Hi Rick, It might pay to disarm the PFDs each winter and put bobbins in a ziplock bag, till Spring. Or bag up the auto ones to keep the bobbin dry. I too have a collection of ten PFDs, and tethers and jacklines. I store all my PFDs in two vinyl valeses labelled "LIFE JACKETS", and we used to only put them on, in rough weather. Trying to be a better and more responsible yachtsman, I now keep a checklist before leaving the dock and it includes taking out a PFD for each person aboard, and laying them on a cabin cushion so they are handy and guests can easily find one on their own. I rig jacklines when I'm alone on a delivery, or if the forecast includes winds over 20 knots, but I sail the protected waters of Chesapeake Bay usually in lighter winds. What are other people doing? Do you always wear a PFD or do you have a rule for when you put one on? Chuck S Resolute 1989 C&C 34R, Annapolis
> On 01/03/2025 12:06 PM EST Rick Brass via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > wrote: > > > > I have always bought cartridges at my local West Marine. Cheap and always > current in my experience. > > > > I have 4 inflatables with harnesses and tethers for myself and crew when > offshore. (My personal one - a Crewsaver - goes in my gear bag when making > deliveries, along with a pair of safety lines.) I also keep 6 more > autoinflate PFDs in a bag for use by guests when entertaining or doing > "3-hour tours" near home. It is a real PTA to need a set of 6 conventional > PFDs plus the inflatables on the boat, but the inflatables only count when > the passenger is wearing it. > > > > I have never seen a gas cylinder leak except when a PFD accidentally inflates > due to moisture over the winter - which has happened about 3 times over the > years. Might be a good idea to take them home, but it is probably about as > humid in the garage as on the boat. > > > > But the comment about the bobbins expiring is correct. There is a label on > each bobbin in my inventory of spares and in the PFDs on the boat. I just > checked about a week ago. And I do need to replace 3 or 4 of the bobbins. > Again I will check first at West Marine to see if I can order bobbins without > getting the kit that contains the cylinder, bobbin, and plastic safety insert > in a single zip lock bag. > > > > Rick Brass > > Washington, NC > > -----Original Message----- > From: Stus-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > Sent: Jan 3, 2025 1:31 AM > To: Stus-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > Cc: CHARLES SCHEAFFER <cscheaf...@comcast.net> > Subject: Stus-List Re: Inflatable PFDs > > > > Hey guys, > I'll check Landmark. I'm just wary that companies sell safety equipment that > is outdated. > > I recently (today) learned that it's possible to recertify your CO2 > cartridges yourself, and keep and reuse them indefinitely saving $$$$$. You > simply need to weigh the cartridge using a digital scale like a food scale > and record the weight and date on the CO2 cylinder. My 38 gram CO2 bottles > were marked, Minimum Gross Weight of 149 grams and the actual weight came to > 153 grams and 157 grams. I used two different scales to confirm my test. > > I have four inflatable PFDs. I pulled the CO2 bottles and three look brand > new though they were made in 2003 and 2007. I will replace the corroded one, > even though it passed the weight test. I weighed the others individually and > used a piece of rigging tape and a sharpie to record the weight in grams and > the date, when they were checked. I've been told they need to be checked > annually, and this method meets that criteria. > > The water activated "bobbin" is different. It has an expiration date printed > on it and most Coast Guard inspections will want that current and I might > keep a spare CO2 and bobbin, onboard in a ziplocked sandwich bag if I were > planning a trip to Bermuda. > > If you want to be more assured and safety minded, you can open the PFDs > further and manually blow up the bladder as best you can and wait 24 hours to > test for leaks. Then squeeze out all the air, rearm them, and refold them > back into their jackets and return them to service. I may do that tomorrow > as there's no sense depending on a PFD or buying a new CO2 cartridge if it > can't maintain pressure? > > Hope this helps others, > Chuck Scheaffer, Resolute, 1989 34R, Annapolis > > > > > On 01/02/2025 4:11 PM EST Richard Bush via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > > wrote: > > > > > > Chuck, great question, I need some too! > > > > Richard > > 1985 C&C 37 CB; Mile 596, Ohio River > > Richard N. Bush Law Offices > > 2950 Breckenridge Lane, Suite Nine > > Louisville, Kentucky 40220 > > (502) 584-7255 > > > > > > On Thursday, January 2, 2025 at 02:20:19 PM EST, CHARLES SCHEAFFER via > > CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > > > > > Hey guys, > > Where is the best place to buy CO2 cartridges for inflatable PFDs? > > > > Thanks, > > Chuck > > Your contributions help pay the fees associated with this list and help to > > keep it active. Please help by making a small contribution using PayPal > > at: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/stumurray All contributions are > > greatly appreciated. > > Your contributions help pay the fees associated with this list and help to > > keep it active. Please help by making a small contribution using PayPal at: > > https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/stumurray All contributions are greatly > > appreciated. > > > > > > Your contributions help pay the fees associated with this list and help to > keep it active. Please help by making a small contribution using PayPal at: > https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/stumurray All contributions are greatly > appreciated. >
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