Recycled lifejacket

zoidberg

zoidberg

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If you had a straightforward manual lifejacket that actually did 'Exactly Wot It Says On The Tin' after a decade of latent carriage, would you wash and dry it, replace the discharged gas cylinder - then put it back into service?

Or would you buy a new, expensive one?
 
I would test it.
By inflating manually, leaving for 24 hrs to see if it stayed inflated.
after cleaning inspect to see if it looks ok straps not worn, frayed, no corrosion, not discolored.

If satisfied its Ok and you trust your life to it. keep it.
If in doubt, replace it.
 
I keep a stock of old and serviced lifejackets for use in the dinghy when going ashore. They don't need to be comfortable for short dinghy trips and I don't worry about leaving them unattended in the dinghy while ashore - they are not so attractive to the light fingered! They also make good spares should a posh one go off inadvertently in heavy weather.

Yoda
 
Just wondering what inproved features (spray hood, reflecting tape, crutch straps, lifting strop, auto-inflate, flashing light, plus newer/better fabric, etc) , might be on a new LJ.

If you are testing the air retention capability of the old one, it is worth putting a heavy weight on the LJ for the test, to simulate the pressure exerted on the bladder by being in the water and helping to hold up the wearer.
 
Maybe I'll put them in the For Sale section then. :)

What do you reckon a ten-year old lifejacket is worth?
 
I'd not worry too much about 10 years as long as the LJ has been kept reasonably dry.

Recently I was turning out a few boxes in the garage and in one I found the odds and ends which had come out of a car I scrapped in the mid 90's (I know...). In the box was a Beaufort lifejacket which I'd carried around in the spare tyre compartment f the car ever since I bought the LJ second hand in 1984. So I blew it up just for fun. It worked perfectly and lost no pressure in 24 hrs. Not bad for 35 years without any maintenance!
 
unsure how relevant this is but
Years ago we used to test aircraft life jackets
We would inflate them to 5psi for about 3 minutes and then deflate to 2psi and hold for 24hrs. Lots leaked but none ever burst at 5psi.

I just inflate to hard and leave for 24hrs....only failure was a faulty inflation valve
PS(we inflate life jackets and enlarge drawings)(blow up has a different meaning :-) )
 
Ten years is nearing the point that I'd reluctantly be assuming that the material it's made from might well be the same stuff as several of my old but expensive and once waterproof jackets and trousers. Over the years those have just decided to shed their inner waterproofing layer - looking very much like peeling skin does after sunburn. Also coincides with the elastic in cuffs or shoulder straps suddenly ignoring Hooke's Law.
 
I replace all LJs after 7 years, used or unused. OK I spent some time in the aviation industry and they do lots of time/landing/distance replacements, but it could be the last line of defence in keeping my unconscious body alive or above water so that it can be taken ashore and the family can faf about with a funeral.
 
Hmmm.

'If it ain't broke, don't fix it...'

......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Cynical Scots aviator.




Er, I learned from my time in HerMaj's employ that even the best-serviced, up-to-date LSJs, checked that very day by top safety equipment professionals, can fail 'in service'.
That's why I carry more than one. Same as parachutes, and aircraft engines, and EPIRBs....
 
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