21
HOW AND WHY TO TEST YOUR PFD
Inflate your Inflatable PFD and try it out in the water to:
1. Make sure it floats you:
– Comfortably (when worn properly)
– Adequately for expected wave conditions (body shapes/
densities affect performance)
2. Make sure it works:
– A flow of bubbles should not appear (See Care and
Maintenance Instructions for leak test p. 20). It should
inflate quick and easily.
3. Learn how it works by:
– Activating the CO
2
inflation system
– Re-arming the CO
2
inflation system
– Using the oral inflator tube
To check the manual inflation system (with CO
2
cylinder/bayonet
assembly removed); determine that the CO
2
cylinder piercing pin
moves freely when pushing up on the lever arm by pushing down on
the pins and releasing the pins followed by the lever arm (for MD2951
see Fig. 14 and for MD2953 see Fig. 15). Repeat this several times to
check the manual inflation system.
MODEL MD2953 (AUTOMATIC)
It is recommended that you purchase two re-arming kits (MA7114).
One kit is to be used immediately in testing the automatic inflation
system (see "How do you Test your PFD Using the Automatic
Inflator?" on p. 22) and the other to carry on board as a spare.
It is recommended you test the automatic inflation system in the
water at the beginning of each boating season. By doing this, you
demonstrate that the automatic inflation system is still working
properly and reduce the likelihood of premature inflation and its
associated dangers.
