Look Before You Buy

[ChrisB]

I have to admit I have been remiss in servicing my lifejackets in the last two seasons that I was able to use my boat and then my wife's illness took over and so they never got looked at.

Last week I took my jackets to Brundall Bay where I have always taken them. This morning I had a call from SeaSafe on the I.O.W. to say he could service one of my manual jackets but not certify it due to being over 10 years old and manufactured in 2005. Anyway I took the £10 trade-in and bought a new one.

But the moral of this story is as follows, I keep detailed records of anything to do with my boat and that Jacket was purchased in 2009. So it was 40% gone at time of purchase. My advice is open the jacket up in the shop and check the manufacturers date before you buy.  

[Viking23]

Also when doing your own checks and replacement actuators check the expiry dates on the new actuator, as some can have three years or more remaining, and many less than two years.

Richard