POLL : Reeflo Orca 250/ BK Super Marine 250 / BK Super Marine 300

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Let's use different research tools, ok?

And no, if I had a million dollars, I wouldn't buy a BK. It's over priced. Period. What I wish for is elitist skimmer owners to stop thinking the BK is the only good skimmer out there.
If it's built like a tank, great. But how many people take their skimmers into battle? I just fill mine with foamy water. And yes, 1/4 acrylic, cast or extruded, is more than strong enough to hold 3 feet of foamy water. Now maybe you can kick your skimmer around the yard, but seriously, who does that???

I thought this was over.....

You can use your methods I'll use mine. Unless you've owned a BK you really have no idea. Yes it's expensive but it is most certainly not over priced, do you need to have all those features? No but it doesn't hurt, and forget about the amazing craftsmanship and just consider the pump as that's the heart of any skimmer. I've repaired many skimmers that have cracked, not sure how each one was broken but they do break, mostly deltecs but that's another story. Other skimmers work fine but most people eventually get sick of replacing pumps and repairing cracks and dealing with noise and inconsistent skimming and will eventually suck it up and get a BK and when they do they wonder why they never did it before. Maybe I'm wrong but I am yet to hear from anyone unhappy with a BK, come on prove me wrong.

Once again the bottom line is that the BK is better skimmer than the Orca, yeah that's an opinion but a strong one. Is the orca a good skimmer for price? Hard to say, it's very possible but it's too new on the market and not a lot of people use them so only time will tell. If you can honestly say the orca is better than the BK please tell me why. Cause all I'm saying that if the budget allowed for it a better choice would have been the BK.

I also thought this was over.....

[Delphinus]

If someone were to give me a BK I'll happily test the theory that I'll never get unhappy with it.

You have to realize the other side of the coin. Coming to market with a skimmer for $2000 (or in some cases more) you are going to be scrutinized at a certain level. I've heard time and again how the "welds on a BK are a work of art." And time and again, I find myself not caring about how the welds look. I care about results. It does sound as if there are good features to a BK. But personally, I just can't get over the sticker shock.. I just can't. Wish I wasn't one of those folks but that's how it is.

I've been in the hobby now a solid decade and I can say that of all the skimmers I've ever owned that have failed in some manner, it's been because I myself modified them in some manner. If you take away that part of the equation, I've had a PM-1 beckett skimmer running now in continuous operation, using the same pump, for over 6 years. Possibly the best $200 I ever spent on the hobby. I realize it's not a fair comparison but it still illustrates that longevity doesn't always come only from the higher end devices we spent our cash on.

I'd love me a BK one day, but the odds are not very good I'll ever buy one brand new - it would have to be some heck of a deal second-hand methinks.