Maintain your lifejacket, says Duncan Wells, and you’ll understand it better – and save money!
How to maintain your lifejacket
1. Lifejacket covers are held closed with a Velcro strip or a zip that bursts on inflation. Unfold the bladder taking care to note how it has been packed as we will re-pack it in exactly the same way
2. Check the condition of the bladder, brown spots indicate potential problems. Check the harness, cover, and crotch straps are in good condition. Here we are checking the retro reflective patches
3a. Next, check the firing head. This hydrostatic Hammar head is OK if the dot is green, the manual firing handle is there and it’s inside the ‘replace by’ date. If the dot is red or the handle is missing, it’s been fired
3b. UML heads use a paper cartridge to trigger firing. They have a green cap at the base and a green clip by the manual firing toggle. If either is red, or it’s past its ‘replace by’ date, it needs changing
3c. The Halkey Roberts system also has a green cap at the base and a green clip by the manual firing toggle. If either is red, it has been fired. Halkey Roberts uses a soluble salt bobbin to trigger firing
4. Check the cylinder is corrosion-free and weighs the weight stamped on it. If it’s corroded, replace with a same-size new cylinder in case it leaks or holes the bladder. Check that it’s screwed in tightly
5. Check the seal, and you can find out immediately if a cylinder has been fired. Unscrew it from the firing head and if there’s a hole in it, it has been fired and needs replacing with a cylinder of the same weight
6. Reassemble the firing head: screw the cartridge (UML) or bowl (Halkey Roberts) onto base. For Hammar (shown), ensure the cylinder and valve are perpendicular and the black sealing ring lines up (see 3a)
7. Inflate the lifejacket to check for leaks and correct firing head reassembly. Always use a pump, never inflate by mouth as this will introduce moisture inside and will encourage rotting of the bladder
8. Repack the lifejacket, taking care to do so in the same way you unpacked it. If you can’t remember, or it’s not compact enough to close the cover, check online for a manufacturer’s video guide