Spinlock ALTO - How to Test Your Flotation Device Using the Manual Inflator; Trying Your PFD; How to Test Your Flotation Device Using the Oral Inflator

7
To properly test your otation device and to ensure you have a replacement re-arming
kit, you should purchase two rearming kits. One to be used immediately in testing and
the other to carry onboard as a space. Remember you must rearm your inatable after
discharging the CO
2
cartridge.
Check of the manual ination system (with CO
2
cylinder and green indicator tab removed)
to determine that the lever arm and piercing pin move freely when moving the lever
(attached to the manual handle) several times down and up. There should be no binding
of the mechanical parts.
Trying Your PFD
Try on your PFD to see if it ts comfortably snug. Then test it in shallow water to see how
it handles.
To check the buoyancy of your PFD in the water, relax your body and let your head tilt
back. Make sure your PFD keeps your chin above water and you can breathe easily.
Be aware: your PFD may not act the same in swift or rough water as in calm water. The
clothes you wear and the items in your pockets may also change the way your PFD works.
If your mouth is not above the water, get a new PFD or one with more buoyancy.
A PFD is designed not to ride-up on the body when in the water. But, when a wearer’s
stomach is larger than the chest, ride-up may occur. Before use, let this PFD in the water
to establish that excessive ride-up does not impair PFD performance.
Fig. 1