4 Man life Raft needs Servicing

[ritchyp]

Hello again community!

Going through all my boats paperwork to find something else, I saw that my Life-raft (a 4 man casing type) is out of service as there is a certificate with an expiry date.
the boat and Life-raft is in the Southampton area. I can see it was done previously by a company in the Solent and lets say, they are one of the most expensive places by reputation.
Naturally, I need t have it serviced and re-certified. If I can save £100 on this its money I can put towards a Navtex or new PLB.
Juggling credit cards is getting much harder for me as I have so many and my score is plummeting.
Can anybody point me towards a company who don't charge the premium rates? I ve seen places online that will arrange pick up and then service and ship back but they have 'prices from' " does not include cost of replacement items." Basically, they can charge what they want and you Have to pay it or you wont get your life-raft back.

TIA ritchy

 

[pmagowan]

Do you need a liferaft for the type of sailing you do? Lots of more important safety equipment for most people. Can't help you with servicing in that area, expect it will all be a bit expensive but that is where you are and there is an expense in taking the thing to somewhere further afield also.

 

[madabouttheboat]

I don't currently have a life raft but I have often thought that if I did get one again I would prefer not to have the 'replaceable items' inside the raft. I don't see why the flares, torch, seasickness tablets etc can't be in a grab bag, then you can keep on top of replacing these as and when and no doubt at a cheaper price than a liferaft servicing company would charge. I would then probably 'stretch' the liferaft servicing schedule, as its really only the CO2 cylinder that needs checking. For those saying that the grab bag might not make it onto the raft, my grab bag is always with me in the cockpit and would be the first thing I 'grab'.

In the past I have used Adec marine in east London. Don't even know if they are still there but I understand they did, at one time, offer a collection service from some marinas. They were reasonable value too.

 

[ithet]

When I had my previous life raft serviced I had the on board pack de-rated to not include any flares (carried in separate grab bag). This considerably reduced replacement costs.

However, by next service the cylinder needed it's 10 year test, which made it more cost effective to buy a new life raft.

 

[MoodySabre]

I don't currently have a life raft but I have often thought that if I did get one again I would prefer not to have the 'replaceable items' inside the raft. I don't see why the flares, torch, seasickness tablets etc can't be in a grab bag, then you can keep on top of replacing these as and when and no doubt at a cheaper price than a liferaft servicing company would charge. I would then probably 'stretch' the liferaft servicing schedule, as its really only the CO2 cylinder that needs checking. For those saying that the grab bag might not make it onto the raft, my grab bag is always with me in the cockpit and would be the first thing I 'grab'.

In the past I have used Adec marine in east London. Don't even know if they are still there but I understand they did, at one time, offer a collection service from some marinas. They were reasonable value too.

Adec are still there. Quoted me £250 to service a 4 man in a canister. I didn’t have it done as my plans changed.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Have you considered doing it yourself?
I am disturbed by the bad stories I have seen relating to poor "professional" servicing; items missing and failures to inflate for instance. At the very least, if you decide to "go professional", insist you witness the service.
I would like to find the courage to service my life raft but it continues to elude me.
If you go that way, make a video of the unpacking to give you a chance of repacking correctly.
Don't use air to inflate the raft (can't remember why not but others will be along to fill in the reason).

 

[ritchyp]

Have you considered doing it yourself?
I am disturbed by the bad stories I have seen relating to poor "professional" servicing; items missing and failures to inflate for instance. At the very least, if you decide to "go professional", insist you witness the service.
I would like to find the courage to service my life raft but it continues to elude me.
If you go that way, make a video of the unpacking to give you a chance of repacking correctly.
Don't use air to inflate the raft (can't remember why not but others will be along to fill in the reason).

I did not know it was possible. Some stuff like PLB batteries for instance cannot be replaced (The actual battery cells) so you have to pay almost the cost of a new unit to buy a battery or have it replaced by a "Safety company."

I have worked in several industries and currently repair computers and other mobile tech. i do all my own maintenance on the boat so yes, I would try it. Ill need to check if the C02 inflator neds replacing first I guess

 

[ritchyp]

Adec are still there. Quoted me £250 to service a 4 man in a canister. I didn’t have it done as my plans changed.

if I could get it done in Southampton for £250 inc vat I would have it done. That's my max limit. I would ask to be present

 

[rogerthebodger]

I did not know it was possible. Some stuff like PLB batteries for instance cannot be replaced (The actual battery cells) so you have to pay almost the cost of a new unit to buy a battery or have it replaced by a "Safety company."

I have worked in several industries and currently repair computers and other mobile tech. i do all my own maintenance on the boat so yes, I would try it. Ill need to check if the C02 inflator neds replacing first I guess

A year or so ago I needed a new battery for my EPIRB and the safety authority required me to get the battery replaced by the OEM. The OEM would not supply a replacement battery for my EPIRB but would sell me a new EPIRB so I went to a local firm who replaced batteries in HH VHF radios for police and others.

The safety authorities would no except a third party even through the spec are exactly the same as the OEM

It just profiteering and in contravention to all our rights of freedom to choose our suppliers.

Yes I know of the argument of safety but these days there are all types of long-distance comms devices that can call for help and get a response to you call

Many sailors do have the skill to service there our equipment, engines, sails , hull or many other devices for safety or general application.

 

[bedouin]

I often wonder whether liferaft servicing is worth the money. Is there really anything that needs doing regularly?

I do have a liferaft that has not been serviced for years - last time I did I think it was £500. I still carry it and I hope that it will work if I need it but the sailing I do is mostly coastal with the occasional cross channel so it is borderline whether I need one at all.

That said I do intend to replace it next season - but with a lightweight/compact "aero" style that is much easier to stow and deploy so IMHO safer than my big cannister.

 

[pmagowan]

If you look up the statistics it seems that the use of liferafts is not a significant factor in safety for most people in UK waters. If you are thinking of paying £500 of your limited funds then you should also be thinking if those pounds could be better spent elsewhere. I suspect most liferafts fulfill a function of making people feel more safe rather than actually making people more safe. I would be thinking about water ingress sensors on all throughulls, fire, gas, carbon monoxide sensors, Changing from gas to electric cooking, electric safety check, fire suppression systems, safety lines, MOB detectors, medical kits tailored to regular crew etc etc prior to liferaft ,

 

[harvey38]

Contact these people, not near you but there costs are very reasonable, they offer a pick up and return courier service for life rafts and I found them very helpful.

Life Raft Service - Norwest Marine

 

[ritchyp]

Contact these people, not near you but there costs are very reasonable, they offer a pick up and return courier service for life rafts and I found them very helpful.

Life Raft Service - Norwest Marine

I know about them and all but mentioned them. Problem is they are in Liverpool and I cant witness the inflation and they can charge me a fee that i cannot refuse or Ill not get it back. maybe so perhaps better to keep hold of it.

Actually, I will call them and see if I can get a price agreed in advance. Thanks

 

[Never Grumble]

How to Sail on a Budget: Tom Cunliffe's Column

Tom gives a view on servicing his life raft
I had mine done at the beginning of the year asked for an estimate and when they had opened it up the estimate inflated as fast as the raft itself.

 

[bedouin]

How to Sail on a Budget: Tom Cunliffe's Column

Tom gives a view on servicing his life raft
I had mine done at the beginning of the year asked for an estimate and when they had opened it up the estimate inflated as fast as the raft itself.

I agree with him about the aero liferaft - no cheaper but a far more appropriate piece of kit for those of us doing offshore sailing in a small boat

I also agree with him about liferaft servicing - definitely not a DIY job.

 

[mattonthesea]

Quite a few in this parish service their life rafts. I only haven't because the raft was beyond economic repair. But I practised putting it back in the case. Two person job in my view

 

[bedouin]

Quite a few in this parish service their life rafts. I only haven't because the raft was beyond economic repair. But I practised putting it back in the case. Two person job in my view

How do you reseal it - and make sure the straps you use are of the correct spec to burst open when you pull the cord?

 

[mattonthesea]

I didn't break the straps. I just slipped them off. It's difficult to explain but the raft is sealed in a bag. You just reverse the opening process.

Been said before: photos and video and second person essential.

 

[bedouin]

I didn't break the straps. I just slipped them off. It's difficult to explain but the raft is sealed in a bag. You just reverse the opening process.

Been said before: photos and video and second person essential.

Ah - I thought the bag was sealed in such a way as to mean you had to cut it to open it.

Since I am otherwise likely to ditch it soon I may try that with mine and see how I get on.

 

[pandos]

I often wonder whether liferaft servicing is worth the money. Is there really anything that needs doing regularly?

I do have a liferaft that has not been serviced for years - last time I did I think it was £500. I still carry it and I hope that it will work if I need it but the sailing I do is mostly coastal with the occasional cross channel so it is borderline whether I need one at all.

That said I do intend to replace it next season - but with a lightweight/compact "aero" style that is much easier to stow and deploy so IMHO safer than my big cannister.

I have a similar mindset. I had a raft serviced twice which would never have inflated via the bottle as the valve was faulty.. I bought a newish seago 4 man during COVID which has sat inside my boat for 3;years so it is over due its first service, I just bought a new boat with a raft that is also overdue it's first service.

My plan is to carry both...if I need a raft, and neither inflates I'll just accept it's my time...

Bty. A few years ago I set off a 30 year old raft that had sat in my shed for at least 10 years and it work perfectly...