Is one obliged to have one´s lifejacket serviced?

If we had our say, yes. If you had the final say, that ought to be the case, too. If we go by legislation, the law is keeping out of it in this case. But if there has been an accident which was due to a lifejacket not having been serviced, then the law becomes involved again and makes it clear to the person who has no obligation to take the lifejacket for a service that it is his duty to service the lifejacket.

How long is the life time of a life jacket?

The average life time is 10 years. After that life jackets are only serviced by us at yearly intervals. When a life jacket reaches an age of 15 years, no further service is carried out.

My life jacket has never been used and looks like new. Can I now use it without any worries after 15 years?

If you use a life jacket which is that old, you must always be aware of the possibility of failure of the inflation device or bursting of the buoyancy chamber due to OLD AGE. For safety reasons, we must suggest that you replace your life jacket. After such a long time, we also refuse to service the life jacket for safety reasons.

What does Duo Protect mean?

Duo Protect system is an inner protection for the buoyancy chamber against damage, which has a self-sealing functionality for the buoyancy chamber.

Inside the swim chamber is another airtight stretch laminate so that if the outer skin (2) is punctured the internal gas pressure will force
the inner skin (1) to overlap the hole and seal the leak.

 

Duo-Protect-System - a buoyancy chamber with sandwich structure, multi-layered.

Duo-Protect-System – a buoyancy chamber with sandwich structure, multi-layered.

Can I use any kind of cartridge for a SECUMATIC 3001 S?

No, that is not possible. Only specific SECUMAR cartridges with very exact volume measurements are suitable for SECUMAR life jackets. Any other cartridges might not sufficiently fill the chamber or, on the other hand, they might burst the chamber.

Can the life jacket be involuntarily inflated by rain and spray water?

No. It can however inflate prematurely if the life jacket has been exposed to high humidity over a lengthy period of time. Then it can happen that the life jacket inflates on a beautiful summer's day. The way around this:after heavy rain or after a sailing trip, replace the tablet in the inflation device.

Why does the life jacket only have one D-ring?

Sometimes a lesser quantity is better. One D-Ring gives additional safety because you are always secured when you hook on to this one ring. With two-ring systems there is a danger that in the heat of the moment one only hooks on to one ring and the system is then dysfunctional because it is not using its total strength. With SECUMAR, the single D-Ring and the central anchor buckle are to be viewed as a unit which provide the necessary strength.

How do I have to store my life jacket?

Several possibilities:

While sailing: Ready for use, or even better, always on the man/woman. A lot of accidents happen when peeing.

After sailing: dry, in the dark and not too warm or too cold.

What purpose does the back mesh part serve?

  1. To enable you to don the life jacket more easily.
  2. To give better distribution of forces on the shoulders and when the harness is under tension.
  3. It adds to your comfort in wearing the life jacket.

What is the difference between the life jackets which are available from EUR 50,-?

There is no difference. They are all the same. Certified in accordance with EN, manufactured by SECUMAR. They are for occasional use, ought to be serviced annually and have a life expectancy of 5 years.

Will the dog’s vest also save my cat?

If your cat is prepared to wear one, then a vest like that may be quite helpful. Our dogs' vests were designed so that dogs, but cats too, could be grabbed hold of IN the water. To pick them up by their fur would be fairly impossible.

Can I have my life jacket fitted with a spray hood / a lifejacket light later?

Each life jacket in the SECUMAR SURVIVAL series can be fitted with a spray hood and an emergency life jacket light at some later stage. You can do this yourself with the Duo Protect life jackets. We will gladly do it for you in the case of the older Survival models.

My child is one year old, which life jacket do you recommend? ( Inflatable / Inherent buoyancy )

This is one of the most difficult decisions. Our inflatable life jackets are suitable from a body weight of 35 lbs. (15 kg) upwards but are a problem when a child wearing nappies falls into the water.
It goes without saying that this is also true of inherent buoyancy life jackets, which we have in our programme from a size of 12-35 lbs. (5-15 kg) upwards. Here the motto is: You ought to be close by when your child falls into the water. The inflatable life jacket will inflate in the water and bring your child to the surface. The necessary buoyancy is in the right place and will mean that his mouth is out of the water. The child will not get into a sweat as easily as he would in an inherent buoyancy life jacket in the sun on the jetty.

The inherent buoyancy life jacket, on the other hand, has the advantage of being virtually indestructible and not needing servicing. On the other hand, the buoyancy is immediately available but distributed on the whole body and not optimal because of this.

Where can one do safety training?

At the Navy training school in Neustadt, Germany (cruiser department).