inflatable life jackets

[snappedoff]

Hey Fellas, don't know if you guys are aware of the rules of inflatable vests. I got pulled up at Whytes Island ramp. The fishies told me that inflatables are only good as secondary life saving devices and I should have some of the old bulky life vests aboard as well. does any one know the rules on these inflatable vests. They also said the vests have to be serviced every 12 months and the cylinders replaced. where do you have this done?
Does anyone know of anyone that services these vests around Brisbane

[cormorant]

They should be giving clear info not that

PDF 1 inflatables are suitable as far as I am aware. Yes they must be serviced to the manufacturers specs. s

What the hell is a "primary" device?

Were these volunteers or uniform wearing guys??

[snappedoff]

they were wearing uniforms cormorant, checked me right out eg: fish, safety gear and I only had inflatables on board and they tried hard to get me on something, though came up empty. as everything was legal and upto date. I then was told to beware they are only good as a secondary life vest??????????.

[aussiefool]

As long as they were to Aust. standards and within service date then there is nothing wrong with the inflatable type. tell them to go and re- read their own regs.

[Kevin Garrett]

Regarding "life Jackets"
No matter how good your Life Jackets are Or what type they are.
If in an emergancy your jackets are not stored correctly and can be accessed
quickly , especially if your vessel is upside down . There is a lot of information
available on AS1512 but no where can I find details on storing the most important piece of safety gear. guys give this some thought as it may save
your life.
Cobiakev

[cormorant]

It is seriously bad these blokes promoting possible mistruths and being so officious.

Call your local fisheries and ask for a clear explaination or try and talk to the officers that were at the ramp on the phone as using terminology a general punter can't understand is just bullcrap and not what they should be promoting.

The store where you bought your jackets from should have contact to service your jackets or go to manufacturers website. There is a couple of good threads on here so do a search as some manufacturers allow self servicing and others have a longer time between serviceing.


All that said I wear an inflatable as I do a lot of boating alone and it give great freedom of movement and no sweat etc but still have proper ocean PDF 1 handy in the boat with one always over the back of the helm seat. I'm noyt talking a $20 block jacket but a proper zip up ocean pdf1 . To that jacket I have the epirb lanyard atached and a safety cutter . If thinks turn to shit or conditions get nasty that is the jacket I wan't as it can't deflate. The large safety bottle ( flares, torch, med kit radio, lumo sticks knive etc) with water activated light sits there as well with a light bungy cord. If somehow my boat was to sink like a brick or be that sharp and shattered I didn't want to hang on to it I want it floating around to grab onto. Most boat cushions I have are closed cell foam and there is always the esky.

[Chris Ryan]

So if you have to service a lifejacket like these, where do you get a certificate saying it has been done properly? All I am aware of is getting the new cannister and its associated o-ring and that is about it isn't it?

[Searaider 2]

Geday snappedoff ,
As long as the Inflatables you have meet the required Standards , my belief is you dont need the other style on board as well .
They either comply or they dont .
Is sounds like the guys who checked your gear were giving their opion on what is recommended more so than on what actually complies ?

There was a previous post that also may be helpfull .
http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?t=152434&highlight=inflatable+lifej ackets

In it there is a reply from
13-07-2009, 04:18 PM post #7
Moonlighter vbmenu_register("postmenu_1044519", true);

That has a link to a file that can be filled out when you carry out a 12 month inspection on the jacket .

Link :-
http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=48927&d=1247465785

[yellowbeard]

"Were these volunteers or uniform wearing guys??"

Don't know what goes on in a state where you guys pay homage to cane toads, but here in Godzone NSW Cockroach Land our volunteers, which are combining at the moment -- the Coastal Patrol and the Coast Guard are all uniform wearing volunteers, and do not check safety equipment or issue warnings of any kind. They just monitor boats according to your instructions and save people if in trouble.
Also here, Inflatables are legal PDF1 and even the Coastal Patrol have trialled and are considering changing to them.
So there! And cop this:

[TimiBoy]

Manufacturer's standard on mine is that the gas bottle be weighed and the date recorded on the vest. Boxes are provided for the recording of that check.

Cheers,

Tim

[garman1]

hope this may be of interest

Dear Stormy Customer,

According to our records, your Stormy Personal Flotation Device (PFD) f561281 is now due for the recommended annual service.

The service includes..
üPressure testing the chamber.
üReplacing valve 0 rings.
üReplacing bobbins (water activated models)
üChecking the C02 gas cylinder.
üClose inspection of the inflation system and the outer shell.
üCleaning the garment.

Approximate cost $30-$40 plus freight, please see below a list of accredited service agents in your local area.
* New outer shell also available if worn or torn: Vest $125, Jacket $215
Should the service inspectors note that components, for example C02 cylinder, need replacing or that a repair is necessary, you will be contacted with a quote before the work is done.
After the PFD has been serviced and found to comply with AS 1512, a compliance certificate will be issued. The issuing of the certificate effectively extends the warranty by a further 12 months.

Yours Sincerely

Stormy Servicing Department

SERVICING AGENTS
TASMANIA:
-Stormy Australia, (Factory) 33 Electra Place, Mornington, Hobart 7018. PH: (03) 6245 0443
VICTORIA:
-Survival Offshore Systems, 5A/ 339-341 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne 3207 PH: 0409 903039
-Survival Offshore Systems, 65 Tarraville Road, Port Albert 3971 PH: (03) 5183 2401
-Lifejacket Testing Vic, 53 Aitken Street, Williamstown 3016 PH: 9399 8511
SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
-Eyre Peninsula Fire & Safety, 47 Edinburgh Street, Port Lincoln 5606 PH (08) 8683 4744
-Spot on Marine, 2 Adelaide Road, Victor Harbour 5211 PH: (08) 8552 5777
-Taylor Marine, 1-3 Gray Street, Mt Gambier 5290 PH: (08) 8725 8688
-Quinn Marine, 89 St. Vincent Street, Port Adelaide 5015 PH: (08) 8447 1277
WESTERN AUSTRALIA:
-Liferaft Servicing Group, 24 Mews Road, Fremantle 6160 PH: (08) 9336 4418
NEW SOUTH WALES:
-Bulbeck Marine - NEWCASTLE, 33/43 Fern Street, Islington 2296 PH: (02) 4961 3011
-Life Raft Servicing Group, 1/115 Stephan Road, Botany 2019 PH: (02) 9666 8066
-Bulbeck' s - WOLLONGONG, 3/12 Ralph Black Drive, Wollongong 2519 (02) 4226 6917
QUEENSLAND:
-Australian Maritime Systems, 30 Eagle View Place, Eagle Farm 4009 PH: (07) 3633 4100
-Marinesafe Aust. 21 Rowland Street, Slacks Creek 4127 PH: (07) 3808 1988
-Ernie's Marine Services. 12 Kingdon Street. Gladstone 4680 PH: (07) 4972 4893
NEW ZEALAND:
-Southern Ocean Safety, 195 Foreshore Road, Bluff PH: 0011 64 3212 8893

[QF3 MROCP]

http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/resources/...ackets_faq.pdf

COMPULSORY WEARING OF LIFE JACKETS
Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the new requirements about?

A. The new requirements are about increasing marine safety. The intent of the new requirements
is that if the boat is required to be equipped with life jackets and personal flotation devices, the
wearing of a life jacket or PFD be made compulsory in defined situations of heightened risk.
This will improve safety by increasing chances of survival if the person falls overboard while
underway.

There were 8 drowning fatalities in 2005 from marine incidents in
Queensland, and a further 3 in January 2006. A review of Queensland marine
incidents and a Victorian study have identified high risk situations to be –

•

Crossing coastal bars – capsize or swamping;

•

Open boats less than 4.8 metres in length – because of their inherent instability; and

•

Children under the age of 12 years especially where they are in boats less than 4.8
metres in length – they lack the strength and balance necessary to compensate for

the instability of the boat.

[QF3 MROCP]

Another link to the MSQ web site should help put a clearer picture to the question:

http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/resources/..._equipment.pdf

[QF3 MROCP]

I've heard that I must have my inflatable lifejacket (or PFD) serviced. Is this
correct and if so how often is servicing required?
Yes, your inflatable lifejacket (or PFD) must be serviced regularly. Follow the
manufacturer's recommended service program for frequency of servicing or have it
done anually. Be sure to keep receipts and certificates of servicing as documentary
evidence is necessary to show that servicing has taken place.
Keeping a safety equipment log for your boat is a way to record replacement and
servicing of all your safety equipment.

Retailers of PFDs sell re-charge kits for my brand and model PFD. Can I do the
service myself?
Self servicing of inflatable PFDs is not recommended. However, should you consider
yourself competent to do your own service you may. Follow the manufacturer's
instructions and ensure the re-charge kit matches your jacket.
Documentary evidence of the servicing is required. Keep the receipts for re-charge

kits and record the service dates.

http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/resources/...t_pfd_faqs.pdf

And no, I don't work for them - it's just that their web site will generally have the answer we are looking for...

Peter

[yellowbeard]

I've manually blown mine up a couple of times and left it overnight to see if it leaks. Unscrew the C02 gas bottle -- the weight of the C02 --33grams from memory -- and the total weight of the cylinder and the gas are stamped on the cylinder. Total is 139. So if she's dropped 33G or near, it's empty -- not very likely under normal conditions. Just like oils aint oils, services ain't services either -- anyone who's owned a car knows that -- and I was in the fire protection biz for 6 years, and the general public doesn't want to know what the shonkies do there. So I'd rather do it myself.