View Poll Results: Has willk "wound you up"?
Certainly not, he's a good sort! 0 0%
I suspect he MAY have, but I can't prove it. 0 0%
Yes, but he knows where I live 0 0%
Voters: 0. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 17 December 2013, 14:03   #1
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
Old life jackets

Your thoughts please:

I have a set of hammar action life jackets and a kid's inflating jacket that I bought in 2008. The firing mechanisms are now out of date. Other than that, the jackets are in good nick and are fitted with removable crotch straps.

I should now replace the mechanisms and have them tested. However, the costs of this are such that I'm considering replacing them with new.

Am I right? If I do this I'd remove the CO2 cylinders and crotch straps and dump the jackets...

It seems like a waste as a couple of the jackets never got used, ever.
__________________
I'm sorry, but there IS no Mars Bar.
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 14:17   #2
Member
 
biffer's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: swanwick/hamble
Boat name: stormchaser
Make: custom rib
Length: 8m +
Engine: inboard/diesel
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,848
Difficult one in this throw away world. Cost of each action would guide me but if it's cheaper to buy again is there a training centre near you that would benefit from them
__________________
biffer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 14:42   #3
Administrator
 
John Kennett's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Brighton
Length: 3m +
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 7,106
I had a similar thing with some even older life jackets in the summer. In the end the kids and I put them on and jumped into the sea

They all worked fine despite everything being way out of date, but I threw them away afterwards.
__________________
John Kennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 15:51   #4
Member
 
Trimix's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Boat name: Hysucat
Make: Hysucat
Length: 8m +
Engine: Twin Suzuki 175's
MMSI: 235102645
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 861
RIBase
I dont understand how they can actually go out of date.

Either the CO2 cylinder has gas in it or its empty - which should be obvious.

The firing mech can be checked to see if it still works - cant it ?

Can you not test it yourself and just replace the CO2 cylinder ?

I have a diving lift bag that uses a CO2 cylinder, which costs very little to replace. Are the jackets not the same ??
__________________
Trimix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 16:00   #5
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trimix View Post
I dont understand how they can actually go out of date.

Either the CO2 cylinder has gas in it or its empty - which should be obvious.

The firing mech can be checked to see if it still works - cant it ?

Can you not test it yourself and just replace the CO2 cylinder ?

I have a diving lift bag that uses a CO2 cylinder, which costs very little to replace. Are the jackets not the same ??
The firing mechanisms are date stamped with an expiry. Hammar mechanisms are pressure activated. As John says, they will probably still work, but are beyond their intended operational life. They cannot be tested, just used (fired). The CO2 cylinders are OK, I just need to check them for rust and weigh them. They would be good spares if they check out.

Looks like the skip so...
__________________
I'm sorry, but there IS no Mars Bar.
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 16:42   #6
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Seattle
Boat name: Water Dog
Make: Polaris
Length: 4m +
Engine: Yamaha 60hp
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,152
I have several jackets with the moisture activated trigger mechanisms not the pressure activated ones. They date from 2003 or so and the last time I serviced them was in roughly 2005. Even though they are long past their "intended lifespan" of 1 year the cartridges are fine and if they "fail" they are just going to inflate. So I still have them and occasionally wear them. Normally I'm in my diving drysuit and skip wearing life jackets since I float like a cork without a weightbelt on.

Anyway, is there some UK law or insurance regulation stating that you have to service these at the prescribed interval?
__________________
captnjack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:00   #7
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
Quote:
Originally Posted by captnjack View Post
Anyway, is there some UK law or insurance regulation stating that you have to service these at the prescribed interval?
Life jackets are not required in the UK, full stop. They are a legal requirement where I live in Ireland. I'm not sure how my insurance company would react if a passenger drowned with an expired, non-functional LJ on...

I know I'd be annoyed if I realised that I was about to drown with one on...
__________________
I'm sorry, but there IS no Mars Bar.
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:01   #8
Member
 
SeaSkills's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Oban (mostly)
Make: Ribcraft, Humber,BWM
Length: 5m +
Engine: Outboards
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 632
Send a message via Skype™ to SeaSkills
Quote:
Originally Posted by captnjack View Post
. Anyway, is there some UK law or insurance regulation stating that you have to service these at the prescribed interval?
Only for commercial operators (and, it might be argued, for good practice)
__________________
SEASKILLS TRAINING
Web; www.seaskills.co.uk
Email; info@seaskills.co.uk
Tel; 07525 012 013
SeaSkills is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:08   #9
RIBnet admin team
 
Nos4r2's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: The wilds of Wiltshire
Boat name: Dominator
Make: SR5.4
Length: 7m +
Engine: Yam 85
MMSI: 235055163
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,053
RIBase
How much is the recharge kit?I've got a nice unused out of date Hammar here as well.
__________________
Need spares,consoles,consumables,hire,training or even a new boat?

Please click HERE and HERE and support our Trade Members.

Join up as a Trade member or Supporter HERE
Nos4r2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:10   #10
Member
 
Chris Caton's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Wirral & Caernarfon
Boat name: That's Enuff
Make: Revenger & Avon SR4
Length: 7m +
Engine: Honda 150HP & 50HP
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,405
if you take into account that a new lifejacket, even a good quality one, is around £120, compared to a full tank of fuel I think they are good value for money and probably should just be replaced when the arming system is out of date, you've most likely had your monies worth out of them
__________________
Chris Caton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:20   #11
RIBnet admin team
 
Poly's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Boat name: imposter
Make: FunYak
Length: 3m +
Engine: Tohatsu 30HP
MMSI: 235089819
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,622
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Caton View Post
if you take into account that a new lifejacket, even a good quality one, is around £120, compared to a full tank of fuel I think they are good value for money and probably should just be replaced when the arming system is out of date, you've most likely had your monies worth out of them
I think you need a smaller fuel tank!
__________________
Poly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:28   #12
Member
 
Chris Caton's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Wirral & Caernarfon
Boat name: That's Enuff
Make: Revenger & Avon SR4
Length: 7m +
Engine: Honda 150HP & 50HP
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,405
Quote:
Originally Posted by Poly View Post
I think you need a smaller fuel tank!
Revenger tank is only 120 ltrs, fuel around £1.40 ltr, don't take much to spend £100
__________________
Chris Caton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:32   #13
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Seattle
Boat name: Water Dog
Make: Polaris
Length: 4m +
Engine: Yamaha 60hp
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,152
Quote:
Originally Posted by willk View Post
Life jackets are not required in the UK, full stop. They are a legal requirement where I live in Ireland. I'm not sure how my insurance company would react if a passenger drowned with an expired, non-functional LJ on...

I know I'd be annoyed if I realised that I was about to drown with one on...
hah!

They are required here but just need to be in "good condition". I have been inspected a couple times and they never look at the arming kit portion. Just that its CG approved and not ripped etc. One of mine is a "type V" since it has an integral harness. So its only legal if worn. I have far more aboard than necessary and only 2 are inflatables anyway. Our water can be as cold or colder than yours and non-inflatables have better insulating properties so I mostly carry those types.

Perhaps you should jump in as a test of the old ones. Maybe with a wetsuit on as a MOB exercise?
__________________
captnjack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:33   #14
Member
 
Pikey Dave's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: South Yorks
Boat name: Black Pig
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: DF140a
MMSI: 235111389
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,865
RIBase
Buy expensive lifejackets, makes 'em worth servicing/re-arming
__________________
Rule#2: Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level & then beat you with experience.
Rule#3: Tha' can't educate pork.
Rule#4:Don't feed the troll
Pikey Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:37   #15
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nos4r2 View Post
How much is the recharge kit?I've got a nice unused out of date Hammar here as well.
The figures as I find them (without too much shopping around)

Hammar rearm kit - £30
CO2 cylinder (if required) £7
Service £10

New Crewsaver CWX auto - £45

__________________
I'm sorry, but there IS no Mars Bar.
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:37   #16
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
I wonder would SPR do a RIBnet Special?
__________________
I'm sorry, but there IS no Mars Bar.
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:39   #17
RIBnet admin team
 
Poly's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Boat name: imposter
Make: FunYak
Length: 3m +
Engine: Tohatsu 30HP
MMSI: 235089819
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,622
Quote:
Originally Posted by captnjack View Post
Perhaps you should jump in as a test of the old ones. Maybe with a wetsuit on as a MOB exercise?
You'd need to really trust your crew not to just disappear off into the sunset... ...I doubt there are many people Willk hasn't wound up at some point that he could be totally sure!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Caton View Post
Revenger tank is only 120 ltrs, fuel around £1.40 ltr, don't take much to spend £100
Willk is probably running off a 12L tank!
__________________
Poly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:42   #18
Member
 
Chris Caton's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Wirral & Caernarfon
Boat name: That's Enuff
Make: Revenger & Avon SR4
Length: 7m +
Engine: Honda 150HP & 50HP
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,405
Quote:
Originally Posted by Poly View Post
Willk is probably running off a 12L tank!
I thought our tank was a bit small, 12 ltr
__________________
Chris Caton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:46   #19
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
Quote:
Originally Posted by Poly View Post
You'd need to really trust your crew not to just disappear off into the sunset... ...I doubt there are many people Willk hasn't wound up at some point that he could be totally sure!

Willk is probably running off a 12L tank!
1. I ALWAYS start the day by telling donegaldan that I'm buying dinner that night - so, I'm coming home.

2. I generally try to run off someone else's tank
__________________
I'm sorry, but there IS no Mars Bar.
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 December 2013, 17:55   #20
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,666
Quote:
Originally Posted by Poly View Post
I doubt there are many people Willk hasn't wound up at some point that he could be totally sure!
Oi - that's a flippin' Libel!

I refute your assertion and I have started a Poll to get to the Truth!
__________________
I'm sorry, but there IS no Mars Bar.
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 15:46.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.