Plastimo is developing its self-inflating lifejacket. The SL180 becomes the SLR 196. This new model (available in spring 2022) has been developed by ocean racers like François Gabart or Kevin Escoffier. It is still undergoing homologation.
Construction with double chamber
The SLR196 has a buoyancy of 196 Newton. It uses the double chamber construction technique (like the brand's rafts). The outer cover is used to build the vest (it is structural) while the inner chamber is made of a virtually puncture-proof polyurethane film. This construction provides a very flexible vest, very pleasant to wear.
An aluminum quick-release buckle
The vest is distinguished by its quick-release buckle. The buckle is made of aluminum and can be clipped on quickly. Thus, the vest is intuitive to put on and adjustments are made quickly. The harness buckle, for attaching the lanyard's carabiner, is made of webbing.
Many clever details
This vest is meant to be comfortable. This is the direction in which Plastimo's design office has worked: to offer more comfort to the user, without penalizing the design. Thus, the collar is in Neoprene. The back is padded with mesh to limit perspiration. On the front, the vest is equipped with Molle attachment systems. This is a system that is often found on outdoor equipment to attach equipment or accessories.
The vest is automatically activated by falling into the water, but it can also be activated by using the ergonomic release handle, which is always accessible on the front.
A purge to quickly deflate the vest
A big novelty of this vest is that it is equipped with a quick drain directly installed on the bladder. Usually, to adjust the pressure in the vest (deflate it a little for example), one presses on the inside of the mouthpiece and the vest empties slowly. With the quick purge, the sailor can deflate the vest very quickly by simply pressing a pull tab. This addition was thought to quickly free a crew member who would be caught under a trampoline of a capsized catamaran for example. Once deflated, it is possible to reinflate it with the mouth while waiting for help.
Available in spring 2022
This model is available in 3 versions: with a salt tablet or with a hydrostatic release (Hammar), and a "regatta" version that includes the integrated hood (Hammar striker). It will be available from spring 2022 from 199 euros TTC.
