Lifejacket worry

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mick

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I've just bought a re-arming kit for a Crewsaver LJ with a standard automatic head, as the expiry date has been reached. When I unscrewed the cylinder I was stunned to see that it had been pierced. Also the little green safety saddle was broken. Now it's obviously been accidentally fired but I don't understand why this wasn't noticed as I would have expected to see the LJ inflate, but it didn't. I weighed the cylinder and it's empty.This jacket is my wife's and it is absolutely vital that she has confidence in it as she is a swimmer but not a confident one. I've fitted the new bits but naturally I'm a bit worried. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
I've fitted the new bits but naturally I'm a bit worried. Any advice would be appreciated.
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After all the recent recalls did you check that the oral inflation valve was closed and the cap in place??????
 
Forget going to a dealer, on a lifejacket use a bike pump to blow it up through the tobe and leave it for 24 hours. If it stays up then the bladder is sound. Deflate and pack away.

Your problem could have been many things including a loose cylinder allowing gas to escape.

Any doubts bin it and get a new one.
 
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Your problem could have been many things including a loose cylinder allowing gas to escape.

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That can't be the problem. When he unpacked it he found that the cylinder had been pierced without him operating it. A loose cylinder would allow the gas to leak away, but would not have pierced the cap.
 
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Forget going to a dealer,

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Strange advice, if I was concerned over a life saving product I would definately go to a dealer or the manufacturer! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
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Strange advice, if I was concerned over a life saving product I would definately go to a dealer or the manufacturer! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

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Who do you think it was that put the spent cylinder into the jacket in the first place?
 
Last time I bought a new one the cylinder was loose. Don't know why I checked- I guess just being nosy. Anyway, I now know that if you are going to rely on one for your life, then don't trust the manufacturer. I blow them up from time to time, just by mouth as hard as I can and leave them overnight and I would know if there was any escape - It also give the oportunity to shake any sand and grit out of them. I just hope I never have to use them in anger.
 
Michael,
following advice here I would suggest you check the tightness of the cylinders everytime you don a lifejacket. They do come loose. Also DON'T blow into the LJ, but use a pump. The water vapour contained in your exhaled breath will be a problem as it condenses in the chambers.
 
If I was concerned over a bit of emergency kit I'd want to check it out myself .... perhaps with the aid of someone more knowledgeable ...
 
hi,
having worked for one of the services we had training by a leading LJ manufacturer to service our LJ ourselves. I would suggest inflate as per other good advice here and leave for a couple of hours. This will indeed show any bladder problems. Or you could buy a new cylinder and just test it in the water to make sure that it does if fact do itsjb properly, then clean refit new cyliner (again) and repack. Check weekly until all worries are dispelled. When servicing these LJ certain problems did appear as per quality ofthe manual activating device not being good quality notable the external steelwork was S/S but interanlly being inferior quality which did give problems to firing etc. May I suggest if you are not at all confident in it get it serviced by compident peope.

sorry for the long post

you need any help let me know

bob
 
Frightening isn't it? Our SEA Check volunteers meet this on a regular basis, and we have yet to find a convincing reason. One boat with ten jackets on board had six, yes, six, with cylinders that had been fired. The Lifejacket manufacturers themselves also meet it on countless occasions.

As you may know, we recommend regular inspection of the lifejacket, and our website shows you how http://www.rnli.org.uk/what_we_do/sea_and_beach_safety/sea_safety/maintaining_your_lifejacket . There was also a very good 'how to' article in PBO, and yachtingtv.com did a twenty minute feature pulling several different types of jacket open.
 
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Some cunning boating person!!!! i have heard tales of this happening in chandlery shops

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Doesn't really matter how it happened or where the blame lies. The fact is it left one manufacturer or dealer defective. Hardly supports the course of action of taking it back.

IMHO pack your own parachute.
 
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