Auto lifejackets - Hammar vs pill systems

[webcraft]

I've heard rumours of problems with Hammar release systems. I'd always thought them more reliable than the good old salt pill method, but now I'm in the market for a top of the range lj I am beginning to wonder.

Requirements are:

150 - 180N
Auto-inflation
No accidental inflation
Harness point
Lifitng becket
Easy to check and maintain
Thigh straps (pref. to crotch?)
Hood - pref. integral and easy to use
Light fitted, pref. strobe

As far as I can see, there's no such thing at any price, let alone at a reasonable one . . .

- Nick


Why not?

Any thoughts or recommendations?

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[Mirelle]

I think perhaps there are - but I think you have just specified a "professional" lifejacket, not a yotti one!

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[bigmart]

The problem with Hammar releases is related to the Gas Cylinder coming unscrewed fron the release mechanism. Because the Cylinder is kept inside the bladder it is not obvious if this occurs. Personally I have gone for the Hammar release & check it regularly. I've never found it loose yet.

Martin

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[John_Clarke]

Use Loctite 222

I found that the cylinders in my Hammar inflation devices were loose so I contacted Crewsaver. Mr Kitchen of Crewsaver has told me that they now secure the gas bottles in their new lifejackets with Loctite 222 Threadlocker (this is the weakest of the Loctite products and is for screw threads rather than nuts or studs). When replacing the cylinder he advises applying a tiny drop to the end of the threads and it will be spread along the threads as the cylinder is screwed in. A 10 ml bottle cost about 6 UKP. Loctite UK will give you the name of a local stockist; you may find that they have to order the 10 ml bottle.

I have twice had the pill type inflate when stored at home so have stopped using them.

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[oldsaltoz]

Errr, now I'm confused, my life jacket has a gas bottle [to inflate it] and a pill that dissolves when it gets wet.

It also has a light, lifting strop, can be inflated manually, no hood tho', try RFD. I am pretty sure none of the self inflating jackets can be prevented from inflating if you get wet enough. You must have heard the true story of the poor bloke on the foredeck seen stabbing himself in the chest......

Seems he put a wet coat "over" the jacket [no doubt trying to avoid it inflating] when the pill got wet and she blew up, the crewman could not breath........ so was stabbing his life jacket to deflate it in a hurry.

Avagoodweekend......



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[Laurin]

Not an ideal compromise but on my XM (pill type I think) lifejacket it is easy to unscrew the pill section. I usually don't do this but if am going on the fordeck in particularly bad weather, I might unscrew this an put in my pocket to stop accidental inflation..... will be clipped on so unlikely to go over the side! Replace pill when back in cockpit.

By the way did anybody see the salvage squad program with the hovercraft... all wearing lifejackets but Sugs one was clearly underneath his jacket!

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[bedouin]

The Hammar lifejackets will not inflate just because they get wet. They have a pressure-sensitive mechanism that only fires when you are a couple of feet underwater.

This should eliminate accidental inflation (I have never heard of one) but are probably slower to inflate in a real event than a pill type.

These are the type I prefer to use. I don't trust the pill type as there are times when you get very wet indeed and an accidental inflation can be dangerous - and I don't like manual because they aren't much use if you are unconscious.

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[Brian_B]

Nick

We looked into this before making a purchase at last years Southampton Show.
What swung it for us finally was a word with the RNLI men. They don’t make recommendations but they do use Crewsaver!
So, we got top of the range Crewsaver 150N with hammer system, light, spray hood and very important crutch straps. There’s no point wearing a lifejacket if it can slip off.
We tested the jackets during a sea survival course a few weeks ago and they worked without fault, unlike some other makes.
Also, replacement hammer systems and cylinders were easy and quick to fit and they repacked.

Hope this helps

Brian


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