How long should a lifejacket stay inflated?

[prv]

So are you saying that the moisture in breath will definitely not damage the bladder or the valve

No, I think Crewsaver is saying that. They ought to know, surely?

(For their own jackets at least, although the letter I mentioned said it was universal.)

rather than let everyone use a pump they likely already own just in case?

That's a bit disingenuous - nobody's saying you mustn't use a pump. Only that you don't need to if you don't happen to have one handy. Perhaps it's on the boat or in a shed somewhere?

Pete

 

[achwilan]

No, I think Crewsaver is saying that. They ought to know, surely?

(For their own jackets at least, although the letter I mentioned said it was universal.)

NO. the concern is the internal CO2 bottle which can rust after mouth inflating.

 

[vertford]

Now I am really confused...

So our warm moist breath will rust the internal bottle? But not the fabric?

All this lifesaving equipment would seem a bit "delicate"...

 

[alan_d]

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?

Apologies for bringing the thread back on topic, but did you put the cap back on the mouthpiece or rely on the valve? I had a LJ that went a bit soft overnight when relying on the valve but stayed inflated for days when the cap was replaced.

 

[davidpbo]

Cap ?? Thank you for the pointer. I will have a look and see if there is one.

 

[lustyd]

So our warm moist breath will rust the internal bottle? But not the fabric?

All this lifesaving equipment would seem a bit "delicate"...

Not so much delicate as it will last longer if looked after - you would dry off the outside after washing it (you do wash it, don't you?) so why leave the inside damp? As mentioned, moisture inside can lead to the bladder sticking to itself. It can also help to rot rubber seals if there are any.
I mostly stick to this rule because I'm a diver and having moisture inside my BCD can potentially lead to lung problems due to bacterial/fungal growth in the bladder. For a lifejacket you obviously won't be breathing off of it so that one is less important.

 

[lustyd]

Cap ?? Thank you for the pointer. I will have a look and see if there is one.

For goodness sake don't rely on the cap to keep you afloat! these generally just clip on and their main use is as a pokey stick to deflate the life jacket.

 

[prv]

As mentioned, moisture inside can lead to the bladder sticking to itself.

One of these days I'm going to have to go and read through the big stack of randomly-ordered PBOs in my living room to find the one with the letter from Crewsaver in which they state that moist breath does not cause the bladder to stick together, so that I can scan that letter in, and post it every time someone says that moist breath causes the bladder to stick together.

I can appreciate the sentiment of keeping the inside pristine and fresh so that all chance of growing nasty gunge is eliminated, and that's fair enough, but the sticking idea has been flat-out repudiated by the experts.

Pete

 

[lustyd]

Whether crewsaver think so or not, two sheets of plastic with moisture between them will tend to stick together after a year or two. This is just common sense and something we come across quite often in daily life. If moisture is such a non issue why do they ship them with packets of desiccant (do not eat) in with the lj?

 

[andygc]

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?

No. I'm just pointing you to a link that takes you to a website where Crewsaver, who make the things, tell you how to check your lifejacket.

Whether crewsaver think so or not, two sheets of plastic with moisture between them will tend to stick together after a year or two. This is just common sense and something we come across quite often in daily life. If moisture is such a non issue why do they ship them with packets of desiccant (do not eat) in with the lj?

If it is such obvious common sense, why not, rather than banging on here, write to Crewsaver to ask them why they want all their customers to die? At the same time you could ask them why they pack a new LJ with a packet of silica gel - not much point in asking us, we don't work for Crewsaver.

 

[blackbeard]

Well, I have a lj which must be getting on for 20 years old now - if inflated (used to use mouth, now lilo-type pump), stays inflated several days without apparent pressure loss until I lose patience - inflating mechanism seems on visual inspection to be OK, cylinder is without significant corrosion and remains same weight, harness bit looks absolutely fine, since being bought has acquired light and spray hood - is there ANY point in replacing it (other than it's not auto) or could it remain in service? (seems to be better made and in better nick than some more recent ones!).

 

[vyv_cox]

Well, I have a lj which must be getting on for 20 years old now - if inflated (used to use mouth, now lilo-type pump), stays inflated several days without apparent pressure loss until I lose patience - inflating mechanism seems on visual inspection to be OK, cylinder is without significant corrosion and remains same weight, harness bit looks absolutely fine, since being bought has acquired light and spray hood - is there ANY point in replacing it (other than it's not auto) or could it remain in service? (seems to be better made and in better nick than some more recent ones!).

Sounds like our original ones, well over 20 years old, always tested by oral inflation and seem to be holding up well. We bought two automatic ones which are more comfortable to wear and had better buckles, keeping the old ones for visitors. If you think the risk of non-automatic inflation is worth taking (I do) then I see no benefit in changing if you are happy in all other respects.

 

[davidpbo]

It was not just the absence of cap which was causing my LJ to deflate prematurely it still did it with the cap fitted. There are pin holes in the bladder where it has been folded, maybe more regular checking would have prolonged its life if it was not re-folded in exactly the same place.