Been looking for a 2 man liferaft and just found one..........................................but

I’ve got the 4 man Lalixas ‘leisure raft’:

4 Person Lalizas Leisure-Raft Liferaft | Suffolk Marine Safety

41 x 33 x 15cm packed and 9.1kg. Didn’t pay 800 quid for mine though, think it was around 100 quid cheaper.

It’s seriously basic for that micro size though.

I bought it to replace a huge 6 man and working on the principle that it is there in case of a fire because we are coastal cruising with a well found boat and I do not expect to abandon through stress of weather. Space was a premium more than weight but it is absolutely tiny. Is it any good, I don’t ever expect to know.
 
I bought the Seago 4 man cannister version. Internet cost is less than advertised. I chose it due to size. It just fits in my cockpit under the traveller. I have to step over the traveller so it is no hassle stepping over the LR under it. It also meets ISAF, RORC requirements. I have no idea what that is, but if the RORC says it is OK then one assumes that they have researched the level of minimum standards. I do not think that I would be happy with a single inflation tube. I would also want something that I could get in & out of whilst wearing a life jacket. Not easy if knackered & from the water, trying to get one's foot up into a piece of string for a step.

Have just sent it for service. The cost, of which is relevant when buying,. They have collection points so I took mine to Wet Works at Burnham, which is only 9 miles from me. The OP will have probably have a collection point near him, being near the Medway. Another plus if he does.
3 year service is just under £ 300 ( forget exact cost) plus total £ 25-00 delivery/collection to & from the collection point. I did package it myself & put it on a pallet but they said that was not necessary. If I had registered it I would have had a further £50 off the first service & £25-00 off second service. So if you get one make sure you register it within 30 days. I thought that it had been automatically registered when I bought it online from the company I got it from. Apparently not- My silly error. However, nice lady at Seago said she would have a word with accounts dept., so we live in hope.

I think that a life raft is better kept on deck. Hence the cannister. I really struggled to get this off the boat ( when on dry land) due to the weight & I think that to open a cockpit hatch, keep the lid open with water rushing in down below & trying to lift such a weight up through the hatch from a rolling cockpit would be virtually impossible. Being in the cockpit I can just push it over the stern ( hopefully past the Aeries) & follow it. If it was on the cabin top it would restrict the view. It is still a lot of weight at the stern of a small yacht.
 
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Concerto said:
Been looking for a 2 man liferaft as I normally sail singlehanded. Well I just found one and it is super light weight at 7Kg. It requires servicing every 2 years, not the regular 3 years. Just look at the price.

Aero Compact 2 Man Liferaft (transair.co.uk)

Think it will have to be a 4 man liferaft.
Click to expand...
What do you expect if you look at stuff for aircraft.
Boat stuff is a rip off. Aircraft stuff makes boat stuff look like a bargain.
 
If you're looking at something like a 2 man liferaft, surely you might consider a 1 man survival suit? Not a yottie thing, but a proper offshore certified item with a PLB? Dozens available at a fraction of the price: arguably they're going to be more effective.
 
We had one in a flying group. They are extremely light weight. But for typical GA use it's just something to get into (if you are very lucky) for a few hours at most in good weather.

I also had a friend who got one in case the adults were incapacitated and the kids needed to launch a liferaft on their own.
 
jamie N said:
If you're looking at something like a 2 man liferaft, surely you might consider a 1 man survival suit? Not a yottie thing, but a proper offshore certified item with a PLB? Dozens available at a fraction of the price: arguably they're going to be more effective.
Click to expand...
Have you tried putting your lifejacket on over the top of one of those suits? If you buy one, try it with your lifejacket to be sure there is enough adjustment in your LJ to be able to fasten it. They are no good without one as you may float upside down .

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Concerto said:
Been looking for a 2 man liferaft as I normally sail singlehanded. Well I just found one and it is super light weight at 7Kg. It requires servicing every 2 years, not the regular 3 years. Just look at the price.

Aero Compact 2 Man Liferaft (transair.co.uk)

Think it will have to be a 4 man liferaft.
Click to expand...

No, service at 2 years then annually. Spec suitable for use on an inland lake but don't puncture the single tube.
 
jamie N said:
you might consider a 1 man survival suit? Not a yottie thing, but a proper offshore certified item with a PLB?
Click to expand...
Not really suitable, as they are designed for short term immersion (30-60 mins), you still loose heat at a fairly high rate in the water. A raft, especially if it has an insulated floor, keeps you out out of the water, surrounded by air and shielded from wind chill.
 
Currently considering a 4 man Ocean Safety Ocean Standard valise liferaft. Since looking at the end of last year they have increased from about £685 to £749 now. However I have located one web site that is prepared to sell close to the old price. Today I checked the best place to keep it. So probably going to order one in the next few days.

For those who might consider renting one, I was quoted £450 for 6 months plus delivery and collection. Buying makes a lot more finacial sense as even if I sold it at the end of the season, it would certainly sell for more than £250 with 2 full season before a service.
 
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