Lifejacket service

DM · 18 March 2003, 09:59

For those unfamiliar with gas jackets, here's a few pointers to make sure they work when required.

Open up the jacket and unscrew the gas cartridge. Make sure the thin foil cap which is pierced by the firing pin is intact. Any corrosion, bin it.

DM · 18 March 2003, 10:03

With a pin, carefully prise the plastic safety clip off and operate the mechanism to ensure it works and that the firing pin is in good condition.

DM · 18 March 2003, 10:08

Inflate the jacket to its max with the oral inflation tube and leave overnight to ensure it stays inflated. Check the integrity of the harnesses and that the whistle isn't full of salt.

whitingiom · 18 March 2003, 17:11

David

My little green clip's gone.....do I need to renew it?

Mike Garside · 18 March 2003, 17:13

Nice one, David. As someone who still struggles to get it into his head that wearing a lifejacket is the right thing to do, I shall go and open up that ropey old thing that I inherited somewhere down the line and give it a going over this very minute. As a result, I suspect I will be shopping for a new one just as soon as it's opened up!

thewavehumper · 18 March 2003, 19:16

Allgadgets do good deals on lifejackets Mike if you are lucky you can even get a free safety Kite.

Thanks David its vital and sensible info

Jelly · 19 March 2003, 08:24

I've got some of those green clips spare drop me an email & I'll send you one.
Jelly

Manos · 19 March 2003, 16:20

Very interesting and VERY usefull David

BogMonster · 28 April 2008, 16:43

Dragging up an old thread here but it is the only one I can find on servicing lifejackets - it would seem most people get it done professionally?

I am going to need to do the ones on my RIB soon as they are due for service in Aug 08 according to the label inside the jacket (they will be just over 2 yrs old then), though the Hammar units have a best before of 2011 and the indicators are green.

Somebody has said the gas bottles need to be weighed to ensure they are full, is this correct? How much should a 33g CO2 cylinder weigh, I assume the 33g is the weight of the gas and not the total cylinder weight? Anything else that should be done? Needless to say there are no agents that do this sort of thing in the back end of nowhere and the option of sending them away to be done is silly expensive for this number of jackets if it is easy to do myself.

I have a set of 4 Hammar 150N jackets from the Marine Warehouse, I've emailed them for their advice too but just wondered what people on here thought about it. Can you get the replacement labels to say the next service due date, or are those only available to the "pro's"?

Ta, and thanks for the original info above too, very interesting

Poly · 28 April 2008, 19:37

Stephen - I imagine people are only paying for servicing if they opperate commercially and therefore are required to. Dave Mannings guide above should be good enough for you. You don't want moisture inside the bladder so use a pump not your mouth to inflate it for testing.

The correct, full, weight of the cylinder should be stamped on the cylinder itself. And yes 33g means 33g of co2.

MikeCC · 29 April 2008, 08:15

Also take a look at the Baltic website - they have a good guide to checking LJs. My only addition is to recommend using a bicycle pump or similar to inflate them because however much Listerine you use, bacteria and moisture will get into the bladder.

Most warranties only apply if the LJ is serviced annually, but for most people it's cheaper/easier to DIY. Charter and training companies tend to go for pro service to get the rubber stamp.

With the weight on the cylinder, I wouldn't panic if it's +/- 1-2g - most scales won't be that accurate anyway. If there's a hole, the gas will have leaked out completely, so it's going to be 33g or so down!

Re service labels - doesn't your LR operation have something suitable? It's only for your purposes after all.

BogMonster · 29 April 2008, 11:45

Thanks

I have a couple more questions, perhaps being thick but...

On mine, the cylinder is internal to the inflation bladder part, so how do you get at it?? Been peering at it for a while and wondering if I am missing something obvious! Photo attached.

The only bit on the outside is the Hammar unit and the pull toggle, the cylinder seems (can't see it obviously, but going on feel) seems to screw into the inside of the Hammar unit. Does the Hammar unit come off the inflation bladder somehow, and if so how, would it be a twist off thing or what? Don't want to force anything in case it breaks...

Though the main question is about my own jackets we also have similar Marinepool jackets used for commercial purposes at work, as far as I know these get sent away to be serviced so if it is simple to do I wondered if these could be done here too as it would make life much easier.

What's the "Baltic" website?

Thanks

Trickdog · 29 April 2008, 16:19

Baltic manufacture lifejackets. The page on their website with links to the service leaflet is http://www.baltic.se/service.asp?lang=eng

Trickdog · 29 April 2008, 16:21

By the way, this looks the biz! ...http://www.baltic.se/product.asp?prod_id=32&lang=eng

Has anybody tried one?

Jelly · 29 April 2008, 18:29

HI any one got an idea on how much theses rib LJ are ?
Jelly

MikeCC · 30 April 2008, 08:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trickdog

Baltic manufacture lifejackets. The page on their website with links to the service leaflet is http://www.baltic.se/service.asp?lang=eng

Thanks - was going to put the link after but forgot!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

On mine, the cylinder is internal to the inflation bladder part, so how do you get at it??
The only bit on the outside is the Hammar unit and the pull toggle, the cylinder seems (can't see it obviously, but going on feel) seems to screw into the inside of the Hammar unit. Does the Hammar unit come off the inflation bladder somehow, and if so how, would it be a twist off thing or what? Don't want to force anything in case it breaks...

Sorry - didn't notice they were Hammar type first time. See this link - there's a useful video clip for re-arming a Hammar. You'll need the little key to remove the release unit.

Jelly · 30 April 2008, 12:55

The Baltic Rib Hybrid lifejackets are about 270 pounds, thus I doubt I'll be getting one.

BogMonster · 30 April 2008, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeCC

Sorry - didn't notice they were Hammar type first time. See this link - there's a useful video clip for re-arming a Hammar. You'll need the little key to remove the release unit.

Thanks - good link

a picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth a hundred pictures!

Finding a key round these parts might be easier said than done - but it looks like you could probably persuade it off with a flat screwdriver, with some care?

Erin · 30 April 2008, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Finding a key round these parts might be easier said than done - but it looks like you could probably persuade it off with a flat screwdriver, with some care?

Yep, you can. I had to replace a cylinder on one of mine which had gone off accidentally. With care you can disassemble and renew the cylinder. The most important thing on these jackets is to make sure the cylinder hasn't come loose.

MikeCC · 01 May 2008, 07:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Thanks - good link

a picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth a hundred pictures!

Finding a key round these parts might be easier said than done - but it looks like you could probably persuade it off with a flat screwdriver, with some care?

There should be one in your re-arm kit. You have got a re-arm kit haven't you?