How long should a lifejacket stay inflated?

davidpbo

davidpbo

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I blew up my lifejacket (10yrs old) yesterday using the mouth tube. I was a little disconcerted that after an hour or so it was quite floppy so a candidate for replacement very soon. I appreciate I can top it up by the tube but in a emergency it would not be good to rely on that or necessarily expect to be able to do it.

How long should I expect one to stay firmly blown up?
 
At least overnight is what people usually quote. You ought to use a pump to inflate it too to avoid moisture getting in from your breath too.
 
When I tested all of mine they stayed firm for around 24 hours. I heard about using a pump to avoid moisture getting in too, but then read somewhere else that newer valves negate the need for this? So I blew them all up by mouth.
 
This winter when I tested my lifejackets for inflation integrity they stayed firm for 4 days until I deflated them. They were in my centrally heated house and orally inflated until hard.

When I deflated them I remember the valve in the mouth piece springing shut quite fast and with a low volume but audible muffled click. The life jackets are 6 to 4 years old.
 
I don't see how a valve would remove moisture. It's not a massive problem but a pump would be the better option. As discussed on these boards previously the problem is greater on a BCD for diving as you may end up breathing from it.
 
I seem to remember a suggestion in the magazines that moisture in the breath could affect the materials used in the stole of the lifejacket, possibly rotting it. The material was changed to prevent this. However there seems to be a lot of experience on other forums to suggest that the rotting doesn't happen. Exactly as with this forum, lots of other posters say it does.
 
Moisture could well be the cause of the failing valves mentioned above though. Most of us have a pump anyway, and they can be had for £3 from GO Outdoors etc so I can't imagine why you'd risk it with a £100+ life jacket.
 
I broke my leg and a friend ran the boat, he didn't think much of the two lifejackets, replaced them and I took the others home and inflated them. One went down in 24 hours, the other stayed inflated for seven years. Take your pick. Part solid buoyancy, part inflation, I later found they are regarded as a very good make. No, can't remember.
 
Inflated

How long do you want it to stay inflated?

How long do you want it to keep your head above water for when unconscious?
 
jellyellie said:
When I tested all of mine they stayed firm for around 24 hours. I heard about using a pump to avoid moisture getting in too, but then read somewhere else that newer valves negate the need for this? So I blew them all up by mouth.
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I wish my belly would stay firm for 24 hrs - but I can't hold my breath that long!

I think the issue with oral inflation is that the miosture sticks the bladder sides together (like a balloon) and can prevent full inflation by the gas cartridge and, of course, it can't help the longevity of the bladder.

Rob.
 
rob2 said:
I think the issue with oral inflation is that the miosture sticks the bladder sides together (like a balloon) and can prevent full inflation by the gas cartridge and, of course, it can't help the longevity of the bladder.
Click to expand...

There was a letter from one of the lifejacket manufacturers, I think Crewsaver, in PBO last year. He said that did used to be a problem, but the materials they use nowadays don't suffer from it and neither rot nor stick if blown up by mouth for testing.

Pete
 
Isn't it time this guff about oral inflation being bad for lifejackets stopped being repeated? Here is what Crewsaver advises
3. Check the air holding properties of the Lifejacket by inflating orally and leaving overnight. If air loss does occur, return the Lifejacket to Crewsaver for inspection.
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andygc said:
Isn't it time this guff about oral inflation being bad for lifejackets stopped being repeated? Here is what Crewsaver advises
Click to expand...

So are you saying that the moisture in breath will definitely not damage the bladder or the valve and you'd bet the forums lives on that fact rather than let everyone use a pump they likely already own just in case?
 
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