Why You Should Get Your Life Jacket Serviced Regularly

Your life jacket (PFD) is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment you’ll ever own. But like any piece of gear, it only works properly if it’s looked after. At Ovesco, we see hundreds of PFDs come through our workshop every year – and some of the issues we find could be the difference between staying afloat or not.

We service all PFDs to the recommendation of the manufacturer, as different makes and models may require slightly different checks or timelines. Here are some of the most common problems we see during servicing – and why it’s so important to keep your jacket in good condition:

1. DIY “Repairs” That Put You at Risk

Most inflatable jackets have zips designed with “pop zones” so they open easily when the bladder inflates. Sometimes these zips can come undone accidentally. It’s important to fully rezip the jacket as per the manufacturer’s instructions – never hold it together with cable ties or tape.

A zip that isn’t secured correctly could restrict the bladder from inflating properly. If you’re ever unsure, just ask us and we’ll show you how to check and rezip correctly.

2. Missing Gas Cylinders

It sounds obvious, but we’ve had jackets come in with no gas cylinder installed at all. Without a cylinder, the inflator mechanism has nothing to work with – meaning your jacket won’t inflate when you need it most.

Always check your PFD has a properly installed, in-date cylinder.

3. Corroded Cylinders

Moisture is the enemy of your PFD. This corroded cylinder came from a jacket that was only a year old. Once water gets in, it doesn’t take long for rust to compromise the cylinder.

In contrast, we’ve seen 10-year-old cylinders in much better condition simply because they stayed dry. Proper servicing checks for corrosion and replaces compromised parts before they fail.

4. Expired or Out-of-Date Components

Even if your PFD looks fine from the outside, components like the inflator and cylinder have expiry dates. Servicing ensures everything is within its usable life and ready to go.

5. Poor Storage & Lack of Inspections

We often see jackets stored damp, folded in the bottom of a boat. This speeds up wear, corrosion, and mildew. Regular self-checks and annual servicing per the manufacturers recommendations make sure small issues don’t turn into big failures.

Service Your PFDs Regularly

Don’t risk your safety this summer. Even if your life jacket looks fine on the outside, regular servicing is the only way to be sure it will perform when you need it most.

Bring your jackets into Ovesco and we’ll check, service, and replace components as needed, giving you peace of mind every time you head out.

With the busy boating season ahead, now is the perfect time to get your PFDs serviced before the summer holidays.