Boating tip: Servicing your lifejacket

Lifejackets have changed so much in the last decade. They have moved away from the bigger bulkier-style jackets to the more streamlined, form-fitting yokes designed for all day comfort. They are fantastic as they are self inflating.

What a lot of people don’t understand is it’s important to service these lifejackets every 12 months. Best of all, you can simply do it yourself.

First, you need to check the bladder for any holes. To do this, inflate it orally and leave it overnight, check it the next day to see if it is still full of air. This is adequate time to discover small holes or leaks.

You also need to check your yoke for wear and tear. Scan the material looking carefully for any damaging marks, rips or possible seam issues caused from every day use or harmful stowage. The flat designs of the yoke styled inflatables are perfect for easy and safe stowage.

The ease and innocuous wearability of these style yokes is within the design concept of being inflatable. They are flat on the body, only inflating when the toggle is pulled deploying the Carbon Dioxide canister to blow up the yoke. It is important to check this cylinder for any external pitting corrosion or rusting, which can all affect the quality and effectiveness of the cylinder. If any of these issues are detected replace it.

Checking the cylinder by weighing it is another maintenance measure you can take. Find a set of kitchen scales and weigh the cylinder. It must weigh within five percent give or take of 33 grams. This will let you know the Carbon Dioxide is still filled correctly in your cylinder to ensure suitable inflation when deployed.

Make sure you take adequate care of your lifejackets and yokes because at the end of the day they could well save your life. Ensure you look at the servicing recommendations provided for your particular lifejackets, whatever style you use, either in the manual or online form.

Also check the other safety features such as lights and whistles are also in top working order. It’s peace of mind for all to know they will perform when you may need them.