Tested my life jackets last night - failure...

[PetiteFleur]

Tested all my life jackets last night, 7 adult and 3 junior, mostly auto but one adult manual. All gas cylinders tight and no corrosion. One of the junior life jackets failed very quickly, I was surprised as it had been only used a couple of times some time ago and always stored in my shed in it's original bag. Blew up again and dropped it in the bath - immediately inflated but was leaking badly at one lower seam so will be scrapped - made in 2007. Another adult one had deflated slightly so will do the same and see the result but probably just scrap it. Do I just throw it in the dustbin - or perhaps cut off the inflatable parts and convert to a standard harness only?
All the other jackets have stayed inflated over night, even my personal one which was made in 2008. What are your experiences?

 

[neil_s]

Yes - one of my 3 manuals failed it's inflation test this year. It was soft after being left overnight. It was made in 2003. You can see a slight pimple on the outer jacket where the leak is - not on a seam, so I guess it has been punctured.

 

[[70521]]

I bin Life Jackets at seven years!

 

[Stemar]

My main ones are at least 15 years old now. They get test inflated and carefully checked annually, and so for so good. Any signs of trouble and they're in the bin. If the cartridge and cylinder are worth keeping, they'll make spares for a quick fix if one gets used, otherwise, I'll probably set off the iffy jacket to see what happens, since I've never used one in anger; they only time I've seen one go off was when it got dropped into the inch or two of water in the dinghy after a rainy weekend.

I checked a friend's jackets a few years back and the cartridges were 7 years out of date, but still went off with a satisfying pop when dropped into a cup of water. Friend got an earful, and I took over the servicing after that!

 

[srm]

We normally sail two up. I carry two ship's life jackets for any situation where they are really needed. Also, four auto inflatables with harnesses for use as harness on the principle that its best not to go over the side.
Have had experience of failed inflatable jackets, one auto worn almost daily at work that failed to inflate due to an incorrect bobbin from new. Of three that came with the current boat : cylinder test, one inflated, one partly inflated and one failed to inflate. Overnight inflation, two had leaks.

 

[Plum]

Tested all my life jackets last night, 7 adult and 3 junior, mostly auto but one adult manual. All gas cylinders tight and no corrosion. One of the junior life jackets failed very quickly, I was surprised as it had been only used a couple of times some time ago and always stored in my shed in it's original bag. Blew up again and dropped it in the bath - immediately inflated but was leaking badly at one lower seam so will be scrapped - made in 2007. Another adult one had deflated slightly so will do the same and see the result but probably just scrap it. Do I just throw it in the dustbin - or perhaps cut off the inflatable parts and convert to a standard harness only?
All the other jackets have stayed inflated over night, even my personal one which was made in 2008. What are your experiences?

Well done for doing inspections! Shows how important they are.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[penberth3]

.......another adult one had deflated slightly so will do the same and see the result but probably just scrap it. Do I just throw it in the dustbin - or perhaps cut off the inflatable parts and convert to a standard harness only?
All the other jackets have stayed inflated over night, even my personal one which was made in 2008. What are your experiences?

You'd trust a 15 year old harness? Consider it "end of life", cut up everything and put it in the bin. Don't save any bits and pieces.

 

[srm]

You'd trust a 15 year old harness? Consider it "end of life", cut up everything and put it in the bin. Don't save any bits and pieces.

I suspect a lot depends on the amount and severity of use, plus storage conditions, during those 15 years. Also, why bin perfectly usable metal fittings, or do you bin all your shackles, sails, halyards, etc. every few years regardless of usage and condition?
I used to make close to, or over, Yachtmaster qualifying mileage most years while others need a few years to get those miles in. Obviously, my boat's equipment got far more wear and tear than some others.
On similar lines I use webbing jackstays. A surveyor gave a simple rule of thumb as to their working life. Replace when the colour starts to fade. With that in mind I stow them below if the boat is unlikely to be used for a few weeks.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Yes, I would trust this particular harness - as mentioned it had only been used a couple of times, stored in it's bag in my shed in the dry and it looked brand new. Even if I don't use it as a harness I would definitely salvage all the stainless fittings and webbing!

 

[PetiteFleur]

I also take my jackstays off every time I leave the boat. Now 14yrs old and still in excellent condition. Reminds me of my previous boat, after a couple of years I looked at them and tested them by try to pull the stitched loop and the stitching just pulled apart!!! Immediately scrapped.

 

[Alfie168]

I also take my jackstays off every time I leave the boat. Now 14yrs old and still in excellent condition. Reminds me of my previous boat, after a couple of years I looked at them and tested them by try to pull the stitched loop and the stitching just pulled apart!!! Immediately scrapped.

I take it the previous boat jackstay stitching had degraded because of UV. I've just bought a number of rolls of general cordage from Lidl. It's nothing special, just braided polypropylene, but before opening the rolls I have sent an enquiry to Lidl asking them whether it is UV resistant or not. If not, they are going back. I have had emails saying they have passed my enquiry to their supplier who will respond to me, but no answer as yet.

 

[pandos]

I glued and stitched my jack stays and covered the stitching with heat shrink tubing. Looks good and will protect the thread(which is also uv resistant)

I take them off out of season.

 

[iamtjc]

I've just bought a number of rolls of general cordage from Lidl. It's nothing special, just braided polypropylene

Be careful with cheap rope from Lidl/B&Q etc. I bought some and was puzzled by the different ratings given. They were all quite low and seemed to bear no relationship to the size of the rope. When I opened the ropes up I found the cores were rubbish. It looked like they had stuffed anything they could find inside including foam tape! I assume that was simply to pad out the diameter.
I consider them deceptively dangerous (as they look like real rope) and have removed them from my boat. Now consigned to use as washing lines or similar garden usage.

 

[Neeves]

Be careful with cheap rope from Lidl/B&Q etc. I bought some and was puzzled by the different ratings given. They were all quite low and seemed to bear no relationship to the size of the rope. When I opened the ropes up I found the cores were rubbish. It looked like they had stuffed anything they could find inside including foam tape! I assume that was simply to pad out the diameter.
I consider them deceptively dangerous (as they look like real rope) and have removed them from my boat. Now consigned to use as washing lines or similar garden usage.

We have found that inside the impressive looking out braid is what looks like paper packing. Whatever strength there is is in the cover - which is questionable. Aldi have some on sale now - looks really sexy in their range of colours - rubbish.

Don't use them for a washing line - they will eventually fail and your laundry will be all over the muddy ground . Non critical use in the garden is a good outlet.

Jonathan

 

[awol]

I don't think you can blame Lidl. They mark their rope/string with a SWL(which is not very high). Caveat Emptor!

 

[srm]

Its not only budget supermarkets ropes should be checked. I bought a coil of 3 strand rope intended for commercial fishing gear. I use it for mooring lines as its stretch and strength characteristics are close to nylon of the same diameter and the price significantly less. After a season the green colour has faded a bit and the outside of the strands are becoming hairy. Looks like UV damage, but probably not a problem if used, as intended, underwater.

 

[DanTribe]

So, I suppose I ought to check my Thomas Foulkes ex WD mae wests then?

 

[mattonthesea]

First time I checked my new lifejacket lots of bubble wrap and packing tape fell out; it had been a shelf demo! I'd only used it for about 600 miles including a gale.

Lesson to me, shop and manufacturer. Me: check all safety gear on purchase

 

[LadyInBed]

Blew up again and dropped it in the bath - immediately inflated but was leaking badly at one lower seam

If I read that right, you blew an auto-inflate LJ up by mouth then dropped it in water and the auto-inflate mechanism fired and tried to blow it up again. I'm not surprised that it leaked!
Please forgive me if I misinterpreted.

 

[thinwater]

Bear in mind that the term "UV resistant" has no consitent meaning in commerce. It's like claiming something is "green."

Polypropylene is not UV resistant. It is perhaps the least resistant polymer, so just don't.

Some of the cheap ropes I have seen use what is obviously scrap thread from the gament industy as core. It's really only good for two things; taking measurements, dry-runing some rigging changes (just visually and for clear runs--not under load) and bundling rubish.