Older Life jackets

MJWB

MJWB

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First post so not sure if this is the right place for it. However, I have a lifejacket from around 2000. It's not been used in that time but has been stored clean and dry. Visually it is in good nick.

I've not unscrewed the cylinder yet to weigh it. I'm not expecting to find the cylinder has fired as the lifejacket has not inflated. I'm not keen to spend a load of money on a new one if this is still entirely serviceable. Equally, I want to use a reliable lifejacket for obvious reasons.

Question

What should I check other than the cylinder weight?
Is it worth firing and testing?
Should I just bin it as too old and buy a new one?

Any thoughts appreciated please.
 
No keep it. You should test it in accordance with the maker's instructions. If you don't find instructions on the internet then.... The cylinder itself should be reasonably corrosion free and have the little membrane intact. Unscrew from the firing mechanism to inspect. Replace screwing down firmly.
Inflate the LJ using a pump via the mouth filler tube. Velcro or zippers should easily pop apart. Inflate to a firmness not too hard. Come back after 24hrs and it should have remained inflated to the same firmness. If it is an auto inflate then replace the water sensor or service as per manufacturer. There may be a small plastic witness clip over the manual inflate lever. You may be able to carefully remove that and check the lever operation with cylinder removed. Replace the clip. All easy and you should have confidence after inspecting it yourself. ol'will
 
William_H said:
No keep it. You should test it in accordance with the maker's instructions. If you don't find instructions on the internet then.... The cylinder itself should be reasonably corrosion free and have the little membrane intact. Unscrew from the firing mechanism to inspect. Replace screwing down firmly.
Inflate the LJ using a pump via the mouth filler tube. Velcro or zippers should easily pop apart. Inflate to a firmness not too hard. Come back after 24hrs and it should have remained inflated to the same firmness. If it is an auto inflate then replace the water sensor or service as per manufacturer. There may be a small plastic witness clip over the manual inflate lever. You may be able to carefully remove that and check the lever operation with cylinder removed. Replace the clip. All easy and you should have confidence after inspecting it yourself. ol'will
Click to expand...


Super, thank you, I'll give it a go.
 
Just what olwill says. Repacking the thing may be a bit of a hassle: make sure you get all the air out of the bladder using the valve in the oral inflation tube. Note that you can get the valve open fully by using a pencil to press down on the valve. I service our gig club lifejackets every year and commonly get one or two failures either because they leak or because the Velcro closures have worn out.
Final point: make sure the CO2 cartridge is firmly screwed in before doing the inflation test as some inflators will leak if the cartridge isn’t properly seated.
 
duncan99210 said:
Just what olwill says. Repacking the thing may be a bit of a hassle: make sure you get all the air out of the bladder using the valve in the oral inflation tube. Note that you can get the valve open fully by using a pencil to press down on the valve. I service our gig club lifejackets every year and commonly get one or two failures either because they leak or because the Velcro closures have worn out.
Final point: make sure the CO2 cartridge is firmly screwed in before doing the inflation test as some inflators will leak if the cartridge isn’t properly seated.
Click to expand...

A few years back I looked into getting certified to service our life jackets, (albeit a commercial operation) and the consensus here and in the industry was don't take the risk of the liability and our insurers had a fit over it. Make sure your not putting you'relf in a similar situation.

W.
 
BabaYaga said:
In my view, yes.
Most manufacturers state a lift span of ten years. Towards twenty is over-stretching it.
https://www.secumar.com/en/limitation-on-the-life-span-of-lifejackets/
Click to expand...

MikeCC said:
Please never do this. There is a chance of damaging the valve leading to it lodging open when you least need it.

On the original question, I personally wouldn't use a lifejacket of that age even if unused.
Click to expand...

I agree with these posts. Not only is it nearly 20 years old, it's highly unlikely to be fitted with crotch straps and even less likely to be fitted with a spray hood.
 
I still have an Avon LJ from 1972 which will hold its air overnight. In spite of its ornamental and sentimental value, I wouldn't even use it to support a dog. Lifejackets are just that - something designed to save your life.
 
Pity you did not Chuck it in a bucket of water to test it... I did with one of mine and it failed only because the bottle was loose. Newer ones failed where the fabric had worn on pointed parts formed in the folds
 
pandos said:
Pity you did not Chuck it in a bucket of water to test it... I did with one of mine and it failed only because the bottle was loose. Newer ones failed where the fabric had worn on pointed parts formed in the folds
Click to expand...
Just for interest yes I chucked it but before doing so I set it off. Make no mistake the LJ looked in great nick. No visible problems.
So manually it inflated just fine. Did that just after tea. By breakfast time it had slowly deflated to around half full. But it looked great. No use at all.
Don't be fooled by how it looks. Clearly some degradation. Too old so cut up and trashed.
Just bought a boat which has 3 excellent looking LJs on board. Manufactured 2009. No service history
These are for the bin as well. Just not worth the risk.?
 
MJWB said:
Just for interest yes I chucked it but before doing so I set it off. Make no mistake the LJ looked in great nick. No visible problems.
So manually it inflated just fine. Did that just after tea. By breakfast time it had slowly deflated to around half full. But it looked great. No use at all.
Don't be fooled by how it looks. Clearly some degradation. Too old so cut up and trashed.
Just bought a boat which has 3 excellent looking LJs on board. Manufactured 2009. No service history
These are for the bin as well. Just not worth the risk.?
Click to expand...
Teatime to breakfast? In UK waters you would be dead long before that. As for half deflated, 75N will keep you afloat and there is that little tube to puff into if you are still breathing.
I got a present of some lifejackets from a guy who had swallowed the anchor. The only one which leaked was the one with his ex-partners name on it.
 
awol said:
Teatime to breakfast? In UK waters you would be dead long before that. As for half deflated, 75N will keep you afloat and there is that little tube to puff into if you are still breathing.
I got a present of some lifejackets from a guy who had swallowed the anchor. The only one which leaked was the one with his ex-partners name on it.
Click to expand...

Quite probably but that's not the point. A present eh. Good luck.
 
Graham376 said:
Just been having a browse through ebay as some of ours fell off the Ark. Some rearming kits are dearer than some life jackets. Anyone trust the Chinese ones <£20. On second thoughts, how many branded ones are Chinese made so what's the difference?
Click to expand...

The difference is how much the supplier cares about Quality Assurance.
 
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