Rusty Life Jackets

[Stemar]

I'm servicing a few life jackets for a friend. All the gas cylinders are corroded, so I'm condemning them, but the rust has marked the bladders. While the plastic feels OK to the touch, will it have been weakened by the staining?

If the person concerned was wealthy, I wouldn't hesitate to condemn them, but they aren't, and they're already facing a big bill for something else, so I don't want to unless it's really necessary, but safety first, obviously.

 

[jlavery]

Mine are probably similar. Inflating them and leaving overnight revealed no leaks, so I'm keeping them. Just replaced the cylinders and out of date activation bobbins.

 

[wonkywinch]

I'm servicing a few life jackets for a friend. All the gas cylinders are corroded, so I'm condemning them, but the rust has marked the bladders. While the plastic feels OK to the touch, will it have been weakened by the staining?

If the person concerned was wealthy, I wouldn't hesitate to condemn them, but they aren't, and they're already facing a big bill for something else, so I don't want to unless it's really necessary, but safety first, obviously.

As jlavery says, just pump them up and leave for 24-48 hours. I use a balloon pump so as not to put moisture from breath inside the bladders. If you pump them up nice and tight, you'll be able to feel for any leaks by squeezing plus the extra pressure may expose any weakness (whilst hopefully not introducing any!)

 

[Refueler]

Staining is OK .. but as I'm sure you appreciate - care needs to be taken that no tiny flake or crust of rust is left on the material, hidden in any fold ... to further decay / possibly cut the material ...

Once sure - then of course inflation test ...

 

[Boathook]

How rusty are the cylinders ? If surface rust they will be fine. I've also had rust stains on the lifejacket bladders before now and no noticeable deterioration.

When doing the inflation checks, wiggle the oral inflation tube around. I had one come totally unstuck.

 

[Stemar]

Thanks, everyone. I'll give them a good clean and see how they stay up.

Is there a safe anti-rust treatment for the new cylinders?

 

[wonkywinch]

Thanks, everyone. I'll give them a good clean and see how they stay up.

Is there a safe anti-rust treatment for the new cylinders?

Fresh air. If they are kept in a damp environment where the cylinder is prone to rust then you're at risk of damaging the salt capsule that triggers the lifejacket.

 

[veshengro]

I use an anti corrosion product called ACF50 which can be had in aerosol spray or liquid form. When I lay my Scooter up, outside but covered up for the winter, I use ACF on all parts. It's not that cheap, about £15 for a spray can but if you can find other uses for it not just a few CO2 cylinders it might be worth a try. It's harmless on rubber, plastics, PVC, fabrics etc:

Spray a bit on a tissue and wipe the CO2 cylinders over. To date I have never found any corrosion on my Scooter after a few damp months outside after treatment with ACF50..There are other products I know, I only speak from experience of using the above.

 

[Stemar]

I use an anti corrosion product called ACF50 which can be had in aerosol spray or liquid form. When I lay my Scooter up, outside but covered up for the winter, I use ACF on all parts. It's not that cheap, about £15 for a spray can but if you can find other uses for it not just a few CO2 cylinders it might be worth a try. It's harmless on rubber, plastics, PVC, fabrics etc:

I use this all the time instead of WD40, as it leaves a protective film. I hadn't thought of it for LJ cylnders.

 

[penberth3]

I use an anti corrosion product called ACF50.... It's harmless on rubber, plastics, PVC, fabrics etc:

Are you absolutely sure about that? Manufacturer's info or just your opinion?

 

[HughClayton]

Put a condom over the cylinder! Yes, really.

 

[Ribtecer]

Put a condom over the cylinder! Yes, really.

I've used heat shrink, but each to his own.

Either way, it does work.

 

[seeSimon]

Put a condom over the cylinder! Yes, really.

Yes, I do this (or these days more likely a finger off a nitrile work glove!) having protected the cylinder with ACF50 or silicon grease.

The cylinders are very thick walled, but only "bright plated", not properly galvanised or painted. Of course they'll rust, especially if in daily use and they never really dry properly.

 

[veshengro]

Are you absolutely sure about that? Manufacturer's info or just your opinion?

My experience of use on my Scooter now and for quite a few years previous on my Motorcycle is that ACF 50 has never caused damage or shortened the life of rubber hoses, electrical wiring looms or fabric covered seats/saddles.

I can quote a whole legion of manufacturer's information..Combustible liquid Cat:4 meets requirements for..MIL-PRF81309 type 2 BMS 3-23 SYD-8-20-001. AM-51-31-00 etc: etc: for about half a page
There are no warnings about not using it on rubber/plastic or on Apple Crumble, with Vodka or anything else though..

 

[Stemar]

Are you absolutely sure about that? Manufacturer's info or just your opinion?

I want to be 100% sure, so I asked the importer. They came back very quickly, asking me to contact the make in the US, which I've done, so I'll see what, if anything, they have to say.

I rather like the glove finder idea, though. I suspect it would be more resistant to wear and tear than a thin film of what is, essentially, grease, and I've got plenty of gloves!

The good news is that the LJs all stayed up overnight, so they are saveable.

 

[Caer Urfa]

Corroded life jacket bottles don't rust overnight so someone has not bothered any maintenance for some time and If you tell your friend the life jackets are ok then something happens then on your head be it !

Sorry If your friend cannot afford a new life jacket then he should not be boating its his life !

 

[Stemar]

I'was well aware that the LJs hadn't been serviced for a while, that's why I got involved. By the time they leave my hands, they'll all be in good enough condition for me to be happy to use them. Any that aren't will be cut up. I'll also take over their maintenence in the future, as there are good reasons why it would be difficult for the owner to deal with it.

As for the corrosion, one of the LJs is only a couple of years old, but the cylinder has started to corrode. I suspect that it's because they all got a good dowsing with salt water on an outing 18 months ago, and weren't cleaned off properly. Since then the boat has had engine trouble, so has hardly been used.

 

[wonkywinch]

Make sure they're not left damp inside a cupboard in future. This method of storage will not only corrode the metal bits (don't forget there is a metal pin in the mechanism that you do not want to fail) but often the trigger fires as the medium inside them gets damp.

 

[Refueler]

WOW ...... no messing around there ay !!

 

[Refueler]

I'was well aware that the LJs hadn't been serviced for a while, that's why I got involved. By the time they leave my hands, they'll all be in good enough condition for me to be happy to use them. Any that aren't will be cut up. I'll also take over their maintenence in the future, as there are good reasons why it would be difficult for the owner to deal with it.

As for the corrosion, one of the LJs is only a couple of years old, but the cylinder has started to corrode. I suspect that it's because they all got a good dowsing with salt water on an outing 18 months ago, and weren't cleaned off properly. Since then the boat has had engine trouble, so has hardly been used.

I've seen cylinders with rust starting on relatively 'young' cylinders ...