FAQ...

Stormy Seas Inc., a manufacturer of Inflatable PFDs, speaks out with some answers about USCG approved PFDs and non-approved PFDs. CLICK HERE

Exactly how does the Stormy Seas system work?
All of our flotation garments come with a removable, replaceable, inflatable, U-shaped air chamber. This chamber is secured between two layers of fabric so you don't feel it from the inside and you don't see it from the outside. To inflate with C02 , simply tear away
the left-breast pocket-like attachment on the outside of the garment. This action punctures the C02 cylinder and instantly inflates the chamber. The unique front pocket is designed to protect the inflation mechanism from interference with anything, including deck gear, which might cause it to inflate unintentionally. Yet it allows you to quickly and easily inflate the chamber in the water.

Can you inflate the chamber orally?
Yes, an oral inflation tube is provided under the breast pocket. This mechanism functions as back-up. It also allows the integrity of the chamber to be easily and periodically checked, blow up the garment orally and set it in a corner for a few hours. This oral mechanism is also used to deflate the air chamber. The air chamber is removable from the garment, this allows the garment to be washed conventionally. It also makes it possible for a damaged or ruined air chamber to be replaced without the expense of replacing the entire garment.

Do the Stormy Seas inflatables keep the wearer's head out of the water?
Yes! Our tests have demonstrated that fully-inflated Stormy Seas products will turn most adults from a face down position to a vertical one-with nose and mouth clear of the water-in approximately 5 seconds. In the water, a Stormy Seas garment supports the wearer by the arms-and like a plumb bob, pivots him to a near vertical position. By keeping the upper arms tight to the body, both flotation and heat retention are increased. Since everyone is built a little differently, we recommend that everyone try his Stormy Seas jacket in a pool to determine how it works for them.

Do any of the Stormy Seas products come with water activated (automatic) inflators?
All of the 35 lb. systems have the option of a water-activated valve. They can either be ordered that way-or due to recent modifications in garment design, the end user can change the valve.

Just how does the water activated (automatic) valve work?
The most commonly used system relies upon a water-soluble chemical "bobbin." This bobbin depends upon a heavy 90 lb. spring which, when released, impacts the firing pin of the inflator valve, which in turn causes the puncture of the CO2 cylinder and the inflation of the air chamber.
It is important to note that the inventor of this technique in "auto-inflation" cautions that this method is inherently unstable due to the constant and relentless force of the 90 lb. spring in combination with a chemical compound that is greatly affected by temperature and humidity. These variables in reliability have caused the "auto inflator" to inflate without immersion in water. Even more dangerous, these environmental variables can make the "bobbin" not water soluble-and the "auto-inflator" does not inflate upon immersion in water. The bottom line-the auto inflator is not a substitute for common sense. The auto-inflator requires that you maintain and store your equipment wisely. It also means that you'd best not be surprised when your garment suddenly and unexpectedly inflates.

I noticed that Stormy Seas uses a small sized C02 cylinder unlike other inflatables of similar buoyancy.
That's right. In our standard 21 lb. system we use a 12 gram cylinder while others use a 16 gram or larger cylinder. In our 35 lb. system we use a 16 gram cylinder while others use a 25 gram or larger cylinder. There is an important reason for this-the overwhelming majority of inflatable lifejackets fold or pack the inflatable into a sheath or case. These devices, by their design, are relegated to only two possible configurations-fully deflated or fully inflated. Therefore the cylinder must fully inflate the chamber and can be achieved only by a large cylinder.
What makes Stormy Seas different is that the inflation chamber is not folded but is laid flat within the garment. This important difference in design means that the possible configurations, and the performance spectrum, ranges from fully inflated to fully deflated, and anywhere in between. To achieve this broad spectrum of use, the cylinder must not over inflate the chamber to the point of rupture. This flexibility, which is built into every Stormy Seas garment, means that we must use a smaller cylinder.

What does all this mean to the wearer?
Simply this-since our beginning, we have offered a tool for people who understand and respect the environments in which they work and play. To that end, Stormy Seas products are designed to allow the wearer to tailor the use of his device to his immediate situation or circumstance. Many like to wear the garment partially inflated. For example, if you are going up on the foredeck to change a head sail at night, before leaving the cockpit, put a few puffs of air into the chamber. By doing this you are inherently buoyant and if something does go wrong, you will float. Once floating, a simple tug on the pocket ripcord fully inflates the air chamber. It's really pretty simple.

What happens if I don't partially inflate the chamber, and then fall overboard?
Most accidents happen when you least expect them, so this is a common occurrence. In this scenario, a sharp tug on the pocket flap discharges the cylinder into the air chamber. A 12 gram cylinder will discharge 14-16 lbs. of buoyancy. This is comparable to a USCG approved type II or III life jacket that offers 15.5 lbs. of buoyancy. Stormy Seas garments are a tool- and this cylinder discharge is adequate to place the wearer in control of the situation. Nine times out of ten, an overboard victim is an active participant in the rescue. He must be able to swim, climb, and help others help him. If necessary, the simple addition of air through the oral tube will top up the chamber to its maximum capacity of 21 lbs. The same is true of the 35 lb. chamber-the 16 gram cylinder will discharge 19 to 23 lbs. of buoyancy into the chamber. This is comparable to a USCG approved type I PFD with 22 lbs. of buoyancy. Once again, the wearer is in control of the situation and can if necessary, easily top off the chamber to its maximum of 35 lbs.
People save their own lives; I know that very well. Our goal is to offer an effective tool that helps the overboard victim to help himself. By offering such a broad range of performance in a simple, attractive, and wearable garment, I am confident that our products provide a level of comfort and flexibility not found elsewhere.

How would you recommend I use my Stormy Seas garment with a sailing harness?
Simply put your harness on over the jacket or vest. It is a common, but untrue perception that the harness prohibits successful inflation of the buoyancy chamber. Since the 16 gram cylinder does not fully inflate the chamber, this is another benefit of our approach to emergency buoyancy. The Stormy Seas garment does not need to be the outer layer. By partially inflating upon cylinder discharge, there is ample room for the wearer-and his partially inflated Stormy Seas garment-underneath most popular sailing harness designs. If you are unsure about this, I would encourage you to try it for yourself.

What if I want to use a cylinder which does fully inflate my chamber, what size should I use?
If your situation is such that you need the Stormy Seas product to operate in a narrow band of performance (either fully deflated or fully inflated, and nowhere in-between) then the 21 lb. C02 cylinder size must not exceed 25 grams. For the 35 lb. system, the cylinder size must not exceed 38 grams. If this is how you choose to use your garment, you must make absolutely certain that there is NO residual air in the chamber. By using a larger cylinder, you have eliminated the inherent safety margin provided by the smaller cylinder. If you choose to use your Stormy Seas garment in this manner, YOU MUST experiment with the cylinder prior to an emergency situation. An emergency is no time for additional surprises.