitches.

Full report to follow...

**jb2cool** · May 8th, 2006, 10:20 PM

Certainly looks nice and good to hear you got on well with it.

Emma has just piped up and reminds me that you said you couldn't possibly spend any more money on dive gear looks liek you pulled a wad out of that matress you have stuffed with cash.

Sreiously though. Nice bit of kit.

StaceyS · May 9th, 2006, 06:59 PM

This past weekend I had an opportunity to try a mini G. It is so much lighter than a regular Gavin. I would recommend it if diving from a boat. We also did a towing drill and had no problems towing two people in double 104s.

Stacey

Rick · May 9th, 2006, 07:05 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Howard Payne)

A really great day - thanks to Rich and good to meet a few new faces - including Rick "Jock Exley" who had us in stitches.

Full report to follow...

Jock Exley....ROFL

Devon Rob · May 9th, 2006, 07:59 PM

Fcuk me the back gardens in Wimbledon look good!

Very nice piece of kit. Looking forward to the writeup
Devon rob

**Howard Payne** · May 10th, 2006, 11:15 AM

I think that's Gorgeous George's modest little patio. Who says there's no money in diving eh?

PBrown · May 10th, 2006, 11:26 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Howard Payne)

I think that's Gorgeous George's modest little patio. Who says there's no money in diving eh?

His money didn't come from diving.

question for you (or possibly Rich), having not actually seen one of these in the flesh, is it possible to put a standard battery pack onto the mini?

would enable you to have the lightweight mini for boat dives & then switch to SLA batteries for cave diving.

cheers,
Paul

*JohnKendall* · May 10th, 2006, 11:41 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by PBrown)

His money didn't come from diving.

question for you (or possibly Rich), having not actually seen one of these in the flesh, is it possible to put a standard battery pack onto the mini?

would enable you to have the lightweight mini for boat dives & then switch to SLA batteries for cave diving.

cheers,
Paul

I've had a quick look at one, and I don't think it would be possible. Or at least not possible to put a pack in that would give you any kind of burn time useful for a cave. You might be able to fit 9-10Ah of SLA in, but that will only give you a 20min burn time.

J

**Howard Payne** · May 10th, 2006, 11:51 AM

I know his money didn't come from diving :-)

I'll post some pics of the battery pack when I get a mo. It's very compact - I can't see you'd get a lot of SLA in there. The reduced displacement of the smaller body wouldn't take any more weight and remain neutral. The scooter is supposed to have been weighted by GI3 to be perfectly neutral in salt, slightly negative in fresh. We'll find out on Friday conditions permitting.

GI3 is supposed to be testing them in cave out in Mexico some time soon according to RichW. I think a long bodied version with two packs of batteries is a more likely development I would guess

PBrown · May 10th, 2006, 12:10 PM

Thanks chaps,

not sure I phrased my question properly, trying to squeeze SLA's into the mini body isn't what I meant.

As I understand it the motor & back end are the same on a mini & a 'normal' (apart from shorter legs), so is it possible to swap out the entire front end and fit the body tube (& batteries) from a 'normal' gavin? i.e could I buy a mini & a magnum body and use them interchangably?

cheers,
Paul

May 8th, 2006, 08:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Howard Payne(Offline) Strokey Dokily Doo Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London Posts: 1,202	Mini G's At Stoney 7/5 Mini G (left) next to a Short Body Gavin (right) In a concerted attempt to run before I can walk - I've just bought one of the new Gavin Mini G's from Rich Walker and I met up with him at Stoney yesterday to take delivery of it and go for a dive and some basic informal training. Neil H, Crispy Fiver, Rick and PhilO were there as well so we all ended up having a chinwag in the pub. When Rich and I returned from our dive, Rick was about to go in using his Gavin Short Body so I gave PhilO the Mini G to use as he was buddying up with him. Once the gallery's back up and running and we've sea tested it with Bob and Gledders this coming Friday - I'll write up a full test report with photos as there seems to be very little about the unit on the net. Initial impressions are that it's an absolute riot. I found it very maneuverable and easy to us and whilst I've never used a short body or any other Gavin for that matter - I'd be surprised if they weren't much harder work for a novice. Clearly there's a lot to learn and a long way to go, but both Phil and I found it manageable first time out and neither of us have any previous scooter experience Subjectively it was about half to two thirds the weight and about 2/3rd of the size of Rick's short body and the weight was the most noticeable thing: On a moving boat with a lot of stages, this would make a big difference when getting in and out of the water I reckon. Rich was on his Mini G as well and he reckons it'll be his "weapon of choice" for ocean diving from now on. Apparently they're not suitable for cave diving at the moment because there is no sure fire way of burn testing the batteries. I would imagine that the maneuverability which makes them so much fun in open water would be better traded for the directional stability of a bigger unit in a cave environment. Perhaps Bob could shed some more light on this? The reduced size means they fit inside a 1660 Pelican case which is absolutely perfect for transporting the unit and keeping it safe. For the small extra cost you'd be crazy to buy one without I would suggest. There's enough spare space in the foam lining to cut out holes for HID's etc - so I'll use the case to transport all my more sensitive bits of gear. A really great day - thanks to Rich and good to meet a few new faces - including Rick "Jock Exley" who had us in stitches. Full report to follow... __________________ The Foxturd Chimp Last edited by Howard Payne; May 8th, 2006 at 10:10 PM.

May 8th, 2006, 10:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
jb2cool(Offline) Padawan learner Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire Posts: 798	Certainly looks nice and good to hear you got on well with it. Emma has just piped up and reminds me that you said you couldn't possibly spend any more money on dive gear looks liek you pulled a wad out of that matress you have stuffed with cash. Sreiously though. Nice bit of kit. __________________ http://jb2cool.bulldoghome.com

May 9th, 2006, 06:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
StaceyS(Offline) New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ft. White, FL Posts: 5	Mini G This past weekend I had an opportunity to try a mini G. It is so much lighter than a regular Gavin. I would recommend it if diving from a boat. We also did a towing drill and had no problems towing two people in double 104s. Stacey

May 9th, 2006, 07:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rick(Offline) Jock Exley Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Falkirk/Stratford UK Posts: 730	Quote: (Originally Posted by Howard Payne) A really great day - thanks to Rich and good to meet a few new faces - including Rick "Jock Exley" who had us in stitches. Full report to follow... Jock Exley....ROFL __________________ Forget Everything And Remember http://phreaticzone.thedeepstop.com/ http://www.dublinbaydiving.com/

May 9th, 2006, 07:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
Devon Rob(Offline) Can´t remember-member Breakout Champion! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lyme Bay.Devon.UK formerly Hamburg, Ger. Posts: 316	Fcuk me the back gardens in Wimbledon look good! Very nice piece of kit. Looking forward to the writeup Devon rob __________________ this mail was checked for viruses,worms & bad breath

May 10th, 2006, 11:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
Howard Payne(Offline) Strokey Dokily Doo Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London Posts: 1,202	I think that's Gorgeous George's modest little patio. Who says there's no money in diving eh? __________________ The Foxturd Chimp

May 10th, 2006, 11:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
PBrown(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 198	Quote: (Originally Posted by Howard Payne) I think that's Gorgeous George's modest little patio. Who says there's no money in diving eh? His money didn't come from diving. question for you (or possibly Rich), having not actually seen one of these in the flesh, is it possible to put a standard battery pack onto the mini? would enable you to have the lightweight mini for boat dives & then switch to SLA batteries for cave diving. cheers, Paul

May 10th, 2006, 11:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
JohnKendall(Offline) GUE Instructor/DIRX Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,100	Quote: (Originally Posted by PBrown) His money didn't come from diving. question for you (or possibly Rich), having not actually seen one of these in the flesh, is it possible to put a standard battery pack onto the mini? would enable you to have the lightweight mini for boat dives & then switch to SLA batteries for cave diving. cheers, Paul I've had a quick look at one, and I don't think it would be possible. Or at least not possible to put a pack in that would give you any kind of burn time useful for a cave. You might be able to fit 9-10Ah of SLA in, but that will only give you a 20min burn time. J __________________ John Kendall http://www.guetraining.com/ GUE Instruction, Santi and Halcyon Equipment NEW - Online Santi Shop

May 10th, 2006, 11:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
Howard Payne(Offline) Strokey Dokily Doo Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London Posts: 1,202	I know his money didn't come from diving :-) I'll post some pics of the battery pack when I get a mo. It's very compact - I can't see you'd get a lot of SLA in there. The reduced displacement of the smaller body wouldn't take any more weight and remain neutral. The scooter is supposed to have been weighted by GI3 to be perfectly neutral in salt, slightly negative in fresh. We'll find out on Friday conditions permitting. GI3 is supposed to be testing them in cave out in Mexico some time soon according to RichW. I think a long bodied version with two packs of batteries is a more likely development I would guess __________________ The Foxturd Chimp Last edited by Howard Payne; May 10th, 2006 at 11:59 AM.

May 10th, 2006, 12:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
PBrown(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 198	Thanks chaps, not sure I phrased my question properly, trying to squeeze SLA's into the mini body isn't what I meant. As I understand it the motor & back end are the same on a mini & a 'normal' (apart from shorter legs), so is it possible to swap out the entire front end and fit the body tube (& batteries) from a 'normal' gavin? i.e could I buy a mini & a magnum body and use them interchangably? cheers, Paul