Helidan
Well-Known Member
I have, many times. Never once observed what you are saying. Also never mentioned on the servicing courses (I've done the Crewsaver course among many). Very odd indeed.
Life jacket cylinder change
- Thread starter harvey38
- Start date
Bilgediver
Well-Known Member
Very very odd. Especially as the jackets are designed to inflate using a prescribed amount of CO2 and so there should be NO release under normal operation. I am going to try inflating an old 33 gm life jacket with a 38 GM bottle to see what happens. There will be a long pull cord.
Is it possible that under extreme pressure the oral valve pops out?
Helidan
Well-Known Member
Lifejackets are designed with a certain operating temperature in mind, the correct weight co2 cylinders should be able to provide enough gas for the jacket to attain its stipulated buoyancy rating. We have inflated lifejackets under experimental conditions to quite high pressures and have never observed a leak from the oral valve. What lustyd is observing is very bizzare.Very very odd. Especially as the jackets are designed to inflate using a prescribed amount of CO2 and so there should be NO release under normal operation. I am going to try inflating an old 33 gm life jacket with a 38 GM bottle to see what happens. There will be a long pull cord.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Almost as possible as them being designed to avoid the life jacket popping under excess pressure
There was no damage to either LJ.
harvey38
Well-Known Member
Please test your life jackets if they are out of date!
We wanted additional lifejackets for guests and obtained some second owner, autoinflate Kru jackets that were out of date, one 2016 and one 2019. Whilst they inflated manually, both CO2 cylinders were corroded and the flashing LED unit on the other isn't connected to any power source!
New cylinder and hammer units ordered ?
We wanted additional lifejackets for guests and obtained some second owner, autoinflate Kru jackets that were out of date, one 2016 and one 2019. Whilst they inflated manually, both CO2 cylinders were corroded and the flashing LED unit on the other isn't connected to any power source!
New cylinder and hammer units ordered ?
Attachments
Plum
Well-Known Member
If the light is similar to mine, then the power source is in the light. The end of the cable is just a sensor that detects water.
Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Exactly this. The purpose of the cable is to be in the water so it can detect the water and activate the light, which by design shouldn't be in the water!
If your cylinders aren't at least a little corroded you're not sailing enough. These things are not very hardy so just replace every few years when they get really bad and regularly check weight. They are standard and relatively inexpensive at CO2 Cylinders Archives - RT Supplies Ltd as are the standard UML firing mechanisms and other spares.
Stemar
Well-Known Member
One day, I thought that a friend I sailed with wasn't very practical, so I asked him when his LJs had abbe serviced. "Never" OK, I'll have a look at 'em. The cartridges were seven years out of date, so I ordered new ones. One of the cylinders was corroded, with a bit more than surface rust, so new one of those too The others were all fine and at the right weight. I let off the LJ with the corroded cylinder and it was fine, and the other cartridges worked with a satisfying pop when dropped in a bowl of water, so I've no doubt they would all have worked if called upon, but seven years? Yikes!
The moral of the story is that it's well worth while learning how to service your own LJs - and doing it! Or get it done, but this is the PBO forum, and it isn't difficult. I'd hate to have to explain to the coroner why the casualty's LJ didn't work.
harvey38
Well-Known Member
Ordered two service kits yesterday, arrived today and now both LJs serviced and good until 2026., £39 well spent I think.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Seems a lot, what kits were they?
harvey38
Well-Known Member
Seago 38g Pro Sensor Rearming Kit For 180-190N Lifejacket - KIT8
I got them a little cheaper and included next day delivery, doing the research, I thought £39 was good value.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Yes to be fair the pro sensor is a bit more expensive. That said, rt supplies do list the expiry on the website and let you order just the sensor as a spare (or just cylinder). I find with chandleries it’s a lottery and have seen kits with less than a year to expiry on shelves. Yours were obviously fresh though so a good deal!