Lifejacket service - Hayling, Chichester, Horsham

[gregcope]

HI all,

Any recommendations for some Spinlock and Crewsaver lifejackets.

I appreciate I might be able to do this myself, but initially I want someone else to do it.

Ta.

 

[bbg]

I don't know about Crewsaver, but you can certainly do Spinlock yourself. Because of the nature of the sailing I do, I check and repack mine every time I go sailing. It is pretty easy and very quick. 5 minute job, really.

 

[Seajet]

gregcope,

I'm based in Horsham too; don't know anywhere handy, but as bbg says it really is easy - when I had to replace the bottle and tablet link in a KRU lj a few years ago the place to go for all this stuff is in Wales ( Cardiff ??? ) - should be prominent on google I'd think or people here will remember.

Do be as clear as you can re model types etc, it took them 3 goes to send me the right bits.

 

[Fantasie 19]

If you're really not keen to do it yourself (and I wasn't the first time), a call to your local RNLI may help - there was a time when they were still offering free checks??

 

[gregcope]

Ah. Good idea. Not thought of that. They are only down the road!

 

[ffiill]

I was totally wary of doing this but now having done this its just a matter of following some very simple instructions readily available on Google.
As for how often I think that if your life jackets have light use they will function considerably longer than the reccomended service interval.

 

[ShinyShoe]

As for how often I think that if your life jackets have light use they will function considerably longer than the reccomended service interval.

Erm... ...I'd rather not test that thanks.

There seems to have been an assumption that service = cylinder / tablet replacement.

Service should include:

Removing the cylinder. Visually inspecting it for excessive corrosion. Weighing the cylinder and checking it is heavier than the weight stamped on the cylinder.
Checking the tablet is in date. Replacing if necessary.
Inspecting the jacket where the cylinder sits for any damage to the fabric (common wear point)
Re-fitting the cylinder, checking it is properly tightened.
Using a compressed air supply to inflate the jacket through the mouth piece. (Do not use mouth to inflate as it introduces moisture into the bladder). A car tyre pump can work well with a length of hose pipe. Do not over inflate, the jacket should be hard enough when flicked with a finger to make a noise.
Leave the jacket inflated for 24 hours and check it still makes a noise when flicked after 24 hours.
Check the jacket for any evidence of damage
If a light is installed check the battery date. If it has a manual switch test the light. If it has a auto switch and can be tested with a wet cloth across the sensor do so, but make sure its thoroughly dried and switched off before packing away.
Deflate
Fold up, double checking cylinder tight and green clip in place on pull cord
Check straps etc for damage

All the above should be done annually as a minimum. Cylinder tightness more frequently, along with checking the tablet and green clip are OK, and straps etc for damage.

Rarely worn jackets are at least as likely to have a loose cylinder.

 

[gregcope]

Thanks ShinyShoe for the comprehensive reply.

Will look to what I need to inflate the thing.

 

[prv]

Will look to what I need to inflate the thing.

I do pretty much exactly the steps that ShinyShoe listed (I also unpack and rinse the jackets first), and I just use an ordinary bellows-style dinghy footpump. There's no need to seal the nozzle onto the lifejacket mouthpiece, just holding them together works fine.

Pete

 

[PhillM]

Same as ShinyShoe and PRV but every couple of years I bung them in the bath and leave them there for 24 hours. Yes, the canister could go on longer but its sort of reassuring to see them go off ash they should and stay inflated.