Lifejacket replacement gas cylinder?

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Tam_Hazan

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I have recently given a thorough check to 4 of my lifejackets. All were fine in the visual inspection and inflation integrity time tests - perfect stitching, no signs of chafe and still very firm 24 hours after I blew them them up.

However all the gas cylinders showed minor signs of corrosion but weighed in perfectly. A professional safety equipment person strongly advised me to replace the original cylinders and offered 45 gram versions rather than the old 33 gram.

I feel a bit uneasy about over-pressurising the jacket and maybe damaging it at a time when it is most needed.....

Any thoughts?
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Any thoughts?
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Yes: DO NOT DO IT !!!"

As for the corrosion, how minor is 'minor'? If the surface is badly corroded, replace them. If, on the other hand, you only have the occasional patch (not necessarily tiny) then there is no real need to.

HOWEVER, this only applies <u>if what you have is light surface rust</u>. If you find deep rust of the 'flakey' kind that you can lift off as 'scabs' then you <u>must</u> replace ASAP.

Small tip: before you replace a cylinder it might be a good idea to don the lifejacket and fire it up. It helps you and your crew to better visualise what to expect should you ever need to do it in anger. It also helps you to judge what is and what is not 'minor' signs of corrosion.
 
a) My Hubby used to service all sorts of safety equipment as part of his job. I showed him the comment of increasing Cylinder size and his answer is "No - the 'expert' is a berk".

We like other guys answer of firing of the old cylinders. Hubby suggests best is to each member of family to don a jacket and fire them off. Personal experience of what happens is best of all.

Further that 33g cylinders and replacement mechanism bits if needed are available in all chandlers.

IF you do want to increase cylinder size, then ask Manufacturer first, not take advice of someone who will not be wearing it and has no factory knowledge (hubby's comment). It was designed with 33g, it has CE mark for 33g. QED
 
Crap advice, if a jacket needs a 33g bottle then anything bigger is nonsense.

Bit of corrosion? scuff it off and ignore it, maybe a little grease to slow it down.

More than a bit, replace the bottle.

What about the firing capsule if it is an auto? Past expiry date maybe? then replace it for peace of mind
 
Presume you guys know all about the lifejacket recalls recently (definitely Seago, & others I thnk). As a result Ive got brand new jackets for free, and also spare cylinders since I unscewed them before posting jackets back, but replacemens were posted with cylinders. Gives me the chance to weigh similar cylinders and see if the 3 year old ones have lost any weight.
 
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