Lifejacket CO2 cylinders

[dlf]

I have a slightly neurotic wife and she recently decided to re-check the lifejackets while on the boat (Of course I check my lifejackets annually as part of my overall pre-season checks). She noticed a date (or what I assume to be a date) stamped as 04/01 on the cylinder. She then assumed that this was the expiry date and promptly had a fit!! Once I managed to calm her down a little, I explained that this was the date of manufacture and not the expiry date. With this in mind, she started quizzing me on the expiry date of such a product, but we could not find any expiry information marked on the CO2 cylinder. Assuming I am correct that the date stamped on the cylinder is indeed the date of manufacture (otherwise I bought a duff lifejacket, as I purchased it in 2002), what is the safe useful life of CO2 cylinder, before you should consider changing it?

 

[johnkeith]

Just replaced three of mine and was advised by the chandler ( he would say that wouldn't he) that the cylinders should be replaced at the same time as the automatic firing unit which does have an expiry date printed on it.

 

[whipper_snapper]

I weigh mine (on a reasonably accurate electronic balance) and write the weight in felt-tip on the cylinder. Then periodically (2-3 x per year) re-weigh. If there is no change in weight and no evidence of corrosion, I take it as safe to use. My personal LJ's cylinder is now 10 years old and still weighs 144g.

 

[silver-fox]

I am not qualified to give this advice......but have you considered retaining the CO2 cylinder and changing the wife?/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Frontier]

Yep I weigh mine too, they even had the weight stamped on them.

 

[Kawasaki]

The only way to check the C02 is to weigh.
If the lifejacket is auto, renew the sensor anually anyway.
Then you know all is ok.
The cylinder if it looks ok probably wiil be.
IE as long as it does not look corroded and manky.
I hear the Cries 'probably?' not good enough etc.
So therefore renew the whole lot annually.
Only about £15 ish.

I had an 8 year old auto go off on Me last year.
Don't ask the circumstances!

To check the bladder just blow it up manually.

Check the stiching.
Notice it is, or should be a different colour to the webbing.
The , usually green, sensor can suffer from dampo.
IE don't leave the jacket in the boot, back of a van , bottom of the dinghy etc etc.

If damp gets in the jacket might inflate prematurely.

Wear crotch straps.
Check there is a whistle.
Buy a light if yer jacket don,t have one.

But basically, Don't Fall In!

 

[maxi77]

Certainly weight checking of the cylinders is good practice, I used to work for a company which used these cylinders and we did a 100% weight check on the CO bottles when they arrived. If the weight is correct there is enough gas in thecylinder, if it is light then you will have to do a bit of puffing if you ever need the lifejacket inflated.

 

[whipper_snapper]

[ QUOTE ]
Yep I weigh mine too, they even had the weight stamped on them.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you will find they have a minimum weight stamped on them, not an actual weight.

I found it more reassuring to write the actual weight on and monitor that. They vary by a few grams. Weight must of course be greater than the stamped minimum.

Thus my 144g cylinder is stamped 'minimum weight 142g'

 

[Frontier]

[ QUOTE ]
I think you will find they have a minimum weight stamped on them, not an actual weight.


[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for that, I didn't realise it was the minimum weight. Although I would change them if the measured lower on the annual check.

Cheers

D

 

[john_morris_uk]

[ QUOTE ]
If the lifejacket is auto, renew the sensor anually anyway.


[/ QUOTE ]Bit over the top? If you inspect them and they are still in date, why waste money renewing them?

Some things are serviced until they are unservicable. I understand that there used to be a regime for doing some work to the tail rotors of a particular helicopter - until some research pointed out that the service checks and replacing of parts were degrading the tail rotor faster than if they were left alone a bit longer.

Inspect the sensor and check its in date, but replace every year is unecessary surely?

 

[Gin]

If you return your lifejacket , to the manufacturers,for an annual service, three things will happen

1. The bottle will be weighed and only replaced if it is below the minimum weight stamped on it.

2. The firing capsule will be replaced whatever the expiry date stamped on it- these have a shelf life of up to 3 years but in reality when you buy them from the chandlers it is common to find more than half of that notional life has passed.

3. you will pay return postage too - 2 x £4?

What is the point of having a ' use by date'? None if you have it professionally serviced.

Otherwise a good guide to the self service brigade as to when to consider a replacement.

Since a firing capsule costs about £8 and remains good, in my experience ,well beyond the stamped date plus replacing unnecessarily a perfectly good gas bottle( another £10 or so) if one is silly enought to buy a complete re-arming kit, then it makes sense to ensure the capsule is as long dated as possible and simply throw the whole assembly, jacket and all, away, after 3 years or so.

That of course is just as silly!

For me?, I weigh the bottle annually and replace the capsule every couple of years after it is time expired. I inflate the jackets each season and leave them for 24 hours.

Average annual cost therefore per jacket, over say a three year period for a DIY owner?- £8

 

[Alfie168]

I'd advise you to weigh the wife annually..then decide if she needs replacing /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Tim

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Most wives seem to gain weight, not lose it - unfortunately. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif