G
Guest
Guest
I mean actually check the cylinder weight or inflate the jacket and then replace cylinder and how often ?
G
Guest
Guest
Why I ask .....
I think many people buy them and are not aware that there are various simple checks that can be carried out that do not actually require replacement or use of the cylinder contents.
A simple digital Kitchen scale will weigh a cylinder accurately enough to tell if its full or not ... manual inflation of the jacket will tell if the "envelope" is perished / failed ... Overall prod and inspection ... opening the whole out without pulling tag is easy ...
It's like many things we do or buy - no-one thinks to tell about the checks one can do to prolong life of an item etc. or to check it's ability tom perform.
I hope that this thread may provoke some to look at their trusty LJ and give it a little more thought ...
Yes I have spare cylinders for mine - original are still fine ... I have just bought new straps as well ... as my "envelopes" are fine ... that's after 8 yrs of basically hang it up ... don when thought about .... hang it up and forget till next trip .... not bad really.
I think many people buy them and are not aware that there are various simple checks that can be carried out that do not actually require replacement or use of the cylinder contents.
A simple digital Kitchen scale will weigh a cylinder accurately enough to tell if its full or not ... manual inflation of the jacket will tell if the "envelope" is perished / failed ... Overall prod and inspection ... opening the whole out without pulling tag is easy ...
It's like many things we do or buy - no-one thinks to tell about the checks one can do to prolong life of an item etc. or to check it's ability tom perform.
I hope that this thread may provoke some to look at their trusty LJ and give it a little more thought ...
Yes I have spare cylinders for mine - original are still fine ... I have just bought new straps as well ... as my "envelopes" are fine ... that's after 8 yrs of basically hang it up ... don when thought about .... hang it up and forget till next trip .... not bad really.
michael_w
Well-Known Member
Inflate annually and let them stand for 24 hours. Inspect the cylinder closely and replace if necessary.
Bought two new ones at the LIBS as the current ones are showing signs of UV degredation, They are 8 years old and have spent 2 years in the tropics.
Spoke to the manufacturer (Baltic) Who said they have a separate bladder and are not affected by UV. Nevertheless they'll be transfered to the "reserve fleet".
Remember your Emergency Equipment may be the only thing standing between you and the guy upstairs.
Bought two new ones at the LIBS as the current ones are showing signs of UV degredation, They are 8 years old and have spent 2 years in the tropics.
Spoke to the manufacturer (Baltic) Who said they have a separate bladder and are not affected by UV. Nevertheless they'll be transfered to the "reserve fleet".
Remember your Emergency Equipment may be the only thing standing between you and the guy upstairs.
sailorgirl
Well-Known Member
I had a wake up call when I jumped into the pool on a sea survival course and my auto-inflating jacket didn't go off. Now I check all the jackets we carry regularly.
Mirelle
N/A
Guilty as charged.
Although I am "religious" about making people wear them, all that I have ever done is to make sure that the cylinders are screwed home tightly.
I am now going to put them on the kitchen table, unscrew and weigh the cylinders, and manually inflate them.
Thank you very much, Nigel!
Although I am "religious" about making people wear them, all that I have ever done is to make sure that the cylinders are screwed home tightly.
I am now going to put them on the kitchen table, unscrew and weigh the cylinders, and manually inflate them.
Thank you very much, Nigel!
S
Skyva_2
Guest
Check mine by manual inflation and inspection, remove cylinder, and last year found the cylinder was pierced, which I found rather surprising......!!!
The RNLI have issued a free card with all the checks, worth picking up.
The RNLI have issued a free card with all the checks, worth picking up.
Dougal
Well-Known Member
Re: Guilty as charged.
Talking of which..... We're currently refitting and replacing almost everything (old boat=old everything!). An EXTREMELY expensive accumulation of stuff!
Been looking at lifejackets, and am ammazed just how vast the price range is.... I've seen from £9.99 to 499.99!!!!!
How do folks here tend to make their desicions on that kind of purchase? The best you can afford, the best (alledged) value for money, the best review..... or what?
we're planning some offshore stuff (Azures) - what would would you buy. It's only for the two of us.
Talking of which..... We're currently refitting and replacing almost everything (old boat=old everything!). An EXTREMELY expensive accumulation of stuff!
Been looking at lifejackets, and am ammazed just how vast the price range is.... I've seen from £9.99 to 499.99!!!!!
How do folks here tend to make their desicions on that kind of purchase? The best you can afford, the best (alledged) value for money, the best review..... or what?
we're planning some offshore stuff (Azures) - what would would you buy. It's only for the two of us.
G
Guest
Guest
I am also !! Guilty.
As my boat is lifted out and will be high and dry for some time ... I am working through inventorys and cleaning / sorting etc.
I go to fore cabin and there are my 2 trusty Baltic Inflating LJ's ... I've looked at them closely often - but never really done the biz on them ...
So I thought - well - why not poll the people and see if I'm alone ... maybe give a few wake-up calls to some ... incl. myself !
If I save one life, catch a bad LJ, help others to check their LJ's by this thread ... I am a very happy man.
It's not hard really is it ? But we all expect it to perform whatever we do or not with it.
As my boat is lifted out and will be high and dry for some time ... I am working through inventorys and cleaning / sorting etc.
I go to fore cabin and there are my 2 trusty Baltic Inflating LJ's ... I've looked at them closely often - but never really done the biz on them ...
So I thought - well - why not poll the people and see if I'm alone ... maybe give a few wake-up calls to some ... incl. myself !
If I save one life, catch a bad LJ, help others to check their LJ's by this thread ... I am a very happy man.
It's not hard really is it ? But we all expect it to perform whatever we do or not with it.
ShipsWoofy
Well-Known Member
Re: Why I ask .....
[ QUOTE ]
I think many people buy them and are not aware that there are various simple checks that can be carried out that do not actually require replacement or use of the cylinder contents.
[/ QUOTE ]
Looking at the results, yet another sailor is wrong to believe no one else takes safety seriously, GC1 was guilty of this attitude.
Most people I know do take it seriously and do take care of their equipment.
[ QUOTE ]
I think many people buy them and are not aware that there are various simple checks that can be carried out that do not actually require replacement or use of the cylinder contents.
[/ QUOTE ]
Looking at the results, yet another sailor is wrong to believe no one else takes safety seriously, GC1 was guilty of this attitude.
Most people I know do take it seriously and do take care of their equipment.
Malcb
Well-Known Member
Re: Why I ask .....
[ QUOTE ]
Looking at the results, yet another sailor is wrong to believe no one else takes safety seriously, GC1 was guilty of this attitude.
Most people I know do take it seriously and do take care of their equipment.
[/ QUOTE ]
There's a double negative ib there somewhere, and I can't quite work it out. What exactly are you accusing GC1 of doing/being /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
[ QUOTE ]
Looking at the results, yet another sailor is wrong to believe no one else takes safety seriously, GC1 was guilty of this attitude.
Most people I know do take it seriously and do take care of their equipment.
[/ QUOTE ]
There's a double negative ib there somewhere, and I can't quite work it out. What exactly are you accusing GC1 of doing/being /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Stork_III
Well-Known Member
Have you checked the new ones? A friend had a RNLI Seacheck recently, and the checker asked to see all lifejackets. They opened up a brand new never used one, to discuss how they should be inspected - "Blimey there's no gas cylinder on this one!!!". Worth a check and inflate before use.
tome
Well-Known Member
kengill
Well-Known Member
Methinks your options ain't exactly wide enough to cover wot people think might be OK. Or is it my own preferences and prejudices showing? doesn't cover inspection of auto inflation devices or stitching of harnesses etc, checking of lights, whistles, sprayhoods etc etc.
Mirelle
N/A
Re: Guilty as charged.
I tend to buy the highest quality items that I can manage to pay for, reckoning (usually rightly) that they will last longer, and I tend to do without some equipment until I can buy the one I really want, rather than buy a cheaper version.
The argument being that boats are quite small, and you don't want to clutter them up with tat, but you really do want stuff to work properly.
I departed from this rule once, with yottitronics, buying Simrad Stowe rather than B&G, and have regretted it. On the other hand, a vindication of the policy would be the Sestrel hand bearer that I bought in 1972 for the appalling sum of twenty two quid
So, how to determine what " the best" is?
A combination of reviews, technical articles and word of mouth, I suppose.
(Which leads me to Crewsaver Hammar lifejackets, in the case of what we are discussing now.)
I tend to buy the highest quality items that I can manage to pay for, reckoning (usually rightly) that they will last longer, and I tend to do without some equipment until I can buy the one I really want, rather than buy a cheaper version.
The argument being that boats are quite small, and you don't want to clutter them up with tat, but you really do want stuff to work properly.
I departed from this rule once, with yottitronics, buying Simrad Stowe rather than B&G, and have regretted it. On the other hand, a vindication of the policy would be the Sestrel hand bearer that I bought in 1972 for the appalling sum of twenty two quid
So, how to determine what " the best" is?
A combination of reviews, technical articles and word of mouth, I suppose.
(Which leads me to Crewsaver Hammar lifejackets, in the case of what we are discussing now.)
pandos
Well-Known Member
It is best to inflate using a pump or other device otherwise you are introducing moisture into the bladder. I was told this by a guy in a liferaft servicing depot and it does make sense!!
Steve Clayton
Well-Known Member
[rant_start]Given the importance and significance (and we are talking life saving situations) of having crotch straps fitted then why oh why are these not fitted as standard to the majority of lifejackets????[/rant_over].
Check ours on a rolling basis - each one is checked every 3 months.
www.americas-cup2007.com
Check ours on a rolling basis - each one is checked every 3 months.
www.americas-cup2007.com
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Guest
Guest
How big do you want the poll ??
Having been responsible for safety gear on ships as one of my duties when in MN - I could wax on for ages on all sorts of topics that would likely leave most way behind here .... Fire Extinguishers, Epirbs, flares etc. etc.
Stitching / auto-inflate etc. etc. OK ..... but the original intention was as a trigger to get people thinking about that piece of equipment that often gets expected to perform regardless .... it is the last line of defence.
If someone wants to increase the poll questions / possibilities - go ahead ... be my guest.
I left it at sensible simple level to as I say - trigger response and thought. It has done exactly that and I'm happy that I did ... sorry Poll didn't meet your specifications ... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Oh and to another who brought GC1 in a comment .... very silly comment really ... as many actually know he is well equipped and also knows how to use the gear - for all his tom-foolery etc. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Having been responsible for safety gear on ships as one of my duties when in MN - I could wax on for ages on all sorts of topics that would likely leave most way behind here .... Fire Extinguishers, Epirbs, flares etc. etc.
Stitching / auto-inflate etc. etc. OK ..... but the original intention was as a trigger to get people thinking about that piece of equipment that often gets expected to perform regardless .... it is the last line of defence.
If someone wants to increase the poll questions / possibilities - go ahead ... be my guest.
I left it at sensible simple level to as I say - trigger response and thought. It has done exactly that and I'm happy that I did ... sorry Poll didn't meet your specifications ... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Oh and to another who brought GC1 in a comment .... very silly comment really ... as many actually know he is well equipped and also knows how to use the gear - for all his tom-foolery etc. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
G
Guest
Guest
Thigh straps .... I totally agree and I also admit that I only recently added them to mine ... despite knowing full well that they are important. BUT in my defense .... in line with MN practice ... always advise people that if they are going to jump in etc. with lifejacket inflated / worn etc. to cross their arms across the chest to hold it down. I know ... not really a substitute.
Check every 3 months ... that is cylinder weight, seal and inflate / deflate .. repack ? Do you have time for other stuff ??? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif (I am joking now ... )
Check every 3 months ... that is cylinder weight, seal and inflate / deflate .. repack ? Do you have time for other stuff ??? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif (I am joking now ... )
G
Guest
Guest
Mouth vs pump ...
Very true and a point that I had forgotten ...
But possibly the difference in moisture level on a yucky day via pump and that of mouth ? Second be careful about the pressure exerted by a pump ....
But of course I know all you Guys and Dolls out there wouldn't over-inflate one ...
Very true and a point that I had forgotten ...
But possibly the difference in moisture level on a yucky day via pump and that of mouth ? Second be careful about the pressure exerted by a pump ....
But of course I know all you Guys and Dolls out there wouldn't over-inflate one ...
G
Guest
Guest
Interesting results .... + new poll !!
And actually quite revealing ...
Many testing air-tight integrity of LJ ....
Nearly same number not checking their LJ as there are who weigh cylinders ...
Many doing as I shamedly did for some time ... visual look over and left it ...
Yes - I'm happy that the thread has possibly jolted a few ... maybe passed on a tip or two ...
Mmmmmmm
The new Poll :
And actually quite revealing ...
Many testing air-tight integrity of LJ ....
Nearly same number not checking their LJ as there are who weigh cylinders ...
Many doing as I shamedly did for some time ... visual look over and left it ...
Yes - I'm happy that the thread has possibly jolted a few ... maybe passed on a tip or two ...
Mmmmmmm
The new Poll :