flatstrap
22-02-2006, 10:31 AM
Hi Ausfish members,
I just concluded an issue with M*****n regarding a safety item. The subject is the fastening straps of their version of a type 1 PFD.
Two weeks ago, I started my refurbishing of the Cat in prep of being on the water soon. I picked up the jackets out of the storage shelf and they just fell apart. The blue straps turning to a powder form and buckles etc. just falling off. Imagine if you were in a mayday situation, sinking fast, reach for the jackets and instead have a few foam pads to hold you up.
I contacted head office and received a terse reply assuming straightaway that it was my fault. Instant conclusion, exposed to acid or attacked by a plastic eating fungus. Send the offending jacket to us in Sydney, we'll have the CSIRO test them and we'll get to the bottom of this, blah, blah.
2 weeks later, I get an email with test results. Exposure to UV! (Sunlight!!) It then appears you may only use this product at night or indoors. Without stating the bleeding obvious, boats are used outside, aren' they?
I see Whitworths at Southport and they inform me that the same manufacturer also problems in other areas, The horseshoe type PFD yachts use are also rotting. And a child's PFD was absorbing water, etc. Relaying this to M*****n, the response is Lies, lies! The sales rep then tells me he has 'got up the sales guy at Whittys', put him straight!
I am informed M*****n will refund my money. Just take the jackets back to Whittys. I do that and find out that NOBODY has been spoken to. I have in my possession a fax informing Whittys of the issue and that I have been very very painful to deal with.
I suspect that the straps have changed in specification and are no longer resistant to sunlight. That's the real problem. Being a mandatory safety requirement, guys, check your PFD's NOW! While you're standing on your driveway looking at your lovely craft, not 25 nm NE of Moreton in deteriorating weather.
I'll post pics as the discussion evolves. Thanks all...Flatstrap
I just concluded an issue with M*****n regarding a safety item. The subject is the fastening straps of their version of a type 1 PFD.
Two weeks ago, I started my refurbishing of the Cat in prep of being on the water soon. I picked up the jackets out of the storage shelf and they just fell apart. The blue straps turning to a powder form and buckles etc. just falling off. Imagine if you were in a mayday situation, sinking fast, reach for the jackets and instead have a few foam pads to hold you up.
I contacted head office and received a terse reply assuming straightaway that it was my fault. Instant conclusion, exposed to acid or attacked by a plastic eating fungus. Send the offending jacket to us in Sydney, we'll have the CSIRO test them and we'll get to the bottom of this, blah, blah.
2 weeks later, I get an email with test results. Exposure to UV! (Sunlight!!) It then appears you may only use this product at night or indoors. Without stating the bleeding obvious, boats are used outside, aren' they?
I see Whitworths at Southport and they inform me that the same manufacturer also problems in other areas, The horseshoe type PFD yachts use are also rotting. And a child's PFD was absorbing water, etc. Relaying this to M*****n, the response is Lies, lies! The sales rep then tells me he has 'got up the sales guy at Whittys', put him straight!
I am informed M*****n will refund my money. Just take the jackets back to Whittys. I do that and find out that NOBODY has been spoken to. I have in my possession a fax informing Whittys of the issue and that I have been very very painful to deal with.
I suspect that the straps have changed in specification and are no longer resistant to sunlight. That's the real problem. Being a mandatory safety requirement, guys, check your PFD's NOW! While you're standing on your driveway looking at your lovely craft, not 25 nm NE of Moreton in deteriorating weather.
I'll post pics as the discussion evolves. Thanks all...Flatstrap