Spinlock Deckvest 6D Owner's Manual (PDF)

OWNER'S MANUAL

Fitting, inflation, re-arming with the Pro Sensor Elite kits, repacking, the HRS harness release and the approved-service-centre checks (bladder test, cylinder pass/fail, torques, spares) for the Spinlock Deckvest 6D 170N and 275N.

DocumentSpinlock Deckvest 6D Owner's Manual

FormatPDF · 60 pages · 1.5 MB

LanguageEnglish

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Approvals Fitting Inflation Repacking HRS Maintenance Service Centre Products

Approvals & Equipment

Automatic lifejacket with integrated deck harness: CE approved to ISO 12402-3 (150N) and ISO 12402-2 (275N); deck harness to ISO 12401.
Minimum buoyancy by model: 170N (38 lb) or 275N (62 lb). The booklet cover gives 6D 275N (68lb) (as printed).
UML Pro Sensor Elite automatic firing head, with a visual indicator of cylinder and firing-head status (indicator window on the rear).
150N + 275N level: general use or foul-weather clothing; turns an unconscious person into a safe position. Performance may be reduced in breaking waves or surf, or with waterproof clothing. Not for white water rafting or personal watercraft.
Tested and approved for use with an Ocean Signal MOB1 personal locator device.

Model	CO2 cylinder	Re-arming kit
170N	33 g	DW-RAK/E170
275N	60 g	DW-RAK/E275

Fitted item	As printed
Pylon light	23 cm elevation; 0.75 candela minimum; 50–70 flashes per minute; automatic in water, off out of water; press and hold to test; latest SOLAS/MED; 5 year life, replace at expiry
Lume-On lights	Water activated; minimum 2 hrs flashing at full intensity (6 hours battery life per the service guide); 5 year shelf life
Other	Sprayhood (pull the lanyard to bring it over), oral tube and whistle, red lifting / buddy loop, safety line attachment loop (high-tensile fibre), crotch strap, QBZ split zip, chest pack attachment points

Fitting & Harness Use

Fitting

Put on as a jacket and fasten the button.
Pull the chest belt tight: it is unsafe to wear any lifejacket or harness loosely. Place excess webbing through the holder.
Adjust the back strap so the chest belt sits above the lowest point of the rib cage.
Pass the crotch strap through the legs and clip it together at the front; it can be stored in the rear pocket.

Deck Harness

Anchorage point at the centre of the chest. Use only an approved personal safety line, with no sharp edges at the attachment point.
Attach to jacklines or fixed eyes able to withstand more than 1 tonne; never to lifelines or standing or running rigging.
Prevents falling overboard only: no protection against falls from height; it may transmit very large forces.
After a major fall (full body weight dropped and stopped), stop using the product.

Inflating, Deflating, Testing

Inflation

Automatic: within seconds of the firing head being submerged (within five seconds of water contact in the test).
Manual: pull the rubber handle sharply downwards.
Oral: open the zip at the yellow breakout point, remove the end cap and blow.
Temperature changes may need oral top-up. Below freezing, top up orally only after the CO2 has discharged. In cold conditions inflation may be slower.
Firing the CO2 into a fully inflated jacket can over-pressurise and damage it.
Deflate: invert the oral tube cap into the valve and squeeze until empty, then return the cap.

Re-arming & Testing

Unscrew the cylinder and old firing cap anti-clockwise; check the firing mechanism moves freely and is clean.
Fit the new cap first, then the new cylinder, securely. Use only approved Spinlock re-arming kits (DW-RAK/E170 or DW-RAK/E275).
Test in shallow water, just deep enough for your head to be above the surface, with the jacket adjusted to fit.
For an oral test, remove the cylinder and firing head before entering the water.
Afterwards deflate completely with the oral inflator and dry thoroughly. Weak swimmers: an automatic or inherently buoyant device is strongly recommended.

Repacking

Separate the zip chain at the yellow end section, pull the zips out, re-attach them on the firing-head side and run the slider round to that side.
Sprayhood: lay it out (it goes underneath the bladder), fold it over and push the window into the pocket, then concertina the rest.
Concertina the bladder onto itself in three pleats along the reflective stripes, starting on the firing-unit side; firing-unit trigger on top of the binding; handle cord free.
Pleat the bladder over the Pylon, oral tube and whistle so they do not protrude; Pylon beside the oral tube with nothing round the stalk.
Lifting loop attached to the shoulder strap by its press stud and always outside the harness.
Align the firing head over the indicator window, check the cylinder is tight and the cap secure, zip round, fasten the flap across the breakout point and push the zip ends inside the cover.

HRS Harness Release System

Use and Re-arming

Release: pull the HRS handle; the harness loop releases. Check before first use.
Push the harness loop ends through the cover around the black belt webbing; the top loop must always pass through the bottom loop.
Place the harness loop into the lock and use the HRS handle to turn the lock anticlockwise until it clicks locked; check the loop is held by the rotated pin.
Secure the release handle on its press stud.

Fitting the Kit (service guide)

Open the flap on the back of the belt and cut the harness loop out: it cannot be replaced once cut.
Pass the HRS unit and handle through the lanyard and pull tight; push the strop through the open slots, HRS text right way up.
Pass the top of the strop through the large bottom loop, put the unit's pin through the strop loop and turn the dial left with the handle until it clicks. Do not turn the lock back; if you made a mistake, pull the handle to release.
Fit the handle to the press stud and close the flap. 2021 models onwards: tab the separate flap into the belt-buckle slots and close it with the two press studs.

Owner Maintenance

Three-Level Routine

During use: check buckles and fastenings.
Before and after use: check for damage, abrasion, wear, tears or contamination, especially stitching and webbing.
Every three months: fabric check; inflate orally until firm and leave 24 hrs (loss of firmness = leak, unsafe); oral valve under water; remove and inspect all components; make sure the CO2 cylinder is screwed in tight.
If in doubt, or if a leak persists, have it professionally serviced. No modification or repair except by Spinlock Ltd.
Spinlock does not service lifejackets over 10 years old.

Care & Life

Remove the cylinder and automatic components, hand-wash and rinse in fresh water at max. 30° C; dry in a cool, ventilated, dark room. Carry and store it in a well-ventilated bag.
Use between -30° C and +60° C.
Shelf life up to 5 years before first use; 5 years after first use.
Some dye may transfer when first used wet: avoid light-coloured jackets at first.
Five-year warranty when registered online as first owner within 30 days.

Quick Service Guide (Approved Service Centres)

The Quick Service Guide (issue 6, June 2026, also covering the DURO+ 275N) is for trained staff at approved Deckvest service centres. Key checks as printed:

Inspection

Jackets over 10 years old should not be serviced. Serial number and manufacture date are on the internal label.
Harness: contrasting-colour key stitching on the front; damage, contamination or loose threads make it unsafe. Damaged buckles or zip teeth mean a new harness / cover (contact Spinlock).
Bladder test: remove cylinder and firing cap, inflate with clean dry air until firm (approx. 2 psi / 14 kPa), oral cap off, 24 hrs at stable temperature. More than approx. 10% softening: replace the bladder. Remove air by suction, never squeeze.
Check the 5 bladder attachment points for tears around the welds.
Remove any AIS unit before the inflation test.

Firing Head & Cylinder

Firing unit bolted to the bladder manifold with a Torx bolt at 3 Nm (calibrated tool).
Automatic cartridge: unscrew anti-clockwise; a new one must have at least 2 years to expiry; screw on tight with no gap.
Cutting pin moves freely; gasket or O-ring in place; lanyard and handle undamaged.
Cylinder: 33 g for 170N, 60 g for 275N; check the label and the total weight against the stamped specification. Slight marking passes; deteriorated coating with corrosion fails. Check the seal has not been weakened by an accidental handle pull. Strike-mark checked cylinders.
Replace the yellow cylinder retainer (fitted on all 275N models) at service.
Re-arm, hand-tighten the cylinder firmly, both indicators green; log the service date on the bladder or label.
Pylon test: hold the button for 3 seconds until it flashes; stalk curves inwards, logo outside.

Spares

Part no.	Description
DW-RAK/E170	Re-arming kit, UML Pro Sensor Elite, 170N	View part →
DW-RAK/E275	Re-arming kit, UML Pro Sensor Elite, 275N	View part →
DW-UPS	UML Pro Sensor Elite firing unit	Ask us to source it →
DW-UMLE	UML Pro Sensor Elite firing cap	View part →
DW-BLD/170UML/3	Bladder, 170N	Ask us to source it →
DW-BLD/170UML/2	Bladder, 170N, with fitted UML Pro Sensor Elite unit (with DW-UPS/F)	Ask us to source it →
DW-BLD/275UML/2	Bladder, 275N (also supplied with fitted Pro Sensor Elite unit, with DW-UPS/F)	Ask us to source it →
DW SV06	Replacement cylinder O-ring for yellow UML Mk5 and Pro Sensor (as printed)	Ask us to source it →
DW-SV07	Spare oral tube cap	Ask us to source it →
DW-BKL38	Crotch strap buckle, male	Ask us to source it →
DW-PY/L1	Replacement Pylon light, all Deckvest models	View part →
DW-ZPL	Zip slider pack	Ask us to source it →
DW-HRS/6D	Harness Release System kit	Ask us to source it →
DW-HRS/6D/STROP	HRS strop only	Ask us to source it →
DW-PCC	Chest pack accessory (fits the cover attachment points; not included)	View part →