[rossfloyd Posts: 2047 Status: Offline]

Like flares they last way longer than the use by date, but you have to be safe.  I guess its the 95% and 99.9% part of the probability curve !  We have to service our 6 man life raft this winter - its never been wet, always been stored out of the sun and the valise is immaculate - but if we ever needed it and it didn't work ....

[Al Posts: 1008 Status: Offline WWW]

The new automatic cartridges arrived today.  after fitting the new ones to my life jackets, I thought that I would see if the old ones still worked.  Their expiry date was August 2021


IMG 6976

[rossfloyd Posts: 2047 Status: Offline]

Yes refolding them is like wrestling a greased pig !


The trick it to get all the air out - even a small amount messes up the packing  - and follow the instructions and / or the printed  advice.  Ours say 'fold under' ( from memory ) and similar helpful things on the bladders.  That is important so that they burst and inflate the correct way.  The toggle needs to be correctly positioned so that it won't catch on the crotch straps at the wrong moment and detonate the whole thing.


Also - from bitter experience - get the zipper at the correct end before you start repacking or it all goes pear shaped at the end when you come to zip up !  Velcro is much easier if they have that, but some of the Crewsaver have 'quick burst' zip that is a pig until you get the hang of it.


I don't know if it is recommended but I put a bit of silicone grease on the cylinder threads.  You have to be sure that it doesn't get on the bladder in case it does anything nasty to the material but it makes checking and unscrewing easier next time.


Last time I took ours for an RNLI check - we did have 9 of them so this may have been a material factor - the RNLI man declined to do more than a brief visual inspection as opening them up is no longer covered on their insurance in case the jacket fails when used.  So they offer to check but can't actually do more than peer at them to see if the seal is in place !  Gone are the days when they would pull them to bits and go right through the whole jacket and accessories :-(


Good luck !

[Al Posts: 1008 Status: Offline WWW]

I took Ross's advice and had a wee look on You Tube.  It's not as complicated to service them as I imagined it would be.  My co2 cylinders are in excellent condition and their weight is as stamped on the outside of the canisters.

Both jackets auto fire modules are approaching 4 years out of date, so have ordered two more of those which cost about £28 for the pair including delivery.

I used a cycle pump to inflate both jackets and have left them inflated to see if they lose any air, both seem fine so far after an hour being inflated. 

The fun bit maybe trying to fold them back up, so they fit nicely back inside their covers [size=78%] [/size]

[Dave Munday Posts: 267 Status: Offline]

I had mine serviced by the RNLI , they binned the kiddies lifejacket.  They didn't charge for the others as they were out of date and didn't want to be responsible for them,  but a donation was accepted.

[rossfloyd Posts: 2047 Status: Offline]

Just service them yourself - fit new inflators if time expired, check the cylinder weights and give a 24 hour inflation test using a compressor rather than blowing them up by mouth as that introduces moisture into the bladder.  I do ours every year as part of the annual service/safety inspection.  Mark the weight on the cylinder and fill in the service tab inside the jacket . You should get 10 years if you look after the jacket.  There are plenty of 'how to' clips on YouTube.


I am not sure about auto inflation for a hovercraft - certainly in a boat but,  if you get trapped under a craft it could cause issues if it auto inflates.  I've gone for manual on the craft and auto elsewhere.


A crotch/castration strap is absolutely essential. It stops the jacket coming over your head and floating away.


I buy Crewsaver equipment.  They are a big commercial brand and their equipment is hard wearing, intuitive and comfortable to wear.


Ebay life jackets     .... would you buy an ebay parachute ?


Don't buy second hand stuff - you have no idea if it has been abused and up to your neck in freezing water is no time to find out :-)


Just my thoughts. :-)

[Al Posts: 1008 Status: Offline WWW]

I just checked the dates on my life jackets and they were due for service in 2022     They have hardly been worn and have been stored inside our house since buying them new a few years ago.  The chances are they will be OK, but thinking that I'm probably better off buying a couple new ones, as if Becky or I end up in the water & they fail, is not the time for hindsight of if only I hadn't been so tight 


Looking around the prices vary bigtime, from less than £20 to £200+.  I want automatic life jackets, as pull cord manual ones are not a lot of use if you're disorientated/unconscious.


What are your views on life jackets?  Is it better to pay higher price for a premium/well known make, or would cheaper ones still be OK as surely they need to be of a certain standard to be allowed to be sold here in the UK.


These are for sale on eBay for not a lot of money, but not sure what to think, as at the end of the day our lives could depend on them.  Looking at them more closely, they don't seem to have a crotch strap.


Automatic Inflatable Life Jacket Inflation Adult Survival Aid Vest 817 SOLD | eBay UK