By Robert Carmichael, Brownie’s THIRD LUNG™
Since 1969, Brownie’s Third Lung has built its name on gasoline-powered, surface-supplied air systems that let divers breathe from the surface instead of hauling tanks. For years, that lineup was sold under three separate model names: the Scout, the Pioneer, and the Explorer. Today those names have been retired in favor of one simplified buying structure: The OG, short for Original Gas.
The OG isn’t a single machine that combines the old models into one unit. It’s a new, simpler way to shop the same gasoline-powered hookah systems Brownie’s has always built — organized around the engine and compressor configuration that actually matters to a diver, with modular diver packages and accessories layered on top. Here’s what changed, why it makes buying and owning a Brownie’s system easier, and where to explore the current lineup on BrownieDive.com.
Why Brownie’s Retired the Scout, Pioneer & Explorer Names
The Scout, Pioneer, and Explorer names each pointed to a different diver-count package built around different engines and compressors, but the distinctions between them blurred as options and packages expanded over the years. Rather than asking customers to compare three separate product lines, Brownie’s rebuilt the lineup around the two specs that actually determine performance: the engine and the compressor. The result is The OG — one name, one logical set of configurations.
What The OG Replaces the Old Model Names With
Every OG configuration starts from the same complete two-diver equipment package, then lets the buyer choose the power and airflow that fit their crew:
Single Head – Briggs & Stratton — Brownie’s best starting price and the most affordable way into the classic Brownie’s experience. Best suited to value-focused buyers, couples, family diving, and routine boat jobs.
Single Head – Honda — the same single-head, direct-drive compressor paired with a Honda engine, for divers who want Honda power in a compact two-diver package.
Dual Head – Honda — Brownie’s maximum-airflow configuration, built for bigger crews and higher breathing demand. This is the recommended configuration once a group grows to four divers; a single-head system is only suited to four divers under light breathing in extremely shallow water.
From there, Add-a-Diver kits, a diver-matched Safety Bundle, and accessories like the Spare Air Add-On Kit let an owner scale a system up as their group grows, without buying an entirely new unit.
How This Simplifies Selection, Inventory, Dealer Support & Service
Collapsing three model names into one naming convention pays off well beyond the product page:
Simpler selection. Instead of comparing three separate product lines, buyers choose an engine and compressor combination, then add exactly the diver capacity and accessories they need.
Simpler inventory. Dealers stock a smaller, more predictable set of core units and modular kits instead of separate parts and packages for three different model lines.
Simpler dealer support. Authorized dealers can speak to one system architecture with a shared set of configurations, making it easier to recommend the right setup and back it with warranty service.
Simpler service. A single-head or dual-head compressor platform means parts, maintenance routines, and factory rebuild pricing follow one consistent structure instead of three.
Easier future expansion. Because the OG lineup uses standardized diver equipment and modular kits, owners can add compatible diver gear, safety equipment, and accessories as their needs grow.
Backwards Compatibility & Trade-In Support for Legacy Owners
Divers who already own a Scout, Pioneer, or Explorer aren’t left behind by the change. Brownie’s Trade-In Program accepts existing gas-powered systems, as well as Sea LiON units, toward credit on a new OG configuration: ship or bring the unit to the Brownie’s Third Lung factory in Davie, Florida, where it’s evaluated and a trade-in credit is applied toward a new system purchase.
For owners who’d rather extend the life of their current unit, the Core Rebuild Program installs a new engine and compressor on gas-powered systems while reusing the original pan and heat hose, at published base pricing by model.
Training & Ongoing Support
Every Brownie’s hookah compressor package includes a free online training program, and Brownie’s recommends pairing it with an in-water skills session led by a local instructor before diving. Owners can also turn to Brownie’s authorized dealer network for equipment demonstrations, warranty service, and ongoing maintenance support.
Explore The OG Configurations
The Scout, Pioneer, and Explorer built Brownie’s reputation for tankless diving over decades, and that engineering carries forward into The OG under one name and one buying structure — making it simpler to choose, stock, and support a Brownie’s system at every step. Ready to find the right setup for your crew? Explore the Single Head Briggs & Stratton, Single Head Honda, and Dual Head Honda OG configurations on BrownieDive.com, or contact a Brownie’s dealer to talk through the right configuration for your diving plans.
