Stearns Recreational 1341, 1339 User Manual

DO NOT REMOVE PRIOR TO SALE!

OWNER’S MANUAL

Model No. 1339 and 1341

I. APPROVAL CONDITIONS and CARRIAGE REGULATIONS

This inflatable PFD is approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for
use as a Type V Humidity Sensitive Personal Flotation Device
(PFD) with Type II performance. IT IS APPROVED ONLY
WHEN WORN. 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 PFD’s. When worn, used, and serviced
according to this owner’s manual, this PFD can greatly
increase your chances of survival in the water. Not
recommended for non-swimmers or weak swimmers. Users
of inflatable PFD’s must be at least 16 years old.

See page 2 for CONDITIONS FOR THIS TYPE V APPROVAL.

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CONDITIONS FOR THIS TYPE V APPROVAL

This manual/automatic inflatable PFD is approved for use as a
substitute for a Type II PFD ONLY WHEN WORN.

Conditional approvals are granted by the Coast Guard for PFDs
that:

1. Do not meet all the requirements for approval under the
Type I through IV categories but offer other significant
safety features, or

2. Have features or uses not found in Type I through IV PFDs
that require special user knowledge.

The conditions let the user overcome design traits that would
otherwise prevent approval.

“Approved Only When Worn”:

This PFD has the, “Approved Only When Worn”, condition on
its approval because if it is not worn whenever above deck
and underway, it is less likely to be in working order and
cannot be counted as a PFD to meet the carriage requirements
on your boat.

This manual/automatic inflatable PFD requires more frequent
checks than ones that are inherently buoyant or have manual
inflation. Wearing this PFD will:

1. Provide it the extra attention associated with use,

2. Help you address its disadvantages, and

3. Increase safety enormously because you have it when
needed.

Read the discussion under SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR THE
MANUAL/AUTOMATIC INFLATOR ON THIS PFD and understand
its implications on your safety.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR THE MANUAL/AUTOMATIC

INFLATOR ON THIS PFD

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

1. Double inflation could damage the PFD,

2. Inflation when stored in a tight space could damage the
PFD, and

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

Owners of inflatable PFDs must understand the unique
characteristics of these products so that they can use them
safely.

You must learn how to properly arm the PFD.

Why: An improperly armed mechanism may not inflate the

chamber. This PFD will not float you without being
inflated.

You must check the status of the mechanism and the CO

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cylinder before each outing. If the cylinder cap is punctured there
will be no gas to inflate the PFD. Also, if the cylinder is deformed
in any way, there may not be gas to inflate the PFD.

Why: This PFD will not float you unless it can be inflated.
Why: Are you sure that no one else inflated the PFD

recently and did not replace the cylinder?

Why: Premature inflations that occur on a stored product

may go unnoticed since the CO

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gas will permeate the
chamber fabric within a few days, leaving a deflated
chamber.

Why: U.S. Coast Guard studies have shown high

percentages of unserviceable inflatable PFDs with
used cylinders in them when used by recreational
boaters.

In addition to inspecting the mechanism and cylinder before each
outing you must periodically check the other components of the
PFD. This would include the chamber, webbing, buckles and
thread.

Why: The chamber may get punctured, or abraded to the

point where it will not stay inflated.

Why: Over time these components can wear out and not be

strong enough to perform their intended function
when needed.

Premature or unexpected inflation of automatic devices may occur
in high heat and humidity storage conditions or when exposed to
severe conditions such as being innundated by water from waves
breaking on deck. Premature inflation creates risks you must
address.

Why: Inflation when stored in a tight space could damage

the PFD.

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Why: The PFD could inflate when you are in an awkward

place or position.

Why: Automatic inflation after oral inflation could damage

the PFD.

Do not try to alter or modify the mechanism. If you are dissatisfied
with the humidity resistance or other performance of this product,
contact Stearns, Inc. at 1-800-783-2767.

Why: Altering the mechanism may result in the failure of the

device to inflate and provide the necessary buoyancy
to float you.

Why: Altering the PFD will void the U.S. Coast Guard

approval for meeting recreational boating carriage
requirements.

You must carry rearming kits to meet the needs of expected
conditions of your boating trip. Stearns recommends a minimum
of two cylinders, pins, and pills.

Why: If the mechanism is actuated, it must be properly

rearmed prior to using it again.

Why: To meet the carriage requirements the device must be

properly armed, unless worn inflated.

Please read the entire owner’s manual for more details about
the use and care of this Inflatable PFD.

II. 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
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 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. See CONDITIONS FOR THIS TYPE V APPROVAL
page 2 for specific approval conditions of this PFD.

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III. INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

SPECIFICATIONS:

Chest Size: 30 – 52 inches (76 - 132 cm)
Weight Range: more than 90 pounds (40 kg)
Age Range: 16 years of age and older
Buoyancy (minimum): 33.7 Pounds (150 Newtons) when fully inflated
Inflation System:

Manual/Automatic Inflation Mechanism (located on your right side)
Oral Tube (located on your left side)
Pull Tab (located on your right side) used to manually activate the

inflation mechanism and inflate the PFD.

CO2 Cylinder: 33 gram, 1/2 inch thread as provided in Replacement Kit

0920 and 0923

Indicators: There are three indicators: A, B, and C on the inflation

mechanism. For the PFD to be fully armed all three indicators must be
green and the CO2 cylinder condition checked.

PRE-DONNING INSTRUCTIONS

CHECK THE FOLLOWING BEFORE EACH USE OR OUTING:

1. INSPECT PFD FOR DAMAGE

2. EXAMINE THE THREE INFLATION MECHANISM STATUS
INDICATORS

3. EXAMINE CO2 CYLINDER CAP FOR PUNCTURE HOLE.
IF PUNCTURED OR DEFORMED, REPLACE THE CYLINDER.

READ BELOW FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION!

1. Inspecting Your PFD For Damage

Make sure that the PFD is free from rips, tears or punctures. This
type of damage on the outside covering indicates that the Inflatable
Chamber may have been exposed to potentially damaging elements.
If these defects expose the yellow inflatable chamber material,
discontinue use of the PFD until you have the PFD inspected by an
authorized repair facility. If these defects are noticed but the yellow
inflatable chamber material is not exposed, the Inflatable Chamber
should be checked for leaks. The Inflatable Chamber should also
be checked for leaks at the beginning of each season and at least
every two months during the boating season. The leak test
procedure is described under USER'S INSPECTION. (Refer to page

11.)

2. Where and How to Check the Pill (Water Sensing Element)

Examine the inflation mechanism status indicators. The Inflation
Mechanism Status Indicators will tell you if the inflation mechanism is
properly ARMED/REARMED and ready for activation.

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The indicators are located on the mechanism at points A, B
and C, as shown on Rearming Instructions on the back cover
of this book. The mechanism itself is located on the PFD on
the wearer’s right side.

Indicator A shows the status of the manual activating lever.
Be sure indicator Green Pin goes through both the plastic
housing and the metal activating lever.

Indicator B indicates whether a water sensing pill is in place.
If this indicator is red, there is no pill in place and the
mechanism cannot be armed for manual or automatic inflation
until the pill is inserted.

Indicator C indicates whether the cylinder has been screwed
in far enough. Note: this does NOT indicate the full or empty

status of the CO2 cylinder, but only that the CO2 cylinder is
properly seated.

The color of all Status Indicators have a standard meaning:

GREEN = OK = READY

RED = MECHANISM NOT PROPERLY ARMED = NOT READY

See Rearming Instructions on back cover of this book.

The presence of a water sensing pill can be checked by
looking at Indicator B. The pill itself should be checked
regularly. To examine water sensing pill, lift cocking lever to
expose pill and remove. If pill is cracked or otherwise
damaged, replace with fresh pill.

3. Examine Your CO2 Cylinder

The CO2 cylinder contains the gas charge that will inflate your
PFD when the inflation mechanism is fired either automatically
or manually. You must verify that the CO2 cylinder installed is
of the correct size and has not been previously fired. To

examine the cylinder, you must Unscrew it and visually
examine the cap (the flat surface on the threaded end). There

are no indicators to show that the CO2 cylinder is full. The
cylinder needs to be replaced if there is any visible damage
on the flat surface. See the product SPECIFICATIONS
section on page 5 of this manual to determine the proper size
cylinder. Proper cylinder size includes both thread size and
CO2 gram weight. If the cylinder is OK, you must properly
screw it back into the mechanism. If the cylinder is damaged,
discard and install a new, undamaged cylinder into the
mechanism.

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Addi ti ona l Note s on C O2 C yl i nd er s :

• FA IL URE t o p r ope r ly re ar m t he i nfla t ion me ch a n i sm

pr io r t o in st al lin g t h e CO2 Cy lin d er wi ll resul t i n
pr ema t ure ac tiv a t ion of t h e c y li n d e r.

• CO

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Cy li n d ers a re o n ly g o od f o r o n e i n fl a t ion a nd

c ann o t b e r e ch ar g ed.

• CO

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Cy lin de rs a r e ma de wi t h a p rot e c tiv e c o at in g t h at

ma y wear o f f af t e r a p e rio d of us e or e x pos ur e t o t h e
en vi r o n ment . Wh en t h is c oat i n g i s wo rn o f f, t h e CO

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Cy lin de r may s t art to s h ow s o me s i gn s o f ru st in g . I f
t his oc cur s , r epl a c e t he CO2 Cy lin d er.

• I f a gr am s c al e ( s uch a s a p o st al s c al e ) i s a v ail a ble ,

it i s r e c o m mend e d t o we igh t he c y li n d er t o v e ri f y t h at
it m e et s t h e mini mu m w e ig ht impri n t ed on t he c y li n d er.

DONNING INST RUCT IONS

STEP 1

Wear like a jacket, inserting arms
between straps and fabric.

STEP 2

Close front buckle. Manual pull
lanyard should be visible on your
lower right side.

STEP 3

Adjust waist strap through slide
located on right side until
comfortably snug fit is obtained.
Tuck free end of belt under waist
strap.