Life Jacket CO2 cylinders

[Graham376]

Hope this post doesn't break any rules. Looking around for some spare CO2 cylinders on ebay, found some ex-airline life jacket ones for sale by Rotary. As it's a charity, proceeds put to good use - 2 x 33g CO2 Gas Cylinder Replacement Canister Lifejacket Re-Arming, CHARITY SALE | eBay

 

[William_H]

The aviation industry have service times for many many items as part of the aircraft. I do not find it surprising that LJ cylinders are replaced on a calendar period not on condition. This because they are a compressed gas cylinder so seen as a rsik of explosion. So if cylinders are of correct size and type then they should be fine for boat LJ. In fact boat gas cylinders suffer from corrosion over time although I have never heard of one leaking or discharging from corrosion. Still the main reason for replacement apart from actual use. The aircraft ones would have been kept in a much more benign environment. (of course new cylinders here are about 10squid so one might just go new from chandler.) ol'will

 

[harvey38]

I'd never be comfortable buying timed expired anything related to life saving equipment, at what point would you then change those ?

When they are available at £7.99 each, new, why take a chance?

 

[Whaup367]

I'd never be comfortable buying timed expired anything related to life saving equipment, at what point would you then change those ?

Are they expired? The airline industry has specified that they be replaced but CO2 cylinders don't have expiry dates, only manufacturing ones... RT supplies advise "Cylinders should not be used if they are showing signs of deterioration"
So you'd change them when they corroded, or if they were under weight when checked. They are probably in as good condition as one that's been sat inside a lifejacket in a chandlery for a year awaiting a buyer.

When they are available at £7.99 each, new, why take a chance?

For charity. Obviously your choice (you might disagree with their aims, for example) but I'm not convinced by your reasoning.

I'd be tempted; it looks like it would help a good cause and I'm not (yet!) convinced there would be an increased risk.

 

[neil_s]

Do a check weigh on them and if there is no sign of corrosion or damage then they are good to go!

 

[Graham376]

I'd never be comfortable buying timed expired anything related to life saving equipment, at what point would you then change those ?

When they are available at £7.99 each, new, why take a chance?

Including postage, they were the cheapest and also helps a charity. Pristine condition, no expiry date and weight OK. They're to replace the ones in rarely used manual LJs in dinghy seat bag which were rusty although still full.

 

[Stemar]

The only time I've replaced gas cylinders was because one had been used - LJ got wet in the bottom of the tender and went off, and the other because it had more than very superficial corrosion. I weigh them every year, but I've never know one be underweight. Most of mine are the age of the LJ, around 15 years. Those jackets may be a bit faded on the outside, but the important stuff is still good as new.

I do change the cartridges when they reach expiry, but when I did a friend's LJ some years ago, the cartridge was seven years out of date. It still went off with a satisfying pop when dropped into a bowl of water.

 

[Graham376]

I do change the cartridges when they reach expiry, but when I did a friend's LJ some years ago, the cartridge was seven years out of date. It still went off with a satisfying pop when dropped into a bowl of water.

When I inflated LJs last winter to test, one had lost some pressure over night so I binned it but, the roughly 15 years old soluble capsule (not Hammar) worked fine when chucked in a bucket of water so, I don't see the point of changing them at the supposed expiry date. Life raft Hammar release was also a few years out of date and that released OK when dunked on the end of a line.

 

[savageseadog]

Not to worry, the lifejacket will be fine. You only need the cylinders fitted if you actually fall in.

 

[Bilgediver]

Hope this post doesn't break any rules. Looking around for some spare CO2 cylinders on ebay, found some ex-airline life jacket ones for sale by Rotary. As it's a charity, proceeds put to good use - 2 x 33g CO2 Gas Cylinder Replacement Canister Lifejacket Re-Arming, CHARITY SALE | eBay

These are only suitable for lifejackets that use a 33gm bottle so beware. Many current jackets use 38 GM so 33 gm would be unsuitable.

If they are compatible with your life jackets then as long as there is no visible corrosion , the foil on the seal is not perforated and the weight of the bottle exceeds the minimum weight engraved on the bottle there is no expiry time. I bought a job lot of 33 gm and 38 gm bottles at a closing down sale many moons ago for £1 each and still working through them . AIrline bottles should be fine as they are in a more or less controlled atmosphere most of the time and time since manufacture is purely academic.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A DATE STAMPED BOTTLE????

 

[srm]

In fact boat gas cylinders suffer from corrosion over time although I have never heard of one leaking or discharging from corrosion.

I have seen both. They came with my previous boat. I checked the LJs first with an overnight dry air pressure test. Two had slow leaks so used these to test the cylinders as all four were grotty looking. One failed to put any gas in the LJ, another spluttered for a while and partly inflated the LJ. Two fully inflated the LJ so a 50% failure rate. I decided it was better to replaced all of the LJs.

 

[Graham376]

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A DATE STAMPED BOTTLE????

I've never looked before but, a bit surprised they're not stamped CAA or FAA approved, having come off commercial aircraft LJs.