Upgrade your old lifejacket this summer

Old4New Community Ambassador, Sue Tucker is keen to see old lifejackets replaced with new ones. Photo: Coastguard NZ

Following five successful years, Coastguard's Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade will once again be motivating kiwis to check and upgrade their most important piece of boating safety equipment.

From November 30 to February 2 boaties will have the opportunity to bring their old, damaged or ill-fitting lifejackets to one of the 63 Old4New van locations and upgrade them for brand new, heavily discounted Hutchwilco models.

This year, the Old4New van, kindly provided by the Giltrap Group, will reach new locations including Lake Waikaremoana, Kinloch and Turangi, as well as returning to boating hot spots and community hubs in the far north.

Since its introduction, Old4New has greatly assisted Coastguard in its mission of ‘Saving Lives at Sea.' Over 13,500 old lifejackets have been upgraded through the initiative, meaning thousands of Kiwis are now safer on the water.

This is a number, Old4New Community Ambassador, Sue Tucker, is keen to increase over the 2019-2020 summer season.

'We continue to see lifejackets in all shapes and sizes, some even 50 years old, and what a lot of them have in common is that in an emergency they won't keep you safe. We need to be out in the community reminding Kiwis that lifejackets don't last a lifetime,” says Sue.

Over time, exposure to the elements and general wear and tear, heavily effect a lifejackets ability to keep you afloat. Even if an old lifejacket looks good to the eye, there is a chance that its effectiveness has reduced with time.

'Lifejackets, including inflatable versions, need to be checked each year to make sure they are in a good condition. If you know your lifejacket is no good, or if you just want some peace of mind, bring it to the Old4New van to get it checked.”

'The motivator behind what we do, is simple. We want to ensure Kiwi's return home to their loved ones after a day out on the water,” says Sue. 'That starts by taking and wearing a fit-for-purpose lifejacket, every time.”

If you can't make it to one of the Old4New van locations, retailer Boating and Outdoors will once again be offering the Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade instore at select locations around the country.

The Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade would not be possible without the generous support from key sponsors, Maritime New Zealand, Hutchwilco, Giltrap Volkswagen and Boating and Outdoors.

For more information and a full location schedule visit www.old4new.nz or contact Coastguard on 0800 BOATIE (262 843).

The Old4New van will be in the Bay of Plenty area on the following dates:

Saturday December 21, 3pm – 6pm - Lake Rotorua Waterfront, Rotorua Watersports Trust Building, 1 Mataiawhea St, Rotorua

Sunday December 22, 8am – 11am - Sulphur Point Boat Ramp, 42 Cross Rd, Tauranga

Sunday December 22, 2pm – 5pm - Whakatane Boat Ramp, Muriwai Dr, Whakatane

Monday December 23, 8am – 11am - Coastguard Opotiki, Wharf St, Opotiki

Monday December 23, 2pm – 5pm - Coastguard Maketu, Village Green Boat Ramp, Beach Rd, Maketu.

Thursday December 26, 8am – 12noon - Bowentown Boating & Sports Fishing Club, Pio Rd, Waihi Beach.

Thursday December 26, 2pm – 5pm - Whangamata Boat Ramp, Beach Rd, Whangamata.

Friday December 27, 9am – 12noon - Thames, Shortland Wharf, Queen St, Thames

Friday December 27, 2pm – 5pm - Mercury Bay Marine, 14 Moewai Rd, Whitianga.

Saturday December 28 9am – 5pm - Paunanui Village Centre, 52 Jubilee Dr, Pauanui.

Sunday December 29 10am – 2pm - Waiheke Boating Club, Causeway Rd, Ostend – opposite Waiheke Boating Club.

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