Old manual inflatable lifejackets.

[Mudisox]

I have 6 of varying age/design but are tested every start of he season, additionally with the "worst looking" getting tested with pulling the cylinder's operation, manually.

I still have 5 spare new cylinders. Kept in plastic bags, in an accessible locker.

However, I don't insist on anyone wearing one, if they don't want to, . My rule however is not to fall overboard in the first place. It has worked for the past 60+ years.

 

[Sandy]

My rule however is not to fall overboard in the first place. It has worked for the past 60+ years.

Let us know what happens when you do fall overboard.

 

[PaulRainbow]

New (automatic) life jackets can be had for £100 or less. Changing every 10 years, that equates to a tenner or less a year. I don't understand why anyone would want to keep such an important safety item indefinitely.

 

[Refueler]

I fully agree that the use and stowage of the LJ has a huge impact on its life expectancy. If you are one who wears one a lot - gets wet and then throws into locker ... then I don't give the LJ much chance of long life. But if you are one that at least rinses off the salt ... lets it air dry and then stows in good location - there's no reason it should not survive a long life.
I admit that I rarely wear one ... I know silly billy and all that .... but my LJ's are stored clean and dry - well ventilated ... checked completely annually and regularly partial check ...

On the subject of what to replace with ? I am actually thinking to buy a set of 'fisherman' aids .... they are buoyancy aids with pockets ... bit like an armless windcheater. One of the guys who sails with me bought one earlier this year ... its nothing short of brilliant. It has 70N .... not LJ level - but good enough to assist a swimmer ... actually quite close fitting without being bulky as most BA's are ...

I need to find out where he bought from.

 

[Refueler]

New (automatic) life jackets can be had for £100 or less. Changing every 10 years, that equates to a tenner or less a year. I don't understand why anyone would want to keep such an important safety item indefinitely.

No-ones arguing the economics of it ... just that binning just for sake of binning may not be the case.

Pal of mine bought a Mobo ... he bought a bunch of LJ's - new. Within 6 months - those LJ's were ruined - he passed to me when he sold the boat ... I binned them.

 

[Ribtecer]

I used to fire off one every course so the students new what to expect.....on the pontoon.

Out of interest, how many of these older jacket failed to fire off as intended?

 

[thinwater]

Out of interest, how many of these older jacket failed to fire off as intended?

Also, if they did not fire, would they hold air if inflated manually?

 

[capnsensible]

Out of interest, how many of these older jacket failed to fire off as intended?

I couldn't say, not something I made a note of. As well as commercial vessel annual inspections I used to check mine every course. If it looked pants even if it had an in date certificate, it got relegated to demo. One just cannot take risks with safety kit on commercial boats as people are prepared, it seems, to do on leisure craft.

 

[MontyMariner]

the manufacturer's rules of throw it away after 7 or 10 years

That could also be said to be "pretty vacuous, badly written drivel with no authority at all."
Its not in the manufacturers interest to market a safety product and say it will last 7, 10 or 20 years when they have no control over the way that product is used or cared for.

 

[capnsensible]

That could also be said to be "pretty vacuous, badly written drivel with no authority at all."
Its not in the manufacturers interest to market a safety product and say it will last 7, 10 or 20 years when they have no control over the way that product is used or cared for.

Isn't that why safety equipment is, commercially, subject to routine checks and inspections?

 

[Refueler]

Isn't that why safety equipment is, commercially, subject to routine checks and inspections?

And similar could be said for a Liferaft in a soft valise ....... hard canister is more protective. But even then manufacturers understand that there are people that will keep a LR in commission longer than advisory. Which means only recourse manufacturer has - is to require test stations to not test after xx years.

But the comment of 7 ... 10yrs has no real validity other than advisory by some manufacturers ....

 

[Boathook]

On the subject of what to replace with ? I am actually thinking to buy a set of 'fisherman' aids .... they are buoyancy aids with pockets ... bit like an armless windcheater. One of the guys who sails with me bought one earlier this year ... its nothing short of brilliant. It has 70N .... not LJ level - but good enough to assist a swimmer ... actually quite close fitting without being bulky as most BA's are ...

I need to find out where he bought from.

I've got a crewsaver jacket like that. Many years old, but tests OK each year. 100 newtons buoyancy when inflateted, manual plus ora onlyl. It was expensive when I purchased it. Just a shame that it doesn't have an attachment for a safety line. Tend to wear it spring and autumn especially in the dinghy going ashore.

 

[DownWest]

Quite a while back I had an old Beaufort LJ, mouth only. I inflated it each year and checked it over. When I actually needed it, I puffed it up and it was OK. But it was badly positioned, so I pulled it round a bit and, the mouthpiece blew out.....
So, the advice to blow it up, preferably with a bellows, so dry air, then sit on it and move around a bit, is very good.

 

[penberth3]

That could also be said to be "pretty vacuous, badly written drivel with no authority at all."
Its not in the manufacturers interest to market a safety product and say it will last 7, 10 or 20 years when they have no control over the way that product is used or cared for.

You don't know anything about materials science, do you?

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have several inflatable LJ's as well as several fixed buoyancy LJ's

I inflate to test my inflatable LF using a air pump and not by mouth so not to all moisture into the LJ.

The weight of the CO2 cylinder needs to be checked but also the firing mechanism or salt pill is still intact

I did a STCW 95 some years ago which involved practicing life saving skills and entry into an inverted LR. The STCW course also included fire fighting , setting off flare and first aid.

With my LR and the first service I attended the first inflation to become familiar with it inflated and the position of all safety equipment

I also have a grab bog with extra equipment and sat phone and a solar panel for charging HH VHF Radio


This may be OTT but I think if I an in a LR I wish to have all means possible to call for help

An EPIRB is a legal requirement where I am for ocean passages

Testing the inflation of 3 of my 4 in nfulated LJ'ss

https://flic.kr/p/2iReEJG

 

[B27]

And similar could be said for a Liferaft in a soft valise ....... hard canister is more protective. But even then manufacturers understand that there are people that will keep a LR in commission longer than advisory. Which means only recourse manufacturer has - is to require test stations to not test after xx years.

But the comment of 7 ... 10yrs has no real validity other than advisory by some manufacturers ....

I think having 'in date' LJs may matter for a coded vessel in the UK.
Personally I've got enough 'waterproof' kit made out of similar materials which has stopped being waterproof that I realise plastics don't last forever.
For sure if an LJ is well looked after and has had an easy life, I'd be happy to stretch its 'use before' date somewhat.
But the OP was talking about LJs already 20 years old. That's overdue an appointment with Stan Le Knife.

 

[Momac]

I have 5 old lifejackets of about 20 years vintage. All look ok but ought to have new cylinders I suspect. Anyone have any idea what I should do with them.or are they just bin worthy,? The one I tried went off a treat and held air.

Donate them to the RNLI for use in demonstrations.

 

[capnsensible]

Here's a little something I found after a short Google. Yes, it's clearly American. But it does show the tech that goes into lifejackets. Its not the back of a fag packet stuff. These are designers, technicians and manufacturing staff who do this every working day. Trust them or an Internet opiner..up to you.....

 

[Refueler]

But the OP was talking about LJs already 20 years old. That's overdue an appointment with Stan Le Knife.

Do you have info about condition of his LJ's that we do not have ?

 

[capnsensible]

More kinda publicity stuff, but standards are drafted and legalised. Make of it what you will.

Life jacket material: What you need for a succeful product