I’ve been rather foolish. I haven’t done my lifejacket checks over the winter. What I should have done is semi inflate them via the inflation tubes and then hang them on a wooden coat hanger in the garage which is quite dry. Instead I left them just lying on the deck of Angharad! Not very good seamanship is it?
I have inflated one of them and I’m leaving it for 24 hrs. It’s a good way of checking that all seals are correct. I will do the same with the other three which are stored on Arwen in a locker!!
Then I need to check gas cylinders. They need to be tightly screwed in and the green plastic arming clips should be secure. I really should check these once a month. I don’t have any re-arming kits for them either. Just don’t say anything to me. I know! I could unscrew the cylinder and check the firing mechanism I suppose. I would have to replace the green safety clips afterwards. The firing pin can be lubricated with a water repellent lubricant; which I suppose could also be put over the cylinder as well.
I read on our RNLI site somewhere that the cylinder bottle should be checked as well and a rusty bottle discarded and replaced. The material which holds the bottle in place should also be checked to see that the rust hasn’t corroded it in some way.
My webbing has been fraying in places and I have on occasions taped up the edges with duct tape. The buckles and D rings are fine.
Whilst the jackets are partially inflated I will check the reflective tapes to see they are still securely stuck on; ensure the whistle is still secure and that Velcro strips are still in the correct place and not lifting.
I have also been giving thought to the issue of ballast. I personally carry plenty as it is but Arwen does need more. The Dinghy Cruising Association recommend that ballast should be about 14lbs for every foot if I remember which means that I’m fine in the boat when single handing. However, I have always had a couple of sand bags in the floor area either side of the centre case. These weight about 2 stone each, so another 4 stone. However, the bags are not great. Whilst their advantage is that they stay flat on the floor and I can walk over them, water traps underneath and the wood there is permanently damp. Anyway, you may be asking where this is going. Well in the ‘Watercraft’ magazine was a great article by some Polish Dinghy sailors who crossed the Baltic Sea in 14’ boats. They carried water jerry cans as ballast and cited many advantages of this approach, not least that they were easy to move around, could be easily emptied at the slipway and easily stowed. In an emergency they could be rapidly converted to extra buoyancy too. It’s a nice idea and I think I will investigate it over the next couple of weeks.
Steve
I use SeaGo jackets
I find the them comfortable and well made
I have inflated one of them and I’m leaving it for 24 hrs. It’s a good way of checking that all seals are correct. I will do the same with the other three which are stored on Arwen in a locker!!
Then I need to check gas cylinders. They need to be tightly screwed in and the green plastic arming clips should be secure. I really should check these once a month. I don’t have any re-arming kits for them either. Just don’t say anything to me. I know! I could unscrew the cylinder and check the firing mechanism I suppose. I would have to replace the green safety clips afterwards. The firing pin can be lubricated with a water repellent lubricant; which I suppose could also be put over the cylinder as well.
I read on our RNLI site somewhere that the cylinder bottle should be checked as well and a rusty bottle discarded and replaced. The material which holds the bottle in place should also be checked to see that the rust hasn’t corroded it in some way.
My webbing has been fraying in places and I have on occasions taped up the edges with duct tape. The buckles and D rings are fine.
This is the other type I have for visitors on Arwen
Whilst the jackets are partially inflated I will check the reflective tapes to see they are still securely stuck on; ensure the whistle is still secure and that Velcro strips are still in the correct place and not lifting.
I have also been giving thought to the issue of ballast. I personally carry plenty as it is but Arwen does need more. The Dinghy Cruising Association recommend that ballast should be about 14lbs for every foot if I remember which means that I’m fine in the boat when single handing. However, I have always had a couple of sand bags in the floor area either side of the centre case. These weight about 2 stone each, so another 4 stone. However, the bags are not great. Whilst their advantage is that they stay flat on the floor and I can walk over them, water traps underneath and the wood there is permanently damp. Anyway, you may be asking where this is going. Well in the ‘Watercraft’ magazine was a great article by some Polish Dinghy sailors who crossed the Baltic Sea in 14’ boats. They carried water jerry cans as ballast and cited many advantages of this approach, not least that they were easy to move around, could be easily emptied at the slipway and easily stowed. In an emergency they could be rapidly converted to extra buoyancy too. It’s a nice idea and I think I will investigate it over the next couple of weeks.
Steve
And if your water cans are filled with clean fresh water, they can be an emergency survival supply as well. You might not want to drink water that's been in there for months, but changing the water every so often shouldn't be too hard.
ReplyDeleteyep...it is a simple but realy useful idea isn't it
ReplyDeleteSteve
Or you could stow lots of beer in the bilges....
ReplyDeleteUsed to work well when racing on the Clyde.
West Highland Week used to be sponsored by Tennents (of lager fame) for that very reason. One crate of cans per boat. Perfect.
Now I'm a tea totaller most of the time - sorry about that - but my friend Dave - He'd quite like this idea. He'd have it full of west country micro ales - the unusual ones. I'm hoping he and I will get some sailing together at Easter when he takes out his postboat....I'll suggest it to him. Nice idea! You could be going to the top of Dave's christmas card list for originality! Especially since he has 300lbs of lead ballast in his boat so doesn't need the extra weight. It gives him an excuse to trim Arwen's ballast!
ReplyDeleteNice one!
Steve
PS however, having just worked another 70 hr week and having worked every sunday for 7 hrs every week since beginning of January term - I'm thinking one could have gin; another martinis; and the third Vodka. In that way I could numb the pain associated with being in education at the moment!