Do you trust your lifejacket?

[gary_yank]

I work part time in a marine store in the US. We had a lady come in who had put three of the harness type auto inflate jackets in the washing machine. She wanted to know when we were going to repair her washing machine.

Gary

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[StugeronSteve]

Re: Not very!

Had one go off in the utility room at home a few years ago! Tumble dryer vent had ruptured letting some steam into the room. Also had one inflate when crew dropped it into the wet bottom of the flubber. I have no experience of use on a mobo of any sort but I've had plenty of green water chucked at mine sailing without an accidental fire.

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[Mirelle]

Sorry, missed that

I beg your pardon. But, as you will gather, I don't think the issue has been sufficiently canvassed amongst people who sail for pleasure.

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[tome]

Re: Sorry, missed that

Agree. MAIB stuff tends to be well circulated in professional circles only, though it's there for anyone who is interested.

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[AndrewJ]

got this information from boatus, might be of interest
The "Hammar" mechanisms were the subject of a recall by inflatable
manufacturer SOS, Inc. Information about the recall follows and more info is
posted on the company's web site, which is listed below.

* RECALL #020154T
Inflatable PFD Models: 38HSTD-M-W; 38HSTD-M; 38HHAR-M-W; 38HHAR-M; 38CMH;
38HPRO-M; CMH38ARP; 38HTV/9; 38HTV/9-CG; 38HSTDM/7; 38HUL/9 (7,200 units)
Some Hammar model MA1 manual/automatic inflators used on SOSpenders
automatic inflatable personal flotation devices may be defective and will
not inflate PFDs with CO2 either automatically or manually. Consumers should
stop using these PFDs immediately. Affected PFDs can be identified by the
yellow Hammar MA1 inflator cap.
For instructions on how to disarm PFDs, visit the SOS, Inc., web
site, http://www.sospenders.com/recall.html . If you have trouble disarming
the Hammar inflation unit, call customer service, 800-858-5876. After the
product is disarmed package the PFD for shipment to:
SOSpenders
1510 NW 17th Street
Fruitland, ID 83619.
SOSpenders Customer Service will facilitate the return of your
product and a no charge replacement order.

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[Peppermint]

Re: As I posted here at the time

I tried mine, an XM, on the Sea Survival course and it inflated OK.

What you can't trust a 150kn lifejacket to do is turn you face up. The buoyency of trapped air in your clothing can resist the righting moment.

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[windandwave]

Re: As I posted here at the time

On my sea survival course (about 18 months ago) five people brought their own automatic lifejackets, of which 3 did not auto-inflate. In fact, one failed to inflate even when the toggle was pulled. So I'm somewhat sceptical about automatic lifejackets, unless regularly inspected. I would prefer the solution used by Glenans in Ireland for their keelboats, which is to have jackets with some foam buoyancy and an auto-inflate/manual-inflate mechanism. The jackets aren't too bulky, and give you the reassurance of knowing that you will certainly have some extra buoyancy in a MOB situation, even if the automatic system fails, giving you time to trigger the jacket manually or (last resort) inflate it by blowing into the tube.

Incidentally, when big boat sailing (I'm normally a dinghy sailor) I generally wear the same buoyancy aid that I use for my dinghy. In theory it's less safe: only 60 Newton, doesn't turn you face up if unconscious, etc.: but given the unpredictability of some gas-inflated lifejackets, I can't say that it feels any less safe.

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[yachtbits]

The best jacket available..

I crew for the RNLI on a inshore D class inflateable. The jackets we use are a combination of manual gas jacket and bouyancy aid. You can swim in them or inflate if "Lifejacket" mode is required. These are from crewsaver, but I don't think they are on general release.

As for gas only jackets, some years back in a previous life, I had one fail whilst on an Offshore sea survival course. It was a manual inflate only version. It made me realise that they can fail. After that I always only wore a bouyancy aid type jacket with a collar whilst working on the back decks of survey vessels. I was often asked why I wouldn't wear the gas jackets every one else was wearing.

My usual response was that if it didn't inflate, I would probably drown before I was picked up. If I did drown and then sank, my family may not have a body to bury and loads of aggro with the life insurance.

We worked all weathers, all year and through the night, the bouyancy aid type also provide good insulation from the cold.

Now being shore based, I only bother with fair weather sailing. But I will still only wear a dinghy type bouyancy aid. (other than lifeboat duty's)

kev



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