CARING FOR YOUR JACKET
The RNLI shares its best practice advice
Lifejackets do not last forever, but looking after yours will prolong its life and save you money, so the RNLI recommend you regularly check your lifejacket for wear and tear. Whatever type of lifejacket you use it will need basic maintenance to keep it working properly as well as having your lifejacket serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines at an approved service centre. Wear and contamination from salt spray, sand and dirt will decrease the life expectancy of your lifejacket. If you look after your lifejacket it will look after you.
Checks you should make on a regular basis include a visual check of the webbing, stitching and fastenings that hold the lifejacket together. Zips and buckles should also be checked to make sure they are working as intended.
Manufacturers often have instructions on how you can open your lifejacket so do check the manual or their website for details. You can check the gas bottle to ensure it has not loosened or corroded. Also check any material that is in contact with the bottle as the fabric may have been damaged. We often find at our free RNLI Lifejacket clinics that many lifejackets have firing capsules that are out of date
(these last three years, or five for Hammar) so when you are checking the gas bottle also check the firing capsule to see when it is due to expire. You can buy re-arming kits to replace any out of date components.
It is also recommended that you orally inflate your lifejacket and leave it inflated for 24hours at a constant temperature to ensure that there are no leaks or damage. The lifejacket must be deflated using the cap on the inflation tube, as using anything else could cause damage, and replacing the cap keeps dirt out of the valve Repack the lifejacket according to the manufacturer’s folding instructions; the fabric should always be folded or flaked, never rolled, as this can prevent it from inflating.
Always carry a re-arming kit on board your boat for each type of lifejacket you have, so if one inflates you will be able to get it ready to use again straight away. The RNLI’S free lifejacket clinics offer advice and guidance about how to care for your lifejackets. Register your interest at rnli.org/safety/ what-we-cando-for-you.