Lifejacket lights...warning!

[Iain C]

How often do you check yours?

I fitted a new one from a reputable brand from a reputable supplier in February, and just decided to check all safety gear prior to the Round the Island next week (who knows at our speed we might be finishing in the dark!) and it was now not working, despite no use. Interestingly a "spare" with a 2007 expiry was fine.

Shop has been fine about an exchange...but do please check them people! If I went over the side at night and could choose only one bit of gear to have on me, the light would be the one!

 

[prv]

Crucial question: what was wrong with it? Had it leaked, or corroded, or what?

Pete

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Thanks for the heads up on that. Just checked the water activated light on my lifesling; kaput. A corroded mess in fact.

I am substituting it with a Solas approved xenon lifejacket beacon. Manually activated, but better than the dim filament of a water activated light.

 

[alan_d]

Some lifejacket lights can be turned on by pressing the switch. This can sometimes happen inadvertantly by pressure through the cover of the lifejacket. One day when I was putting mine away in a dark locker I noticed that it was flashing at me. Could this be why yours stopped working?