Boat show deals on life rafts

[SeaAndSea]

Hey all, are they any makes of life raft that are considered really good and any that should be avoided please.

If there's any good deals we might purchase at SIBS, or we might lease...

Thanks

Colin

 

[Helidan]

Hey all, are they any makes of life raft that are considered really good and any that should be avoided please.

If there's any good deals we might purchase at SIBS, or we might lease...

Thanks

Colin

If you're ever so unfortunate to need to use a raft then any will do the job just fine. Just research current prices and pay attention to the servicing costs. Most rafts will be subject to three year service intervals with a big service at the 10th year.

 

[wonkywinch]

If you don't need a type 1, then look at total cost over lifetime. We just bought a Seago Type 2 but these are not available to lease.

 

[Sandy]

Hey all, are they any makes of life raft that are considered really good and any that should be avoided please.

If there's any good deals we might purchase at SIBS, or we might lease...

Thanks

Colin

I always rent a life raft. Much cheaper in the long run.

 

[ashtead]

I guess what’s really good depends on your boating area/plans -I’ve happily bought another seago for channel crossing/West Country trips but I never used the first one from 2008-if I was doing the ARC I would be in a different liferaft market I suspect and price bracket.

 

[dunedin]

I always rent a life raft. Much cheaper in the long run.

That depends entirely on your usage and location. Hiring for 100 days sailing each year is not economic, or perhaps not even available.

 

[SeaAndSea]

All 3 life raft people we spoke to at the boat show recommended we hire/lease. Will need to double check their numbers but it sounds about right.

 

[wonkywinch]

All 3 life raft people we spoke to at the boat show recommended we hire/lease. Will need to double check their numbers but it sounds about right.

And yet when we enquired it wasn't worth leasing a type 2 for permanent install on a coastal cruiser and the one we bought wasn't available for lease (ie disposable consumer product).