Lifejackets - Fault Check

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Trevor_swfyc

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This applies to Lifejackets that have a gas inflation bottle. I have been told that about 10% will fail to inflate due to the gas bottle becoming loose. No idea if this is true and expect this is part of the annual service, have checked mine and its tight, how about yours?

Trevor


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I was in the pub last summer wearing my lifejacket after driving my clubs rescue boat, somebody pulled down on the cord but nothing happened, huge amounts of laughter followed. When I inspected further I found the bottle had worked loose, so when I go out every time I always check it, I have also put a little band of self welding tape round to hold it in place. I also unpack my jacket every few months and blow it up and make sure that the air stays in it for 24 hours. This is a similar test to what we used to do when I worked at a liferaft service station, I would urge anyone who has any doubts to go and get their jackets serviced professionally - its not normally expensive unless you need part replacements and should I feel be done every 12 months at minimum.

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.yachtinguniverse.com
 
Professional lifejacket servicing.

Where is that done and how much does it cost?

I normally replace the gas cylinder every couple of years, its a simple enough job. There isn't much else that can be replaced and I wouldn't have thought that repairing would be economical.

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There's a known problem with lifejackets which have Hanmar hydrostatic release. If the bottle is loose it won't inflate!

I have these and brief my crew to check for tightness of the bottle each time they use their LJ.

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Re: Professional lifejacket servicing.

I had difficulty fitting a rather old non-standard service kit for my Crewsaver self-inflating jackets (the paper fuse type, not the Hammar hydrostatic). In discussion with Crewsaver, they said throw the paper fuse away but keep the cylinder as a spare. Apparently paper fuses have a limited shelf/use life, but cylinders last many years provided they are not corroded. I believe each cylinder has either tare or gross weight stamped on it. Take it to a friendly chemist and have him weigh it to confirm if still filled. Incidentally, when storing paper-fused jackets for the winter, unscrew the cylinder so it will not be wasted if paper fuse fails.

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I recall reading an accident report (MCA or MAIB?) a year or so ago about this. If memory correct, fishing boat sank with loss of life. Report concluded underlying cause was loose cylinder causing failure to inflate jacket. Subsequent inspection of heavily used jackets confirmed high incidence of loose cylinders.

Not sure if I like suggestion of self amalgamating tape to keep cylinder tight - may lead to corrosion of cylinder screw through entrapped water. I recall the recommendation was to routinely check cylinder tightness - like every time you put a jacket on.

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Cylinder weights

How much does a full and empty cylinder differ in weight. Is it possible to use these new types of digital kitchen scales (use some kind of strain guage?). They appear to be quite accurate (full cylinder weighs exactly what it says on the side) could be handy just to pop them on there every now and again to check weight.

<hr width=100% size=1>Gavin
 
Re: Cylinder weights

Cylinder size/weight depends on which size jacket you have, as follows (see inside of jacket for rating):

275N jacket (commercial and ocean) 60gm cylinder
150N jacket (leisure adult) 33gm cylinder
Junior jacket (childs) 23gm cylinder

For Crewsaver details, see

http://www.crewsaver.co.uk/leisure2/air_only/accessories.html#stdrd1

Looking at one of my cylinders, it has steel stamped on it:

DO NOT HEAT
33 G CO2 NOMINAL
MIN. GR. WT. 135.7 G
07 DH 96

Kitchen scales are OK to check this (most work on 5gm increments and should be accurate to +/- about 5gm if in good shape). In the case of the above cylinder, weight fully charged is 137.5gm and empty weight (tare) probably less than 104gm (I suspect it contains slightly more that the nominal 33 gm CO2). As a test, I weighed the above cylinder on our Salter electronic kitchen scales - came out a 140gm. I haven't looked at any of my other cylinders, but I would expect the stamped gross weight to vary a little from cylinder to cylinder.

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