Gas inflation Life Jackets

[seaesta]

Time to replace my life jackets and I have been looking at
"Lasilas Sigma 2 gas inflation 150N CE type approved lifejackets. The loose lung design allows for a very compact and comfortable fit. Available in manual (pull toggle to inflate) and auto (automatically inflates within 4 seconds of jacket being submerged in water) models".
Has anyone any experience with these? Does the auto inflation ljs work and Do they inflate if you get very heavy rain all day!
Thanks
Martin

 

[qsiv]

They do inflate - sometimes when not required. There are two inflation mechanisms. First is a water soluble tablet, the second is a hydrostatic trigger that trips when a certain pressure is exceeded.

Hydrostatics are not (I believe) recommended for sprogs, as they do not have sufficient weight to guarantee that the trigger goes deep enough, but in all other respects I believe them to be better. I've had both types inflate when not required, equally I've jumped overboard and the both worked as well!

I've so far avoided the 'lets get knocked unconscious and fall overboard test', but I have pulled a man out from a similar position.. the lifejacket was inflated and probably saved his life.

 

[dickh]

Martin, make sure you try them on for comfort, I have 2 x XM Lifejackets which are comfortable and 3 x Sowester which I bought second hand locally at a very good price. These have narrow straps and chafe the neck if worn over long periods. When necessary I wear the XM even though it is a manual inflate. I also tried the Compass one at the Boatshow and this was also uncomfortable.
Certainly the lj can inflate unintentionally - I rinsed one out and hung on the line to dry, having supper in the garden with friends and it went off with a BANG!
Go for the aytomatic Hammar hydrostatic type except perhaps for Junior one as stated earlier.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[charles_reed]

Lazilas are an "economy" marine goods company and I've come to the reluctant conclusion, in my old age, that you do usually get what you pay for.

I bought manual ripcord lifejackets - hydrostatic valves need regular maintenance and the pellet-type ones are renowned for going off at embarassing moments (they weren't married at the time).
Besides new cartridges cost about €16 a time.

All those who purchase CO2 inflation lifejackets should be aware of the findings of the "Radiant" enquiry - in fact you'll probably find that screw-in lifejackets will be being superseded by positive-fixing cylinders. (Marine Accident Investigation Branch website).

I've got both Crewsaver and SW marine jackets, both with built-in harnesses - the Crewsaver are definitely better made and more comfortable except for the crutch straps (make sure you get these or anything except a gentle entrance into the water will result in asphyxiation when the thing does inflate).
To be any use as a long-term survival aid you also need to have face hoods, 72% of fatalities to lifejacket wearers are apparently due to water inhalation caused by wind action.

Even with a manual jacket, I've had a heart-stopping inflation when I got jammed in the rigging, putting in no 3 reef in a F8 27M from the N Spanish coast.
For a few seconds I genuinely thought I'd been paralysed by a stroke or some other bizarre occurrence. Not comfortable when you're single-handed.

Mind you any singlehander wearing a lifejacket is displaying inordinate optimism, even if he's got a personal EPIRB on him.

 

[qsiv]

<<Mind you any singlehander wearing a lifejacket is displaying inordinate optimism, even if he's got a personal EPIRB on him.>>

I have to say that I only wear one when I have a crew on board who might be competent enough to pick me up. I was brought up in the old fashioned fishermans view that it was best to go quickly rather than drag it out ...

 

[oldsaltoz]

The first thing I saw was the forward hand on his knees, one hand on the forestay the other holding a knife, stabbing himself in chest, stab stab stab.

It took a moment to realise that the wave we had just taken over the bow had set his self inflating life jacket off, with his wet gear done up, the expanding jacket was restricting his breathing, so he had to deflate it in a hurry.

So avagoodweekend Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif

 

[byron]

<font color=blue>Just as an aside, I have just had a great deal on XM lifejackets from Allgadgets http://www.oceaneagle.fsnet.co.uk

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk>http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk</A>

 

[tr7v8]

I chose XM as they came out well in the MBM test on 150N lifejackets.
Not used them a huge amount but seems to be OK. Auto/Gas

Jim
-----

 

[bigmart]

I have posted this response in an earlier post but here goes.

Having participated in a test on a group of these lifejackets a couple of years ago I have a few words of wisdom to add.

My experience was thus

1) Never buy one of those with the zip up stole. They failed to open correctly in 3 out of 4 inflations.

2) If you wear them without crutch straps you might as well not bother wearing them at all. They seem to ride up in a most dangerous way & you may well fall out of them.

For what its worth I bought Crewsaver after this test although I would criticise their spray hood which is a most disappointing add on.

Martin

 

[Mirelle]

I agree with that. I have had a go at Crewsaver about their useless spray hood, particularly since their industrial lifejackets have an excellent one, and I am told they do plan to do something about it.

 

[whisper]

I'd stick with one of the "better" brands like Crewsaver, Baltic & XM. I think these all came out well in tests a year or so ago. I've got at least one of each and find that the latter two brands seem to be as good as the Crewsaver but at a slightly lower price.
Mine all have the dissolving Pellet type of mechanism and none have yet gone off when they shouldn't. Furthermore they have all gone off when they should.
Like other folk here I would strongly advise the use of thigh/crutch straps as otherwise the jackets can be useless.

 

[charles_reed]

Well that rules out 90% of the people one sails with.

Actually the picking up ain't the problem - it's being able to keep track on the overboardee and being able to return to anywhere near where he is.

I reckon that unless there are 2 of the watch still on the boat chances are very low.

The twice I've been overboard, I've had crew with me, (and both times the crew had a hand in precipitating the dunking) and both times, I've got myself back on board.

There's no doubt fear makes suoerman of us all.

 

[seaesta]

Thanks for all your valuable advice
Martin