Stearns Recreational 4430, 6340 User Manual

DO NOT REMOVE PRIOR TO SALE!

Model Nos. 4430 or 6340 –

OWNER’S MANUAL

HIGH WEARABILITY TYPE V

USER ASSISTED INFLATABLE BELT

PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE

ADULT UNIVERSAL – FOR PERSONS OVER 80 POUNDS

I. APPROVAL CONDITIONS and CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS

This inflatable belt is approved by the U S Coast Guard as a Type
V User Assisted Personal Flotation Device (PFD). It is APPROVED
ONLY WHEN WORN for use as a Flotation Aid, Type II I PFD for
recreational use on calm inland waters. It is not approved for
water skiing or other high-speed activity. This inflatable was
designed to be more comfortable and less restrictive to wear than
inherently buoyant PFDs. When used and serviced according to
this owner’s manual, this personal flotation device (PFD) can
greatly increase your chances of survival. Not recommended for
non-swimmers or weak swimmers. Users of inflatable PFDs must
be at least 16 years of age.

See Page 3 for Conditions for Type V Approval.

WEAR YOUR PFD! Most drowned victims of boating accidents

owned PFDs, but were not wearing them when they died. Most
drowning occurs in inland waters, not way out at sea, and most
within a few feet of safety. If you DO NOT intend to wear this

PFD, then SELECT ONE that you will. Doing this provides
feedback to manufacturer's, as to what makes a PFD wearable.

Deflated

Inflated

2

SPECIFICATIONS

Chest size: 30-52 inches
Weight range: over 80 pounds
Age Range: 16 years and older
Buoyancy (minimum): 15.5 pounds after CO2 inflation 22.5

pounds after full inflation. (See Donning and Inflation instructions

pages 7 & 8.)

Inflation System:

Manual Inflation Mechanism (located on front of chamber)
Oral Tube (located on front of chamber)

CO2 Cylinder: 16 Gram, 3/8” thread.

** USE REPLACEMENT KIT NO. 0925 **

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT

Revised: 2006-05-08

3

II. CONDITIONS FOR TYPE V APPROVAL

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 Types I through IV PFDs
that require special user knowledge.

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

Wearing a PFD is one of the most important things you can do to
help you save your life if you accidentally fall in the water. Finding
a comfortable PFD that you will wear is the key. This PFD design
offers the significant safety features of being lightweight, low
profile and comfortable for continuous wear. This PFD must be

worn, to meet carriage requirements, so that it is available on the
wearer when needed.

This PFD is also approved as a Type V because the buoyancy
provided by the CO2 gas from the cylinder, does not provide as
much buoyancy as a Type I I I inflatable PFD. However, the
buoyancy that a CO2 cylinder provides is enough to turn many
people to a stable, face up position, so that they can add
additional buoyancy, if necessary, by blowing air into the chamber
through the oral tube. When fully inflated, using both the CO

2

cylinder and a few additional puffs of air through the oral tube,
the buoyancy of this PFD is equal to that of an inflatable Type III .

Finally, this PFD is a Type V because you must know how to
readjust it to float you best. Wearing this PFD, knowing how to
achieve full buoyancy and how to maximize performance are
necessary for it to provide an equivalent level of safety to PFDs
without user conditions on their approval. See Page 9
“Maximizing Performance”.

“APPROVED ONLY WHEN WORN “

This PFD has the “Approved Only When Worn” condition on it’s
approval because if it is not worn whenever above deck and
underway, it cannot be counted as a PFD to meet the carriage
requirements on your boat. Wearing this PFD is intended to:

1. Provide it with the extra attention associated with use, and

2. Increase safety enormously because you have it on when you
need it.

4

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 tubes.
Unless worn inflated, this PFD must also be properly armed with a
full CO2 cylinder, inflation system indicator and an accessible
manual inflation lanyard. Since this PFD is “approved only when
worn” it must be worn under the conditions specified on Page 1.

III. INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Know your PFD. Familiarize yourself with its features and practice
using it before attempting to use it in deep water or in an
emergency. You must accept responsibility for proper use and
care of this device, and in-water trials to check its performance.
This device is not recommended for non-swimmers, since panic by
the user in an emergency situation can prevent proper donning
and inflation. This PFD is not approved for children under 16.

PRE-DONNING INSTRUCTIONS

Check the following before using this PFD:

1. Inspect PFD for damage.

2. Examine inflation mechanism status indicators.

3. Examine CO2 cylinder face for puncture hole.

4. Be sure cylinder is screwed in tight.

Read below for more detailed information

1. Inspecting Your PFD for Damage

Make sure that the PFD is free of 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 chamber
material, discontinue use of the PFD until you have had the PFD
inspected by an certified Stearns Repair Facility. If these defects
are noticed but the yellow chamber fabric is not exposed, the

Inflatable Chamber should also 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 Pages 14 and 15.

5

2. Examine the inflation mechanism status indicators.

The indicator will tell you if the inflation mechanism is properly
ARMED/REARMED and ready for activation. If the indicator shows
RED, the mechanism is not ready to fire, and you must rearm the
mechanism to set the indicator to GREEN. Refer to rearming
instructions on Pages 11 and 12, and on the PFD chamber.

3. Examine Your CO2 Cylinder

The CO2 cylinder contains the gas charge that will inflate your
PFD when the inflation mechanism is fired. You must verify that
the CO2 cylinder installed is of the correct size and has not been
previously fired. There are no indicators to show that the CO

2

cylinder is full. See the Product Specifications section on Page 2
of this manual for the proper size cylinder. The size includes both
thread size and gram weight. To examine the cylinder, you must

unscrew it and visually examine the flat surface of the threaded
end. If the cylinder cap is punctured or damaged in any way,

discard it and install a new, undamaged cylinder in the
mechanism. If the cylinder is OK, you must properly screw it back
into the mechanism.

4. Cylinder Tightness

When screwing the cylinder back into the PFD, make sure it is
snug. Over tightening can damage the inflator seal, but if not
snug the cylinder can unscrew during use and may leak or not be
punctured when the “Jerk to Inflate” lanyard is pulled.

Additional Notes on CO2 Cylinders :

a. FAILURE to properly rearm the inflation mechanism prior to

installing the CO2 cylinder will result in a premature activation
of the cylinder. Follow the rearming steps exactly. See Pages
11 and 12.

b. CO2 cylinders are good for one inflation and cannot be

recharged.

c. CO2 cylinders are made with a protective coating that may

wear off after a period of use or exposure to the environment.
When this coating is worn off, the CO2 cylinder may start to
show some signs of rusting. If this occurs, replace the CO

2

cylinder.

d. If a gram scale (such as postal scale) is available, it is

recommended to weigh the cylinder to verify that it meets the
minimum weight listed on the cylinder.

6

OTHER USE GUIDE LINES -

STUDY this manual and practice using your belt to become

thoroughly familiar with its features and operation. Your inflatable
PFD will not provide buoyancy until you inflate it. See Pages 17
and 18 for testing your PFD.

ALWAYS re-arm the CO2 inflation system after each discharge.
The CO2 cylinder is good for only one inflation and then must be
replaced. Use ONLY genuine Stearns replacement kits for
rearming your PFD. See Pages 11 and 12 for rearming
instructions.

NEVER wear inside clothing that can restrict expansion.

NEVER inflate in a tightly confined space.

NEVER inflate with any type of pump.

NEVER actuate with CO2 inflator if the belt is already fully inflated.

NEVER use in below freezing temperatures unless worn partly

inflated. At or below 40 ºF inflation time with CO2 gas will be
longer. Wearing a partially inflated PFD under these conditions will
provide some initial buoyancy while the PFD fully inflates.
Caution: Do not fully inflate orally and then inflate with the CO

2

cylinder. Repeated CO2 inflation after oral inflation will damage the
PFD to the point that it will not hold air or float.

AVOID contact with sharp objects.

AVOID exposure to extreme heat (140 ºF or higher).

Failure to heed the above cautions may result in personal

injury or death.

7

DONNING and INFLATION INSTRUCTIONS

After completing the pre-donning check, follow these instructions

to don, inflate and adjust the PFD for maximum performance.

1. Loosen Shoulder Straps.
Insert left arm between back strap
and deflated vest (See fig.1). Pull
vest on over your head (See fig.2).
Pull buckle to front so you can see
it. Buckle and adjust by pulling on
free end of the belt. Secure the
excess strap by tucking it under the
belt. Always position the belt with

the center window in front. The
Velcro® opening should be on the

bottom. The “Jerk to Inflate”
lanyard should be hanging

downward. Adjust Shoulder

Straps to a comfortable fit.

2. Pull down on the “Jerk to
Inflate lanyard to inflate
chamber.

3. Grasp the neck adjustment
strap tucked under the inflated
chamber. Slip the strap (located
at the center of the chamber)
over your head.

Step 1 – Snap buckle,
snug waist strap.

Step 2 – Jerk tab to
Inflate.

Step 3 – Put webbing
over head.