A Small Rant: Why Do Lifejacket CO2 Cylinders Invariably Rust

[savageseadog]

Every time I come across used lifejackets the CO2 cylinders are invariably rusted sometimes very badly. Most of them (all?) are plated with a golden finish which seems to barely protect the steel. Why can't they be finished with some decent paint and be marked in a permanent way? Fit for purpose?.........No

 

[gardenshed]

Hang in a nice dry place on the boat and don't expose them to moisture.
They are designed to be "useless if worn a lot" don't ya know.

alternatively, why don't you spray your cylinders yourself, put some corrossion inhibitor on the threads and/or protect with vaseline and a condom.

 

[FishyInverness]

and/or protect with vaseline and a condom.

Must...resist...obvious...comment..
.
I'd suggest not using anything blatantly chemical to protect the bottle, due to it's proximity with the bladder. Otherwise, what he said...

Clean and dry after every use, tedious perhaps, but safe and reccomended for any piece of emergency equipment with many parts, that gets wet or salty... in my own experience, I haven't seen a high majority of corroded bottles though....

But you make a very valid point Savage, you'd think that given the environment in which they work, and that they have no stated expiry date - a little more work would go into the durability of the cylinder...a thin rubber dipping coat just off the top of the head...[cynic] Or perhaps it's just to make them consumable and thus keep the turnover high....[/cynic]

 

[Even Chance]

I wrap the bottle in cling-film to protect the bladder. Easily removed to weigh the bottle.

 

[awol]

alternatively, why don't you spray your cylinders yourself, put some corrossion inhibitor on the threads and/or protect with vaseline and a condom.

Did your mummy never tell you that vaseline and condoms don't go well together? I remember the demonstration of an inflated condom bursting after the application of vaseline - use KY or silicone based lubricants unless you really want to risk impregnation!

However, for LJ cylinders vaseline and a plastic bag works well.

 

[savageseadog]

Thanks for all the suggestions, must go out and buy some from the nice young lady at Boots, but it shouldn't be necessary should it?

Ive taken over a boat with 8 lifejackets on board, all cylinders in a horrible state, not my doing.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Thanks for all the suggestions, must go out and buy some from the nice young lady at Boots, but it shouldn't be necessary should it?

Ive taken over a boat with 8 lifejackets on board, all cylinders in a horrible state, not my doing.

I'd suggest that they have not been checked/serviced for a very long time.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

We varnished all ours, after removing superficial rust.

 

[dt4134]

Now this is where the RNLI/RYA could really help by trying to influence the standards for lifejackets so that cylinders will last longer in a typical yachting/fishing boat environment. Same with crutch straps/sprayhoods/lights as standards rather than extras.

Replacement cylinders and extras like crutch straps, sprayhoods & lights seem like a good little earner for life jacket manufacturers whereas if they were included in the basic product there'd be more competitive pressure on the price.

 

[Ubergeekian]

Did your mummy never tell you that vaseline and condoms don't go well together? I remember the demonstration of an inflated condom bursting after the application of vaseline - use KY or silicone based lubricants unless you really want to risk impregnation!

Durex hypoallergenic condoms are non-latex. I'm told.

 

[awol]

Durex hypoallergenic condoms are non-latex. I'm told.

Apparently not

Information about different Durex condoms, in the UK and Ireland's ...
Durex Extra Safe is a teat-ended condom, with an odour-masker, and are made from hypo-allergenic natural rubber latex. Durex Extra Safe dimensions are: ...
a1lovers.com/Durex-condoms-range-UK-Ireland.html - Cached - Similar

They do, however make a Polyurethane version which may withstand organic lubricants.

 

[Pleiades]

Cling film

Suerly the forum intelligensia can think of better uses for a condom than dressing up a gas cylinder?
It's cling film for me - cheaper and does not raise eyerows from Mission Control. I don't think "just need to buy a few packets of rubber for my weekend away on the boat dear" would help float our boat.

Don't fancy varnishing the cylinders - risk of a splash interfering with the trigger or activation mechanism.

Happy condom doning if that is your preference!

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Suerly the forum intelligensia can think of better uses for a condom than dressing up a gas cylinder?
It's cling film for me - cheaper and does not raise eyerows from Mission Control. I don't think "just need to buy a few packets of rubber for my weekend away on the boat dear" would help float our boat.

Don't fancy varnishing the cylinders - risk of a splash interfering with the trigger or activation mechanism.

Happy condom doning if that is your preference!

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

The varnish was applied with the cylinders dismantled from the trigger gear. No risk of splashes!

 

[Bosun Higgs]

As I understand it, the cylinders slowly lose gas pressure anyway. So varnishing them and then keeping them for the next 20 years might be a poor idea.

A proper check on the LJ involves weighing the cylinder

 

[FishyInverness]

As I understand it, the cylinders slowly lose gas pressure anyway. So varnishing them and then keeping them for the next 20 years might be a poor idea.

A proper check on the LJ involves weighing the cylinder

Not in any major way Bosun - Weighed a 5year old cylinder during our LJ servicing tutorial - weight was still as nominated on the bottle.

Weighing every 6 months is best practice though...

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Not in any major way Bosun - Weighed a 5year old cylinder during our LJ servicing tutorial - weight was still as nominated on the bottle.

Weighing every 6 months is best practice though...

Did exactly the same thing on my liferaft after 5 years and that was well below the limit

 

[prv]

The Hammar fittings place the bottle inside the jacket bladder, which seems a good way of keeping them dry and hence non-corroded. On the other hand, it does make it harder to examine them.

Pete

 

[cindersailor]

I wrap mine in Duct-tape; much more resistant to abraison than condoms.

 

[prv]

I wrap mine in Duct-tape; much more resistant to abraison than condoms.

I've never tried it, but I'd be concerned that that would trap water against the metal instead of drying out, promoting rather than preventing corrosion. Maybe my gaffer tape is inferior, but it's never seemed particularly waterproof.

Pete

 

[timbartlett]

Fit for purpose?.........No

You are making the rash assumption that a lifejacket is intended to save life. It is not. It is intended to meet a specification. So long as it meets the specification, it has done its job.