The price includes a credit card fee. If you pay by check, money order, or bank wire, the discounted price is $8,650 delivered within the contiguous United States.  
 
This helmet was amongst a group of helmets from Bob’s very early designing days that he had stored in his workshop. Some of these helmets were not fully completed, requiring a bit more work before being able to be used. This Dual Port is one of them. It has a different cam system than the only other Dual Port we are aware of. The cam levers on this helmet face forward, not backward, as Bob was working on different component designs for his helmets.
 
The Dual Port Rat Hat was featured along side Bob’s standard Rat Hat in an early ODC brochure. The brochure noted that the helmet was “Extremely simple, fool-proof neck ring – helmet ring assembly with O ring seal. Excellent visibility – large unbreakable polycarbon ports, Carrying handle.” The bonnet neck ring retails its original O ring. The air and exhaust controls both turn freely, and the interior communications are still wired in place.
 
This helmet appears to have never been in the water, which may be because Bob never got to finish the bottom neck ring. It comes with a bottom neck ring that fits OK, as can be seen, but it is not a fully finished ring and shows signs of on-going work. Thus it is not a perfect fit as the cam handles do not close completely on the bonnet neck ring. There is a very slight gap. A little selective filing could correct this. It also may be that this helmet was a prototype before Bob’s final version of the Dual Port neck ring with the usual rear-facing cam handles.
 
ODC was eventually acquired from Bob by OCEANEERING, and his Rat Hat was withdrawn from the industry market and became exclusive to OCEANEERING divers. The Dual Port was used at the College of Oceaneering back in the 1970’s, and Kirby Morgan featured it Episode 8 of their Diving into the Past video series. This Dual Port Rat Hat is in museum display condition and much rarer than the stock Rat Hat. Being signed by Bob makes it unique.
 
The increase in demand for early fiberglass designs has been growing at an impressive rate in the last few years. An early prototype design of a now-iconic helmet that is signed by its creator is likely an investment that will pay off handsomely in the future for its next owner.
 
The price includes a credit card fee. If you pay by check, money order, or bank wire, the discounted price is $8,650 delivered within the contiguous United States.