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OWNER'S MANUAL

Approvals, fitting, Hammar inflation, re-arming kit, Harness Release System, maintenance and the Ocean Signal PLB 3, MOB 2 and MOB 1 fitting steps for the Spinlock Deckvest VITO AFS 170N lifejacket with integrated harness.

DocumentSpinlock Deckvest VITO AFS Owner's Manual
FormatPDF · 60 pages · 3.3 MB
LanguageEnglish
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Owner's ManualPDF · 60 p.PLB 3 fitting instructionsPDF · 2 p.MOB 2 fitting instructionsPDF · 2 p.MOB 1 fitting instructionsPDF · 2 p.
SpecificationsFeaturesFitting & HarnessInflationRe-armingMaintenancePLB / MOB FittingProducts
Spinlock Deckvest VITO AFS — Owner's Manual

Approvals and Specifications

Item VITO AFS
Lifejacket ISO 12402-3 : 2020 – 150N; minimum buoyancy 150N (38lb); cover and label marked 170N (38LB)
Deck harness ISO 12401 : 2009, integrated
Inflation Automatic gas inflation, Hammar hydrostatic firing head; manual handle; oral tube
CO2 cylinder 33g
Chest size 80-145cm
User Aged above 16 years and weighing not less than 50 kg
Temperature -30° C to +60° C

Not suitable for use with other safety harnesses. Expected lifespan up to ten years; jackets older than ten years from the date of manufacture should not be serviced. Register within 30 days for Through Life Support and the extended 5 year warranty.

Features

  • Advanced Flotation System (AFS) puts the inflated buoyancy where it works best, for rotation, freeboard and stability in the water.
  • Hammar hydrostatic automatic firing head with visual indicator of the armed status of cylinder and head.
  • Harness Release System (HRS): the safety line loop releases on activation to disconnect you from the safety line.
  • Pylon light: elevated high intensity rescue light, activates on contact with water.
  • Sprayhood; manual activation handle; Lume-On illumination; lifting loop; whistle.
  • Single buckle for side adjustment; quick and secure Fastfit buckle; wide crotch strap.
  • Chest pack and accessory attachment points; PLD attachment point; SOLAS approved reflective panels; venting mesh back panel.

Fitting

  1. Put on over the head.
  2. Make sure the buckle is the correct orientation.
  3. Pass the buckles through each other.
  4. Pull the waist belt tight – it is unsafe to wear any lifejacket or harness loosely.
  5. Pass the crotch strap through the legs before fastening and adjusting the buckle on the front; it can be stored in the rear pocket.

Tested and approved with and without the crotch strap; using it is recommended.

Using the Harness

  • The harness point is at the centre of the chest. Use an approved personal safety line only, with no sharp edges at the attachment point.
  • Attach to jack lines or fixed eyes able to withstand more than 1 tonne; never to lifelines, standing or running rigging.
  • Harness and safety line prevent falling overboard; they give no protection from falls at height and can transmit very large forces.
  • After a major fall do not continue to use the product.

Inflating

Method How
Manual Sharply pull the inflation handle downwards; the CO2 cylinder inflates the bladder within seconds.
Oral Open the zip fully from the yellow break point, remove the end cap of the oral tube and blow until fully inflated.
Automatic The Hammar unit fires within seconds of being submerged, puncturing the CO2 cylinder.

Below freezing a full cylinder may not inflate the jacket adequately: top up orally after the CO2 has discharged (not before). Firing the CO2 into a fully inflated jacket can over-pressurise and damage it.

Deflating and Testing

  • Deflate: invert the oral-tube end cap into the valve and gently squeeze out all air or gas; return the cap.
  • Test in shallow water, leaning forward into the water: automatic inflation within five seconds of the head being submerged at the required depth.
  • For an oral test remove cylinder and firing head first.
  • After testing deflate fully and dry thoroughly.

Re-arming, Repacking and HRS

Part No. Description
DW-RAH/V170 HAMMAR re-arming kit with 33g cylinder View kit →

Follow the Hammar re-arming instructions supplied with the jacket; only approved Spinlock re-arming kits should be used.

Repacking

  1. Deflate, separate the zip chain at the yellow end section, re-attach the zips on the firing-head side and run the slider round to that side.
  2. Fold the cover sides over, pushing the bladder inwards while moving the zip up; close the zip flap into its pocket.
  3. Run the zip round to close and tuck in the ends.
  4. Check the Hammar unit is positioned correctly and the sensor is not covered, then secure the flap.

Harness Release System

  • Check before first use. To activate, pull the blue handle: the harness loop releases.
  • Re-arm: open the flap on the back, push the harness loop ends through the cover around the black belt webbing (top loop always through the bottom loop).
  • Place the loop into the lock and use the handle to rotate the lock anticlockwise to Locked – do not over-rotate; attach the handle to the press stud.
  • To open, pull the handle cord only – never rotate the lock with the handle.

Owner Checks

  • During use: check buckles and fastenings regularly.
  • Before and after use: look for damage, abrasion, wear, tear or contamination, especially stitching and webbing.
  • Annually: inspect the fabric; inflate orally until firm and leave 24hrs (any loss of firmness = leak, unsafe); locate leaks by submerging the jacket; inspect all components.
  • Clean by hand with cylinder and automatic parts removed, fresh water max 30° C; dry in a cool ventilated dark room; some dye may transfer when first used wet.

Pylon and Lume-On

Item Value
Pylon flash intensity 0.75 candela minimum
Pylon flash rate 50-70 per minute
Pylon approvals Latest SOLAS/MED
Pylon expiry 5 year life; sealed unit, battery not replaceable
Lume-On 2 x water activated LED lights; 5 year shelf life; sealed, battery not replaceable – replacement recommended if activated in the water

Fitting an Ocean Signal PLB 3, MOB 2 or MOB 1

PLB 3

  1. Before fitting, release the antenna and turn the PLB3 off: press TEST/OFF until the LED flashes red twice.
  2. Thread the cord through the antenna rewind tool and tie a figure of eight knot in the end.
  3. Thread the cord through the activation armed cover and the activation slider; tie a figure of eight knot 20cm from the end and another 10cm from the first.
  4. Thread the cord through the slot on the back of the PLB, knot the end; thread the activation slider down through the inner slot and up through the outer slot, leaving 5cm of tail.
  5. Coil the antenna anti-clockwise with the rewind tool; fit the activation slider (left to right) and move the red arming slide up.
  6. Slide the clip to the PLD attachment point by the whistle and oral tube and clip the PLB 3 in place.
  7. Pass the activation ribbon through the loop mid way up the Deckvest and knot it so there is 40mm from the bottom of the loop to the activation slider; attach the cord to the loop with a thumb knot.
  8. Move the red arming slide down, fit the plastic activation cover and repack.

MOB 2 and MOB 1

  • MOB 2: thread the cord through the two holes in the activation slider leaving 30cm, knot it, pass it through the armed cover, the unit and the antenna winder; leave 5cm of ribbon tail at the slider.
  • MOB 1: thread the ribbon through the toggle and the slots of the grey activation slider, leaving roughly 60mm of tail; ribbon length roughly bladder weld to weld; fit the armed clip.
  • Both: coil the antenna with the rewind tool, clip the unit at the PLD attachment point by the whistle and oral tube, run the ribbon under the bladder starting on the left (pink) side and through the bracket slots.
  • Check you can freely insert a finger between tape and bladder; secure the remaining cord to the loop on the side of the cover so the unit always stays attached.
Part No. Description
DW-MOBCLIP/V2 Clip required to attach a retail-purchased unit to the VITO AFS Ask us to source it →

Need a part that isn't listed? Ask us to source it and quote the part number from the PDF.

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