Lifejacket fail

[Stemar]

I've seen suggestions that 10 years is the maximum recommended life, with regular maintenance. Mine are that old and look like new inside and stay inflated like new, the cartridges are in date and the cylinders weight the right amount and are rust free. I am thinking about changing them, but only because the straps are getting a bit stiff, which makes them harder to fasten. I looked at a jacket today on a friend's boat. No idea of the age, but the red cover is fading to pink and the cartridge expired in 07. No thanks, I'll bring my own.

 

[Refueler]

mmmmm Stemar ..... I think you have mistaken the Cylinder production / filled date with expiry. CO2 Lifejacket cylinders do not have expiry dates ...

See here :

CO2 Cylinder for Lifejackets - RT Supplies Ltd

about halfway down the text ...

 

[pandos]

What I think is my oldest jacket and is from around 2001still holds air and appears to be perfectly functional...last year I tested several.

My then newest and most frequently used and the most expensive to buy initially was probably about 7 years old with two or 3 seasons good use with some racing thrown in.. failed due to damage internally from sharp corners in the manufacturers folding.

I have no idea how long between testing and the damage becoming fatal to function, but I test every jacket each season and refold as per instructions...,)

(I bought two new last year )

I often wonder why the bladders are not replaceable.. such a waste dumping perfectly good harnesses, outer covers and trigger mechanisms.

Just to correct...it was two years ago I did the testing and purchase of new ones

 

[Boathook]

I inflate my lifejackets each winter and make sure they stay inflated for 24 hours min. I also weigh the cartridges to make sure that they meet gross weight. As for age of the LJ's I'm not to sure but they are stored on board in a dry locker and at home during the winter in a dry loft. Normally, if something looks OK and passes tests it is OK. I know that there are exceptions but they are few imho. I will just wait for incoming comments !!

 

[Stemar]

mmmmm Stemar ..... I think you have mistaken the Cylinder production / filled date with expiry. CO2 Lifejacket cylinders do not have expiry dates ...

See here :

CO2 Cylinder for Lifejackets - RT Supplies Ltd

about halfway down the text ...

That was the expiry date on the cartridge, not the cylinder. It's the most OoD cartridge I've ever seen.

Given the age of the jacket, which could well be from the 80s, I'd be more inclined to condemn the whole thing, The cylinder looked fine and, if we do get the jacket with our new boat, I'll just check the weight and keep it as a spare. Maybe I should keep the cartridge as an antique , but I expect curiosity would get the better of me and I'd chuck it a bucket of water to see what happened. When I did that with one that was seven years out of date, it went of with a satisfying pop, which was reassuring.

 

[Refueler]

That was the expiry date on the cartridge, not the cylinder. It's the most OoD cartridge I've ever seen.

Given the age of the jacket, which could well be from the 80s, I'd be more inclined to condemn the whole thing, The cylinder looked fine and, if we do get the jacket with our new boat, I'll just check the weight and keep it as a spare. Maybe I should keep the cartridge as an antique , but I expect curiosity would get the better of me and I'd chuck it a bucket of water to see what happened. When I did that with one that was seven years out of date, it went of with a satisfying pop, which was reassuring.

Apologies ... silly me - you were talking about the 'Activator' not the cylinder.

As I was told by 'MSA' test guy - the main point is to see if the green indicator is shown (UML item) ....

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

The mechanism in my Seagos is made by United Moulders, and this is their advice. Nothing to do with the indicators.

Checking the Pro Sensor Elite ® Automatic Cartridge Replace By Date
The UML Pro Sensor® Automatic Cartridge has a Replace By Date printed on it,

Replace before this date.

I.e. on the cartridge is shown:

REPLACE BY 10 2017 A = Replace By Month/Year (October 2017). Note the Letter printed at the end of the Year is not relevant to the serviceable date.

Recreational Use: Replace every two years or by the REPLACE BY date whichever is sooner. It is recommended your lifejacket is inspected annually. Refer to your lifejacket manual and keep to service intervals.

Commercial/Professional Use: Replace annually. Do not exceed the REPLACE BY date in any 1-year period. SOLAS approved life jackets are required to be serviced by an authorised service station annually.

The Pro Sensor® Automatic Inflator is only fully operational when both green indicators are fully showing green, water is not restricted to the Cartridge Firing Mechanism, the Automatic Cartridge is within its printed Replace By Date and a fully screwed in full CO2 Cylinder in place.

From Pro Sensor Automatic | UML Lifejacket Inflation & Lights

 

[Deleted member 36384]

... Commercial/Professional Use: Replace annually. Do not exceed the REPLACE BY date in any 1-year period. SOLAS approved life jackets are required to be serviced by an authorised service station annually. ...

Many lifejackets that are used on charter boats, sailing schools are not SOLAS approved, do they need to be inspected annually by "an authorised service station"? Curious to understand this as it never appears to get tied down in these sort of discussion. SOLAS approved are twin chamber, with many manufacturers offering ISO approved models that are identical to the SOLAS version but only single chamber, which is what you see on charter yachts, usually. Just wondering, not trying to argue a point, as I don't know.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Many lifejackets that are used on charter boats, sailing schools are not SOLAS approved, do they need to be inspected annually by "an authorised service station"? Curious to understand this as it never appears to get tied down in these sort of discussion. SOLAS approved are twin chamber, with many manufacturers offering ISO approved models that are identical to the SOLAS version but only single chamber, which is what you see on charter yachts, usually. Just wondering, not trying to argue a point, as I don't know.

No idea - I don't run a charter co! I only take responsibility for mine and the kids and change the cartridges at the expiry date even though I'm sure they're fine. I'd probably take their suggested two year option if I didn't open them up and rinse/dry them every time they get salt water wet. (Yes, I remove the cartridges first).

Picking up on @penfold's point about the textiles - I'm not quite so confident! I'd be happy if I knew that the coating wasn't the sort that gets used in waterproof clothing, bags, rucksacks etc. because that seems to spontaneously shed itself after as few as three years...

 

[penfold]

Picking up on @penfold's point about the textiles - I'm not quite so confident! I'd be happy if I knew that the coating wasn't the sort that gets used in waterproof clothing, bags, rucksacks etc. because that seems to spontaneously shed itself after as few as three years...

I'm a pragmatist, if it's visibly suffering it's straight in the bin; but if the bladder is intact then it can go around the lighthouse one more time.

 

[Never Grumble]

I haven't got rusty cylinders, but I had a lifejacket self inflate last week in the shower compartment, which I really use as a wet locker. Admittedly I had hung it up damp, but it wasn't soaking wet through. Not sure there is much I can do to stop this in future? or is there?

 

[penfold]

Not if it's a salt capsule auto-inflate jacket; a hammar hydrostatic trigger is a better bet in your situation.

 

[Stemar]

I was a bit concerned about that the other week after a few hours in steady rain, both our LJs were soaked, but we got lucky. The only time one went off spontaneously was when it was in the bottom of a dinghy with water slopping around. If I'd had an ounce of sense, I'd have been wearing it, and it would never have happened!

One of our jackets has a bad habit of opening the velcro a bit at the neck. If yours does the same, that could be how the water got inside.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I have had the dissolving pill type go off at home in a dry environment. I think from time to time it just happens. They are not designed to last a long time and by nature are sensitive to release.