Replacing Lifejackets

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bedouin

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Most of our lifejackets are several years old - I check them over every couple of years, inflating them and replacing CO2 if corroded. Is there a realistic working life for these?.

I am thinking about buying a new lifejacket but since I last looked in detail there has been a proliferation of new styles / designs. Does anyone have any recommendations? Looking for one for everyday offshore work so will include crotch straps, sprayhood, PLB attachment etc
 
You are right. Lots of choice and all meet the same standards in terms of keeping you afloat. The differences are in the extra kit, although most makers offer the same choices, and method of construction - plus of course price. In practical terms it is usually ease of putting on and comfort that are the key differentiators for individuals so best to try out the ones on your short list to find which suit you best.
 
Tranona said:
In practical terms it is usually ease of putting on and comfort that are the key differentiators for individuals so best to try out the ones on your short list to find which suit you best.
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Good advice - it's essential to try on the ones you've shortlisted.
 
I think it can be hard to tell much about the long term comfort of a lifejacket from a quick test in the shop.

One thing I am looking for this time is as unobtrusive a fit as possible. Something I can wear all day without it getting in the way.

My shortlist currently includes the Spinlock Deckvest and Crewsaver Ergofir
 
bedouin said:
I think it can be hard to tell much about the long term comfort of a lifejacket from a quick test in the shop.

One thing I am looking for this time is as unobtrusive a fit as possible. Something I can wear all day without it getting in the way.

My shortlist currently includes the Spinlock Deckvest and Crewsaver Ergofir
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Trying them on does help. I bought a couple of Crewsaver Ergofits online, and find them awkward to put on and uncomfortable (I notice that Crewsaver have modified the design since I bought mine). I bought a Kru Sport Pro to use instead, and it's much more user-friendly.
 
bedouin said:
I think it can be hard to tell much about the long term comfort of a lifejacket from a quick test in the shop.

One thing I am looking for this time is as unobtrusive a fit as possible. Something I can wear all day without it getting in the way.

My shortlist currently includes the Spinlock Deckvest and Crewsaver Ergofir
Click to expand...

While trying them on only gives part of the story and is not a long term test, individuals vary and what may suit one person may not suit you. At least trying does tend to identify something you could not live with.
 
bedouin said:
Most of our lifejackets are several years old - I check them over every couple of years, inflating them and replacing CO2 if corroded. Is there a realistic working life for these?.
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On a Sea Survival Course recently, I learned that, while annual checking of LJs and replacement of parts where necessary, is vitally important, they do have a finite shelf-life. They will eventually puncture along the lines of folds in the bladder.
If you are considering a conventional type rather than "3D" ones, a model that has a separate bladder within an outer cover is far superior to the ones that incorporate the fabric cover into the bladder.
 
I looked at our seventeen year old Crewsavers and pottered off to the chandlers at SYH. I looked at the Spinlock ones for £250, and they are very nice. Then I said to myself “we shall be pottering around the Thames Estuary, not crewing in the Fastnet!” and saw that a combination of offers meant I could get three Crewsavers for that price. So I did.

Then I came home and, in a spirit of enquiry, held one of the old ones under water in the kitchen sink. It inflated at once and stayed that way for 24 hours. So I replaced its bottle and trigger. We now have six good life jackets...
 
Don't forget the firing mechanism in your checks! They have an expiry date and you wouldn't want to be explaining to the Coroner why the one your late crew was wearing was out of date and didn't work.

OTOH, I serviced some LJs for an elderly friend once. They were all seven years out of date so, of course, I replaced them. The old ones all made a satisfying and rapid pop when thrown into a bowl of water.
 
Stemar said:
Don't forget the firing mechanism in your checks! They have an expiry date and you wouldn't want to be explaining to the Coroner why the one your late crew was wearing was out of date and didn't work.

OTOH, I serviced some LJs for an elderly friend once. They were all seven years out of date so, of course, I replaced them. The old ones all made a satisfying and rapid pop when thrown into a bowl of water.
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The hammar ones now seem to have very short dates and are pretty expensive to replace. When these LJs were bought they were a good choice because of the risk of accidental triggering of the other type but I am not sure they are still worth the cost.
 
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