<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nNext, you should inspect your CO2 cylinder. This cylinder holds the gas that allows your life vest to inflate on impact. As you inspect it, look for any signs of rust, corrosion, dust, or any dents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After inspecting your cylinder and your bobbin, take a look at your automatic service indicator. The indicator will be either green or red, letting you know whether or not your activation system is ready. You want it to be green – if it turns red, you’ll need to use a re-arming kit to get the status back to green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All type V life jackets come with two inflation mechanisms, an automatic and manually inflated system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manual inflation is achieved through either a manual pull tab or an oral inflation tube. The manual system is typically found on the opposite side of where the CO2 inflation system is. The manual pull tab allows you to inflate the PFD in the event the bobbin system doesn\u2019t kick in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The oral tube allows you to inflate your life vest by popping off the cover and blowing air inside. Although you have a manual system, you should never go out into the water if your automatic service indicator is not re-armed and showing green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do an Overnight Inflation Test <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Doing an overnight test is the easiest way to check and see if your life jacket is holding air properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simply inflate your life jacket and leave it inflated for at least two hours or overnight. The next morning, check to see if your inflatable has lost any air. If it’s passed the leak test, this means that your PFD is ready to go. Deflate it, roll it back up, and prepare for use the next time you go out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check The Expiration Date <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Type V life jackets have expiration dates because of their CO2 canisters. While the canisters do have expiration dates (which you should take note of) they can last anywhere from 2 to 4 years if properly maintained. Just be sure to never use one that has expired when re-arming your inflatable PFD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While life vests themselves do not have expiration dates, they can become void if they are defective. If there are visible signs of wear and tear, you’ll need to replace your PFD, regardless of whether or not the Inflation system is intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read The Manufacturer\u2019s Instructions <\/h3>\n\n\n\n While most inflatable life jackets operate the same way, you’ll still need to read and understand your manufacturer’s instructions. Different brands design their inflatable PFDs differently. This can change the way you maintain the integrity of your life jacket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Store Your Life Jacket Properly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Finally, it\u2019s important to store your life jacket properly so that it lasts as long as it should. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t store your inflatable PFDs in direct sunlight or direct heat. Keep them inside in a cool place instead. Read the care and storage label for any additional instructions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simplify Maintenance: Consider Inherently Buoyant Life Jackets Instead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Type V life vests are one of the most popular types of personal flotation devices on the market. They’re not as bulky as other life vests, and they offer you the versatility and freedom to move as you like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plus, they do a better job of not retaining body heat, and keeping you cool during the warmer months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With this freedom comes the cost of more frequent maintenance. Type V PFDs require you to be extra careful with your care and maintenance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the best ways you can alleviate this stress of regular maintenance is by opting for an inherently buoyant life jacket instead. Inherently buoyant life jackets don’t require as intensive maintenance because they don’t use a CO2 activation system for inflation. Instead, these models feature a foam interior that keeps you afloat the moment you hit the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Final Thoughts <\/h2>\n\n\n\n Despite requiring a fair deal of care and maintenance, using inflatable PFDs is one of the best ways to enjoy yourself and stay safe while on the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s important that if you are going to use type V PFDs, you understand how to properly care for the inflator so that your PFD works as it should. Read your instructional manual and test your inflator out before hitting the water. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you’ve wondered how often should the inflator on a type V life jacket be checked, you\u2019re not alone. While Type V life jackets are a popular life vest option for water enthusiasts, knowing how to properly care for one is not always common knowledge. You should check the inflator on your type V life … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4621,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":false,"_modified_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,9],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4618"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4618"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4618\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4655,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4618\/revisions\/4655"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4618"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4618"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}