Which lifejacket is suitable? Click here for the big comparison. Most automatic lifejackets should be professionally inspected every two years in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. This is a job for professionals. But not everyone who claims to be qualified to do so. This is because lifejackets can vary greatly in terms of design and equipment.
What does the Lifejacket maintenance?
Many outfitters and manufacturers offer maintenance; the offers vary greatly: the price range is between 30 and 50 euros plus any replacement parts, and the waiting times also vary depending on the maintenance station and time of year.
However, price and duration should not be the deciding factors when choosing a suitable service centre. If you want to be sure, take a look at the manufacturer's website: all qualified maintenance centres are listed there. The manufacturers make sure that their employees know their waistcoats inside out and train them regularly. They also only supply their original spare parts to these partners. Self-appointed experts are not supplied. They are also not informed about technical changes and have no maintenance manuals - so if you hand over your waistcoat for maintenance to unqualified hands, you risk getting it back insufficiently checked and equipped with unsuitable spare parts without even realising it.
How long does lifejacket maintenance take?
As a general rule, if you have your lifejacket serviced at the end of the season, you can be sure that it will be returned before the start of the season. It usually takes around two weeks to check a lifejacket. However, the maintenance centres unanimously confirm that every year in February and March, the lifejackets pile up. It can then take four or five weeks for them to be returned to their owners fresh and ready for use - for many, the season has already started by then. Alternatively, maintenance can be carried out in the summer, when the situation is much more relaxed.
Why maintain life jackets?
Regular lifejacket maintenance is necessary regardless of how often the lifejackets are used - they always age. The material of the buoyancy chamber can become brittle and the seams porous. Tightness is then no longer guaranteed. There is also a risk that the release elements in the automatic system will lose their effectiveness over time. Critical faults can occur at many points that are not obvious to the layman or cannot be checked by him. In an emergency, the waistcoat may then fail.
Therefore, during lifejacket maintenance, the buoyancy chamber is checked for leaks and the CO2 cartridge, release mechanism and mouth valve are checked for functionality. Wearing parts are replaced. All seams and straps are also inspected. Some manufacturers also provide for the trigger mechanism to be removed and checked in a water bath. This ensures that the mandrel that triggers the CO2 cartridge is not damaged. This is because it can be damaged, for example, if the waistcoat is thrown into the cockpit.
When is lifejacket maintenance due?
On many waistcoats, stickers on the outside of the belt indicate when the next service is due. Even if they are similar to those of the TÜV, they are not as binding or even obligatory as the sticker on a car. The Specialist Association for Sea Rescue Equipment (FSR) wants to set technical standards for safety on the water. It has issued its own sticker labelled "FSR", which is also issued to its members. This guarantees professional maintenance and testing.
Conversely, the absence of the imprint does not necessarily mean that the inspection was not carried out professionally. The only decisive factor is the choice of a qualified maintenance centre.
If you realise that your waistcoat has not been serviced by professionals in recent years, you can still take it to a qualified workshop. They will check whether any changes have been made that affect safety. If there are no complaints, they will issue the sticker.
How long do life jackets last?
The lifejackets should be used for a maximum of 15 years, provided they are serviced every two years. After ten years, lifejackets may no longer be checked by the maintenance centres, but must be sent directly to the manufacturer every year.
Even with regular maintenance, owners and guests should familiarise themselves with their waistcoat and check it before starting a cruise or occasionally during the season. A spare set with trigger and CO2 cartridge should always be on board so that a triggered waistcoat can be reactivated. The manufacturer's specifications and instructions must be observed, not only when replacing the release elements, but also and especially when folding the waistcoat. This is because the buoyancy chamber can only fully deploy if the waistcoat is folded neatly.
Checklist for lifejacket maintenance
- Do the indicators on the automatic release unit show green? Action is required if the indicator is red.
- Is the cellulose tablet in the automatic release unit intact? It must not be swollen or crumbly.
- Is the gas cartridge screwed in tightly? It can loosen if worn frequently.
- Can salt or sand be seen on the float? They lead to chafe marks and ultimately to leaks.
- Is the waistcoat packed correctly? The float must not be constricted by internal straps and the automatic release mechanism must not be wrapped in it.
- Are the seams, straps and fasteners intact? UV radiation damages the material.
