Lifejacket Servicing

[Jus]

Can anyone recommend a good place to get auto-inflate jackets serviced?

[Andre]

Originally Posted by Jus

Can anyone recommend a good place to get auto-inflate jackets serviced?

here: https://www.oceansafety.com/

[Jus]

Thanks Andre.

Anyone used this place....?

Inflatable LifeJacket and Integrated Life Jacket Coat manufacturer.

(they have a station not too far where I live in Wiltshire)

[Andre]

Originally Posted by Jus

Thanks Andre.

Anyone used this place....?

Inflatable LifeJacket and Integrated Life Jacket Coat manufacturer.

(they have a station not too far where I live in Wiltshire)

I know them as I have bought some products from them. I have not had any lifejackets serviced by them but guess they will do a good job

[jonp]

Why pay someone to do a simple job you can do yourself.

Pull out the mouth inflator blow it up and leave overnight. Unscrew the inflators cylander and weigh it to make sure it has still got air inside, some have the empty and full weight stamped on the cylander. If it doesn't have the weight you will need to buy or find out the weight a full one should be.

If you feel you would like to change the cylander then just go ahead and inflate with the old one.

This is the method we get recommended over here as a service is about the same cost as a new jacket.

http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/s...fejackets.html

Jon

[ShinyShoe]

Do not inflate by mouth. Use a set of bellows to inflate. Mouth will add moisture to the inside of the bladder which will then form mildew.

As jonp says it is probably something you can do yourself, and its a bit like liferafts - lots of people have never seen their's inflated so don't quite know what to expect.

So unless you need a Certificate of Inspection you may be better doing it yourself. That said if that price of £9.95 is correct (its a "from") then that would be a very respectable price IMHO. Even then snag is if you have 4 - thats £40 which is pretty much the cost of a cheap auto these days...

[jonp]

Wow at that price you can't complain. Here you are looking at a minimum of $20 for postage for one and around $50 for the service. A new jacket costs $50.

I do my own test after 1 year then buy new on the second year as mine tend to get well used in an open boat doing around 300 hrs per year.

Jon

[Jus]

Thanks for all the replies, very useful.

I am very tempted to try the service myself, the problem is that the manufaturer, Crewsaver, recommends an annual service by an official centre. They are quoting £15 a jacket + £12 p&p each way, seems a lot when you factor in 3 jackets annually!

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by Jus

Thanks for all the replies, very useful.

I am very tempted to try the service myself, the problem is that the manufaturer, Crewsaver, recommends an annual service by an official centre. They are quoting £15 a jacket + £12 p&p each way, seems a lot when you factor in 3 jackets annually!

They would say that as they want your money!
I have always done mine my self, parts can be had cheap and I like to know my kit inside and out is ok
Used this chap for spares as good on price and service.
Shop - RT Supplies Ltd

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by Jus

Thanks for all the replies, very useful.

I am very tempted to try the service myself, the problem is that the manufaturer, Crewsaver, recommends an annual service by an official centre. They are quoting £15 a jacket + £12 p&p each way, seems a lot when you factor in 3 jackets annually!

look at force four chandlers they were doing a deal. in the book i have 2016 auto gas £46 cheapest seaguard 165n auto gas re-arming kit £15.95 33g c02
crewfit 165n auto £65
seago active 190n auto £65 38g c02 harness extra £5 re arn kit £16.95
seago classic auto 180n 38g c02 with harness £109.90 for two
cheers

[Jus]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

They would say that as they want your money!
I have always done mine my self, parts can be had cheap and I like to know my kit inside and out is ok
Used this chap for spares as good on price and service.
Shop - RT Supplies Ltd

Thanks.

When you do yours, do you follow any kind of procedure?

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by Jus

Thanks.

When you do yours, do you follow any kind of procedure?

I inflate with pump leave for 24 hours min, check cylinder and bobbin replace if needed or out of date and repack checking stitching and job dome!

[Fenlander]

>>>I inflate with pump leave for 24 hours min, check cylinder and bobbin replace if needed or out of date and repack checking stitching and job dome!

Ditto here... always done my own.

[Jus]

I will have a look tonight, any tips on what to look for when checking cylinder and bobbin would be welcomed!

[Andre]

whenever you unscrew the cylinder you should always replace the washer with a brand new one.
I believe the kits are OK for a temporary measure only and if you are not too sure best let an authorised body do it. All commercial / military lifejackets must be serviced annually by an authorised service company and if inflated in anger or accidentally also serviced by the same. Why should leisure lifejackets be different?

[Fenlander]

Have a look at this YouTube guide...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHb4W09BSUk

[Fenlander]

>>> Why should leisure lifejackets be different?

I guess for the same reason our leisure boats are largely unregulated??

There is no reason a private person can't service one properly but the commercial requirements make sense so someone can't sign them off as serviced without training and following procedure.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Andre

I believe the kits are OK for a temporary measure only

I've never seen that stated on the rearming kits... have I missed something?

All commercial / military lifejackets must be serviced annually by an authorised service company

Thats not quite what MGN280 says though? Gas inflation LJs are to be serviced within 1 month of the coding examinations. In the intervening years they are to be examined in accordance with manufacturers recommendations (it doesn't stipulate by who/where and doesn't suggest any servicing work). [And visual inspections should be performed weekly "as far as practicable".]

and if inflated in anger or accidentally also serviced by the same

I can't see where it says that?

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by Andre

whenever you unscrew the cylinder you should always replace the washer with a brand new one.

What washer?

I believe the kits are OK for a temporary measure only and if you are not too sure best let an authorised body do it.

But if you don't have a complete fleet of spares it may be better to learn how to repack before it goes off by mistake and you have to repack to get back afloat the next day etc...?

All commercial / military lifejackets must be serviced annually by an authorised service company and if inflated in anger or accidentally also serviced by the same. Why should leisure lifejackets be different?

Well for starters there is no requirement to carry a lifejacket so trying to regulate the servicing becomes a bit horse before the cart. I'm guessing in Ireland where wearing is mandated there is not a requirement for servicing.

The same applies to all sorts of things: fire extinguishers at work are checked annually. Mine at home are checked as often as I remember to glance at the gauge, more often than annual. Yes I don't do anything more - neither do some of the service guys (I suspect at certain points they do more). Smoke detectors at work are tested with "Smoke" on some service program. Mine at home tested with the cooker ;-)

I notice SeaSafe that were linked before will only certify up to 10 year old but will still service when older. But I also notice that they wont return a faulty jacket to you. While I understand why not it does kind of mean you are over a barrel if they call you and say your jacket failed and needs a new cylinder you are paying their prices for it, and if they say the strap is damaged and its failed you can't get it back... ...they do of course sell shiny new replacements?

[Andre]

thanks for your comments possible not the best description from me however A “tabbed gasket washer “ is today used in place of a black ‘O’ ring cylinder seal . Some say replace when damaged others say replace each time you change the cylinder. all this is just good advice. At the end of the day it is up to the individual what he wants to do. Some wear lifejackets others don't. some do their own service others prefer to have this done by authorised body .