Mustang Survival MD3082, MD3081, MD3083, MD3084 User Manual

Owner’s Manual

MD3081 Inflatable PFD

Manual Inflation Model
USCG Approved Type III

MD3082 Inflatable PFD

Manual Inflation Model

with Harness USCG Approved Type V

MD3083 Inflatable PFD

Manual with Automatic Backup Inflation Model

USCG Approved Type II

MD3084 Inflatable PFD

Manual with Automatic Backup Inflation Model

with Harness USCG Approved Type V

CONTENTS

Page

1 Approval Conditions and Carriage Regulations

2 What is an Inflatable PFD?
2 Instructions for Use
2 Component Inspection Instructions
3 Readiness Checklist
4 Sizing and Fit
4 Donning Instructions
5 Inflating Your Inflatable PFD
6 Special Considerations for Automatic Devices (MD3083

and MD3084)
7 Deflating the Inflatable PFD
8 Usage Below Freezing
8 Re-arming Your PFD (MD3081 and MD3082)
10 Re-arming Your PFD (MD3083 and MD3084)
13 Repacking
14 Sailing Harness
15 Is Your PFD in Good and Servicable Condition?
15 Care and Maintenance Instructions
16 Cleaning and Storing of Your Inflatable PFD (MD3081

and MD3082)
17 Cleaning and Storing of Your Inflatable PFD (MD3083

and MD3084)
17 Why are PFDs Required Safety Equipment?
17 How and Why to Test Your PFD
18 Models MD3083 and MD3084
18 How Do You Test Your PFD Using the Automatic Inflator?

(MD3083 and MD3084)
19 How Do You Test Your PFD Using the Manual Inflator?
19 How Do You Test Your PFD Using the Oral Inflator?
20 Wear Your PFD
20 Hypothermia
22 Each of These Devices is Intended to Help You Save Your Own

Life
22 Inflatable PFD Safety Accessories
23 Additional Information

Inflatable PFD Owner’s Manual i

DO NOT REMOVE PRIOR TO SALE.

APPROVAL CONDITIONS AND CARRIAGE REGULATIONS

This Inflatable PFD is approved by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for use as
a Type III (Model MD3081), Type V (Model MD3082) Personal Flotation
Device (PFD), Type II (Model MD3083), and Type V (Model MD3084)
Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Models MD3082 and MD3084 have
Type III and Type II performance respectively but are approved as Type
V PFDs because they have built-in safety harnesses that can cause injury
if not properly used. A separate section titled “SAILING HARNESS” (p.

13) discusses requirements and features on the MD3082 and MD3084
only. USCG approval does not apply to the sailing harness because some
of the risks associated with its use have not been evaluated. It is not
approved for water skiing or other high impact, high-speed activities.

This Inflatable PFD was designed to be more comfortable and less
restrictive to wear than inherently buoyant PFDs. When worn, used, and
serviced according to this owner’s manual, this Inflatable PFD can greatly
increase your chances of survival in the water. Not recommended for
non-swimmers or weak swimmers. Users of inflatable PFDs must be at
least 16 years old.

MANDATORY CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS

Federal regulations in 33 CFR 175-1993 require you to carry Coast Guard
approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) legibly marked with the Coast
Guard approval number which are in good and serviceable condition
and are the correct size for each person on board. To be considered
serviceable, this Inflatable PFD shall not exhibit deterioration that could
diminish its performance such as broken or deformed hardware, detached
webbing, rotted structural components, air leaks, or nonfunctional oral
inflation tube. Unless worn inflated, this Inflatable PFD must also be
properly armed with a full CO2 cylinder, inflation system status indicator,
and an accessible manual inflation lanyard. A PFD which is “approved
only when worn” or “required to be worn” must be worn under the
specified conditions.

1 Inflatable PFD Owner’s Manual

WHAT IS AN INFLATABLE PFD?

MD3081 and MD3082 Service Indicator

Manual Inflator

While traditional PFDs are inherently buoyant, inflatable PFDs, rely
entirely on inflation for buoyancy. Uninflated, the Inflatable PFD is a
comfortable slim collar that can be inflated at any time with a 33-gram
CO2 gas cylinder. The Inflatable PFD is designed to offer maximum
mobility with minimum bulk. The Inflatable PFD (MD3081 and MD3082)
can be inflated either manually by jerking a pull-tab, or orally (by
mouth). The Inflatable PFD (MD3083 and MD3084) can be inflated either
automatically during water immersion, manually by jerking a pull-tab, or
orally by mouth. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the
procedures outlined in INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE (p. 2).

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

This manual supplies instructional, maintenance and safety information
for all models (MD3081, MD3082, MD3083, and MD3084) unless
specified otherwise. The model number is listed on the underside label.

Congratulations on your Inflatable PFD purchase.

Component Inspection Instructions

1) Examine the service indicator through the window panel (Figs. 1 and

2). Ensure the service indicator is green. If the service indicator is red,

the mechanism has been fired or is incorrectly fitted (see Re-arming

Your PFD (for your model)).

NOTE: The service indicator must be green before proceeding.

2) Undo the Velcro™ strips along both sides of the PFD.

FIGURE 1

Inflatable PFD Owner’s Manual 2

MD3083 and MD3084 Service Indicator

Automatic Inflator

FIGURE 2

3) Ensure the oral-inflation dust cap is in the stowed position (Fig. 7).

4) Ensure the service indicator is green and the pull-tab lanyard is

hanging on the outside; secure the Velcro™ strips on both sides of

the Inflatable PFD.

5) For the MD3083 and MD3084 only - Ensure the bobbin is valid. The

PFD, or bobbin, must have been purchased within the last three (3)

years. If the purchase date is unknown, check the date printed on the

bobbin and replace if older than three (3) years (see Re-arming Your

PFD (MD3083 and MD3084), p. 10).

Readiness Checklist

Check your Inflatable PFD and ensure all of the checkpoints listed below
are true before use.

n Service indicator is green.

n No rips, tears or holes; all seams are securely sewn; and the fabric,

straps and hardware are still strong.

n All Velcro™ are securely fastened.

n Inflatable PFD is not twisted.

n Oral-inflation dust cap is in the stowed position.

n For the MD3083 and MD3084 only - Ensure the bobbin is valid. The

PFD, or bobbin, must have been purchased within the last three (3)

years. If the purchase date is unknown, check the date printed on

the bobbin and replace if older than three (3) years (see Re-arming

Your PFD (MD3083 and MD3084), p. 10).

3 Inflatable PFD Owner’s Manual

Your Inflatable PFD is ready for use if all applicable boxes are checked.

NOTE: Contact your Mustang Dealer if you have any concerns
about the readiness of your Inflatable PFD.

Sizing and Fit

This PFD provides a minimum of 33.7 lbs of buoyancy when inflated and
is designed for wearers over 16 years of age, with a chest range of 30-52
inches (76-132 cm) weighing over 80 pounds (36 kg).

Donning Instructions

It is important that the Inflatable PFD is properly adjusted to fit the
person wearing it. An incorrect fit or improper fastening of attachments
could impede its effectiveness.

1) All belts and straps are already threaded correctly and only need to

be adjusted for fit.

For the non-harness models MD3081 and MD3083, the belt should

fit below your rib cage adjusted to a tight personal fit.

For the harness models MD3082 and MD3084, the bottom of the belt

must always be worn at least 2 inches (5 cm) above the lowest rib

and adjusted to a tight personal fit.

2) Put the Inflatable PFD on just like a jacket (Fig. 3) and fasten the

front buckle. Adjust the waist belt using the side buckle on the belt

and secure the belt’s loose end in the belt loop.

WARNING: Do not wear Inflatable PFDs under clothing as the

inflation could be restricted or you could be injured.

FIGURE 3

Inflatable PFD Owner’s Manual 4

Inflating Your Inflatable PFD

MD3081 and MD3082 MD3083 and MD3084

Manual Inflator Automatic Inflator

It is recommended that the following procedures be followed to inflate
your Inflatable PFD:

1) Manual Inflation

Activate the inflation system by jerking firmly downward on the pull-

tab (Fig. 4). The Inflatable PFD should fully inflate within 5 seconds.

FIGURE 4

2) Automatic Backup Inflation (MD3083 and MD3084)

Inflation will occur automatically within 10 seconds after the inflator

is immersed in water. The water-sensing bobbin will disintegrate,

triggering a spring-loaded plunger, which punctures the CO2 cylinder

(Figs. 9 and 11) to inflate the Inflatable PFD.

Information

When inflated, the carbon dioxide (CO2 gas) used to inflate the PFD

will slowly escape through the fabric over time. A slight reduction

of pressure will be observed after several hours of inflation. Topping

up by oral inflation may be required in the event of very prolonged

immersion.

IMPORTANT: See Special Considerations for Automatic Devices

3) Oral Inflation

Properly armed and inspected Inflatable PFDs will inflate when

manually or automatically activated. However, you can fully inflate

the Inflatable PFD by mouth (Fig. 5) should inflation not occur, or if

you are in a non-emergency situation. To orally inflate the Inflatable

5 Inflatable PFD Owner’s Manual

PFD, first locate the oral inflation tube by opening the wearer ’s left

front panel of the Inflatable PFD. Remove the dust cap from the end

of the oral tube and blow into the tube until the Inflatable PFD is

fully inflated.

WARNING: Avoid double inflation (CO2 cylinder inflation after

full oral inflation) as it could damage the PFD.

FIGURE 5

Special Considerations for Automatic Devices

(MD3083 and MD3084)

The Inflatable PFD might not be armed when needed, either knowingly
or unknowingly. Premature automatic inflation causes several risks
that you must address to avoid drowning. Much less common but also
important are:

WARNING: Avoid double inflation (CO2 cylinder inflation after

full oral inflation) as it could damage the PFD.

1) Inflation when stored in a tight space could damage the PFD, and

2) The PFD could inflate when you are in an awkward place or position.

Premature inflation may occur in certain conditions, including when

the device is subjected to: heavy splashing, high humidity, heavy fog,

and heavy rain.

Care and attention should be taken to ensure that when the device

is used in these types of conditions, auto-inflation does not occur

prematurely.

Inflatable PFD Owner’s Manual 6