life jackets

[scubajohn]

Hi all
i have two spare jackets 3yrs old now never been out the plastic packet should i have them serviced or would they be fine till used.
i realize its a safety question but your opinions are respected
cheers jp

 

[rosssavage]

Serviced, definitely.

Likely the hydrostatic firing jobbie is time ex, the co2 cartridge will need visually inspecting and weighing, and the bladder MUST be unfurled, inspected, inflated for 24 hrs to leak check and re packed.

If there's a problem, now is the time to find out, not when you need it!!

 

[scubajohn]

i thought so silly question

Serviced, definitely.

Likely the hydrostatic firing jobbie is time ex, the co2 cartridge will need visually inspecting and weighing, and the bladder MUST be unfurled, inspected, inflated for 24 hrs to leak check and re packed.

If there's a problem, now is the time to find out, not when you need it!!

 

[Sailingsaves]

Only 3 years old?

Depends on if you have money to spend with ease or prefer the pbo method.

I would inflate with dry air (after I photographer the unfolding method for re-folding !) (I know people say that modern materials mean moisture is not a problem but why risk it?)

See if they stay at same pressure for 48 hours.

check visually for signs of glue deterioration and fabric integrity.

Buy a re-arm kit. Buy some scales and weigh co2 bottle from new until eternity and if it never loses weight you will not have to throw the 'old' bottle away (keep as spare actually) because you do not know if it has lost co2.

My jackets are over 10 yrs old _ looked after _ tested each season and maybe better than new because I know they work and a new one may not.

 

[onesea]

i thought so silly question

Not a silly question what would be silly is to pay for some one to service them when you can do it yourself.

Its not rocket science try them if you are not happy take it to be serviced afterwards.

 

[nigelmercier]

Not a silly question what would be silly is to pay for some one to service them when you can do it yourself...

Quite so, it's very easy. As SailingSaves says.
Buy a rearming kit and a 300g digital scale; I've got one like this, excellent: http://amzn.to/1itk3Qf

 

[prv]

what would be silly is to pay for some one to service them when you can do it yourself.

Agree.

Here's lifejacket servicing day chez Pete, a couple of months ago:

(Sitting there for the 24 hour inflation test.)

Pete

 

[charles_reed]

Hi all
i have two spare jackets 3yrs old now never been out the plastic packet should i have them serviced or would they be fine till used.
i realize its a safety question but your opinions are respected
cheers jp

It all depends if it's a 1. manual blow up, 2. a CO2 pull inflation or 3. an auto-inflation jacket.

If it's 1. you probably don't need to do anything except make sure you know how to use itand the bladders are not leaking.
If 2. it's easy to service yourself, check-weigh the CO2 cylinder which should have the full weight marked on it, check the firing mechanism works (with the cylinder removed and (if I was doing my annual service) check the bladders are OK. by inflating it by mouth and inspecting them.
#3. Is more complicated, depending on the type of firing mechanism and is probably worth having serviced professionally.

 

[prv]

3. Is more complicated, depending on the type of firing mechanism and is probably worth having serviced professionally.

No it isn't.

The only additional task if you have auto inflation is to ensure the auto mechanism hasn't been fired (they generally have a simple red/green indicator) and is in date. If someone is able to do all the other checks on a manual gas lifejacket, why would they not be able to do this small extra step on an auto one?

Pete

 

[l'escargot]

The cylinder is most probably out of date. I would buy a new cylinder/rearming kit, make a note of how they are folded, set them off, leave them overnight to see they stay inflated, visually check them for damage, then replace the cylinder/rearming kit and repack. Job done and the benefit of knowing what to expect when you set one off

 

[alahol2]

The cylinder is most probably out of date.

I'm fairly sure cylinders as such don't go out of date. If they weigh what they are supposed to (stamped onto them) and are not unduly corroded thay should be fine. The arming mechanism may have a 'use by date' depending on the type.

 

[l'escargot]

I'm fairly sure cylinders as such don't go out of date. If they weigh what they are supposed to (stamped onto them) and are not unduly corroded thay should be fine. The arming mechanism may have a 'use by date' depending on the type.

Some cylinders have a date stamped on them and a recommendation that they are replaced after x number of years. If you weigh them and they aren't corroded, then as you say they should be fine. Depends whether you want operate on "should" and are confident that they will remain "fine" until you next remember to check them...

 

[prv]

I'm fairly sure cylinders as such don't go out of date. If they weigh what they are supposed to (stamped onto them) and are not unduly corroded thay should be fine.

Agree.

It's the auto firing mechanisms that go out of date. A manual gas jacket has no time-expiring parts at all (but still needs servicing).

Pete

 

[prv]

Some cylinders have a date stamped on them and a recommendation that they are replaced after x number of years.

OK. None of mine (on four different models of lifejacket by three different well-known makers) have dates on them though.

are confident that they will remain "fine" until you next remember to check them...

You make it sound like lifejacket servicing is a random event that only happens when someone remembers. For me it's one of the regular winter jobs, done over a couple of evenings (to allow for the 24hr inflation check) after dinner.

Pete

 

[winsbury]

RNLI will do a free boat safety check if you ask nicely and will show you how to service your life jackets; a brilliant service and worth a donation even if you never need them for anything else.

 

[l'escargot]

Agree.

It's the auto firing mechanisms that go out of date. A manual gas jacket has no time-expiring parts at all (but still needs servicing).

Pete

These people would seem to disagree and refer to checking cylinder expiry dates: http://www.safety-marine.co.uk/spages/how-to-maintain-your-lifejacket.htm They also recommend checking cylinders more regularly than every winter.

 

[l'escargot]

...You make it sound like lifejacket servicing is a random event that only happens when someone remembers...

The OP hasn't checked the ones in question for 3 years...

 

[prv]

These people would seem to disagree and refer to checking cylinder expiry dates: http://www.safety-marine.co.uk/spages/how-to-maintain-your-lifejacket.htm

They can refer to it all they like, my cylinders don't have dates and so I can't check them

They also recommend checking cylinders more regularly than every winter.

The whole article suggests checking things more often than just the traditional annual service, and they may have a point. All the more reason to service yourself rather than increase the cost and inconvenience by having multiple professional services done.

Pete

 

[xeitosaphil]

Agree.

Here's lifejacket servicing day chez Pete, a couple of months ago:

(Sitting there for the 24 hour inflation test.)

Pete

Hi Pete,

It’s obvious from the photo that you are very proficient and happy to service your own lifejackets, one thing I have always wondered is, when people say, “ inflate with dry air “ what method of inflation do they / you use?

It’s probably a silly question, but it has always intrigued me.

 

[prv]

when people say, “ inflate with dry air “ what method of inflation do they / you use?

I just use an old dinghy footpump. I think when people say "dry air", they're referring to the moisture in breath which would go into the bladder if you blew the jacket up by mouth. They don't mean some kind of artificially dehumidified air supply.

Older lifejackets were susceptible to damage if left with dampness inside the bladder from oral inflation. Newer ones (as in the last ten years or more) are reportedly immune to that problem and the manufacturers say it's ok to blow them up by mouth for servicing. But even so it seems a bit unhygienic, and the footpump is easier anyway, so that's what I use.

Pete