Inflatable Life Jackets
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=136565
Printed Date: 28 Jan 2026 at 6:36am
Topic: Inflatable Life Jackets
Posted By: Malcolm in the Middle
Subject: Inflatable Life Jackets
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2022 at 12:40pm
|
Does anyone know if there is a "use by date" for the gas cannisters in inflatable life jackets? I know to check for corrosion and general condition, but its a bit like a flare - the only way to truly tell is activate it - and then its replacement time of course.
|
Replies:
Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2022 at 12:47pm
|
https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/recreational/safety/lifejackets/documents/Lifejacket-guidelines-manufacturers-retailers.pdf%20" rel="nofollow - https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/recreational/safety/lifejackets/documents/Lifejacket-guidelines-manufacturers-retailers.pdf
------------- "Times up" |
Posted By: kimber7wsm
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2022 at 7:37am
|
I couldn't get that link to work. Hutchwilco's website say commercial use requires yearly inspection. Recreational doesn't have any requirement.
I always check mine every 2 years by inflating and leaving for awhile to make sure it maintains pressure. The canisters are cheap and I like the piece of mind of knowing I haven't stabbed it with a hook somewhere along the line. It would suck to find when you actually need it, it doesn't hold air.
|
Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2022 at 9:56am
|
Pretty much says inflate and leave.goes soft you have Aussie.guess change the canister yearly.what else can you do?? ------------- "Times up" |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2022 at 10:48am
|
Coast guard , jacket manufactures recommend to change/ check on regular basis. Gas cylinder AND the bag I remove and check mine.. no sign of corrosion, then weight them...Then manually blow up the bags and leave over night with a bit of weight on them. generally in practice a couple days. I also check trailer bearings and stuff like that at the same time. |
Posted By: krow
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2022 at 8:40pm
|
Steps wrote:Posted By: Malcolm in the Middle
Date Posted: 21 Mar 2022 at 3:51pm
| Thanks for the pointers here :-) |
Posted By: whippersnappyr
Date Posted: 21 Mar 2022 at 5:42pm
|
this is what I do each year https://youtu.be/zxOYsit4HRM" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/zxOYsit4HRM
|
Posted By: Bounty Hunter
Date Posted: 21 Mar 2022 at 7:34pm
|
inflatable jackets do seem to be the popular choice these days - but who else is like me, and prefers to stay with the old type because they dont fully trust the reliability of the inflating mech.? ------------- No disintegrations! |
Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2022 at 2:15am
------------- "Times up" |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2022 at 12:11pm
|
inflatable jackets do seem to be the popular choice these days - but who
else is like me, and prefers to stay with the old type because they
dont fully trust the reliability of the inflating mech.?
East coast , had inflatables for yrs. Come to the west coast, bars, regardless how flat one chooses to go, gone for the full hutchwilco Mariner classic. Plus crotch straps added to ALL the jackets, including in spare inflatables, spare block, and the Grandchildrens full jackets . Plus have very sharp knife, epirb and water proof vhf on my belt. Made the change after a wave climbed in front of us...went ok, but opened eyes up a bit more. Then chatting to a few locals at the ramp, turns out quite a few will ONLY have full jackets allowed on their boats...these a high end 7 /8/9 m offshore guys. Always listen to local knowledge, espec those who actually do it right I thought at 1st would get in the way/ be hot in summer .. the usual justifications for going inflatable. Reality...IF get the right size doesn't matter if have thick warm clothing in winter, or a T shirt in summer...and even with knife, vhf and eirp hanging off Zero issues. A few small advantages.. |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2022 at 12:15pm
|
I've often cosidered going back to a conventional jacket
------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: Malcolm in the Middle
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2022 at 4:34pm
|
Yes I do wonder at times too. However an inflatable being worn is better than a full jacket sitting on the seat because someone thinks its too cumbersome. |
Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2022 at 5:05pm
The problem I have with inflatables is,have i pierced it without knowing??Its not that bulky and knowing how a lifejacket works(rolls you on back and keeps head out of water) I doubt many inflatbles could do the same.If unconscious. ------------- "Times up" |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2022 at 5:39pm
|
However an inflatable being worn is better than a full jacket sitting on the seat because someone thinks its too cumbersome. "thinks" Hence why got fiitted and brought one to try... there is even an old thread here me asking about this, what to get etc etc.. And Since brought, after yrs of an inflatable, I put on in the boat, head to the bar.. we come in, and 9 times out of 10, only relaise still got it on when jump in the truck to reverse down the ramp , sitting bit closer to the steering wheel than normal. "...often considered...." "Yes I do wonder..." With all due respect, I really do , why not borrow, buy , try, find out...like I do with so much stuff... and then KNOW. Even forget jackets.... I wonder how many have put crotch straps on their jackets, even after so many tragedies, including the Kaiparia one because no crotch straps.. They still in the consider / wonder basket so many yrs on? This is not the most diplomatic of posts...but I find it hard to be when its such bottom line stuff. So those who have crotch straps on all their inflatables, hands up. And those who gone back to jackets hands up And jackets with crotch straps? |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2022 at 7:07pm
Jesus Steps, is it easy being perfect? Bro, I do own a couple. I (almost) always wear one. But yeah, what would I know. I clearly don't have you expertise or judgement  ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2022 at 7:48pm
|
interesting read http://sailoradvice.com/inflatable-life-vest-vs-regular-life-vest-which-is-better-for-sailing%20" rel="nofollow - http://sailoradvice.com/inflatable-life-vest-vs-regular-life-vest-which-is-better-for-sailing
Although inflatable life jackets are more comfortable and they offer great buoyancy, they don’t float well and won’t always keep your head out of water. They can also take valuable time to inflate, time that you don’t necessarily have. ------------- "Times up" |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2022 at 7:46am
Jesus Steps, is it easy being perfect? Bro, I do own a couple. I
(almost) always wear one. But yeah, what would I know. I clearly don't
have you expertise or judgement  No m8.. when I walk on water I still get the bottoms of my jeans wet.. 2nd I think you answer your own question there.. But miss the big question.. Was the advice given to me... as a newbie few yrs back, by several members of our fishing club not sensible?... let alone wrong? I even repowered for the bar.. a 115hp on a 5.5 gross weight 1450kg hull was min to say the least.. Yet ppl still go over in conditions worse than I go with 90s on a heavier boat.. Just because I believe we should be set up well to cross bars and heavy weather if get caught out, not push chances to become a statistic on the water..... Those who dont take offense? I and I know Pcj and several others here have for any yrs read the Maritine accident reports as the come in , and gone back thru very old ones.. If doing so AND actually taking recommenced steps from experienced locals, Coast Guard,, written and advice from conversations, the local Harbour master, Maritime NZ , and local knowledge gives ppl the impression I perfect... You saying that I should not do so or pass that knowledge on is wrong? |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2022 at 8:30am
|
Smudge.. There was no offense meant. I dont understand why you got upset. I would have thought a response along the lines of " some good advice there, maybe more of us should follow some of it.." be far more appropriate, IF you thought some at least is right. |
Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2025 at 5:23am
|
https://www.facebook.com/MaritimeNZ?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUbdGXtI94UuubrVY2d9RLP3NU557jtinNcCuHHyaX8MoIAfyYdVYrH6UOgWl8es4QhnBlLW93rQpGJPQibuaCdTVHIWtATsKXxdQFPwuAyxMfCMzqr6-kj_qMBNamvOWdnhEGKqpX8ZTiK53veaXSYA4luz9VCs3_9hbPt9jq2DjKnz-Mrrk_kipdD4B4IdsePheU3pEeYx8ZQ_YSFA-QrPhKSfVLZXOa6zjuRLt0aEg&__tn__=-UC%2CP-y-R" rel="nofollow - https://www.facebook.com/MaritimeNZ/posts/pfbid02Brz6n7yB7uAQKfPUUsuSbMRPNkgtpPgSPn1i99mZmb8uqoSk4gJFh3KnZtYiNK6cl?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUbdGXtI94UuubrVY2d9RLP3NU557jtinNcCuHHyaX8MoIAfyYdVYrH6UOgWl8es4QhnBlLW93rQpGJPQibuaCdTVHIWtATsKXxdQFPwuAyxMfCMzqr6-kj_qMBNamvOWdnhEGKqpX8ZTiK53veaXSYA4luz9VCs3_9hbPt9jq2DjKnz-Mrrk_kipdD4B4IdsePheU3pEeYx8ZQ_YSFA-QrPhKSfVLZXOa6zjuRLt0aEg&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-y-R" rel="nofollow - ·  Product Safety Alert: Life Jacket Inflator Recall A product safety recall has been issued for Halkey-Roberts 3F single-point manual inflators. These inflators are found in several life jacket models, including two popular Hutchwilco designs in New Zealand. What You Need to Know: • Why the recall? Safety concerns with the manual inflators. • What to do: Check your life jacket model and follow the recall instructions below. Visit this link to check if your lifejacket is affected and rectify: https://u13.hutchwilco.co.nz/recall?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0jxwByA8dcDLBUNJb3wfHqUCCwbCunqFauBUPyjJayzvNnr-rDthqUcII_aem_LO6dRQJ8fh-E-GnFAo8Myg" rel="nofollow - https://u13.hutchwilco.co.nz/recall ” Find more details here:  https://www.productsafety.govt.nz/recalls/halkey-roberts-3f-single-point-manual-inflator?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0RFJcRj9K3i6uMlVEAhwjR6xlorvrY5anhJJLp5UT4N0cPcE9ZT6qvuxI_aem_Pd5gT0Y0DSjZXiYsvg3Wgw" rel="nofollow - https://www.productsafety.govt.nz/.../halkey-roberts-3f... https://www.productsafety.govt.nz/recalls/hutchwilco-classic-170n-manual-inflatable-lifejacket-and-hutchwilco-super-comfort-170n-manual-inflatable-lifejacket?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3-f-k8SCLQNUW17ZryKi61ga25sYGWYSItJ0Gy0z1sBypmW3dvO_Gj4Wo_aem_-QYPUkYzX-eyOzgGPo1FuA" rel="nofollow - https://www.productsafety.govt.nz/.../hutchwilco-classic... ------------- "Times up" |
Posted By: kimber7wsm
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2025 at 6:25am
| Thanks. |