Cost of liferaft service

All_at_Sea

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 Aug 2005
Messages
1,385
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
I have a Plastimo 4 man cannister needing a service but l have no idea of its history. Worst case what would the servie cost be anyone? I'm debating whether to buy a new one? Need somewhere in or around Portsmouth.
 
I seem to remember my last service for a 4 man cost a little under £400. Seems crazy when compared to the new cost.
 
I seem to remember my last service for a 4 man cost a little under £400. ....
About the same for me, for a 3-year service. This included inflating it in my presence, so I could see how everything went together.

It's getting on a bit now and I have been told that, in view of age, the next service will only be good for 1 year. At which point I may consider a new one.
 
£160 at an approved service centre in Liverpool for a 6 man raft (RFD)

I had a plastimo 6 man valise that came with my boat, age unknown. I phoned up Safe To Shore in Poole, who is a plastimo approved dealer. He said to bring it along he will unpack it, inflate it, and if it was knackered just charge me £40. An 18 year old liferaft, and it looked brand new, he said it was worth servicing.
Under £200 for the lot, and with a stercificate.
 
I have a Plastimo 4 man cannister needing a service but l have no idea of its history. Worst case what would the servie cost be anyone? I'm debating whether to buy a new one? Need somewhere in or around Portsmouth.

Adec of Croydon serviced my 4 man cannister Plastimo liferaft last year for £231.66 They have a depot in Croydon and Essex but will send a courier to collect and deliver if you are out of area.
I live in Croydon and the boat is in Gosport if you go with them I could collect it from you and deliver it to them for a pint and return it when done. I dont have their phone number to hand at the moment but a quick search on line should sort it.
 
Norwest Marine

Norwest Marine in Liverpool just carried out their second 3 year service on my 6 man ORC valise liferaft. Basic service was £65+VAT, but including replacement of ALL time -expired items and return carriage back to me in Oxford, full cost was £172 in total inc VAT. Of that, the carriage element I believe was £24 plus VAT. Well established, reputable and professional firm with a lot of commercial customers. Highly recommended and I have done so on here previously after my first 3 year service with them. Probably the firm nigel1 is thinking of. You don't need to pay Solent prices.

Website here:
http://www.norwestmarine.co.uk/
 
When I do the sums it seems that the cost of buying a cheaper liferaft and servicing it comes out to about £100p/a over its 12 year life (That is £600 for liferaft and 3x services at say £200 ave). As they seem to fetch such good prices secondhand is it not better to sell for around £250 - £300 when the first service is due after 3 years, average cost p/a same or only slightly increases?
 
Mine is with Survitech in Southampton at the moment. Quoted £200 for a service plus any flares etc. Called me to ask when I would like to see it erected.

Is an (originally) expensive RCD one bought on ebay for £150. Circa 1992.

Will probably be like the lifejackets that came with the boat - all destroyed but Viking charged me fully any way. Odd that i did not go back to them although in walking distance from my house in hamble
 
An update

Sent the 4 man Plastimo cannister to North West Marine. They sent a courier who duly picked up the cannister. I had a call from NW marine who said that the cannister had inflated after being caught on the couriers' conveyer belt!!!

On inspection it had been holed and was damaged beyond repair. They said they would investigate and offered me a loan one in case l was due to go off sailing soon. I said time wasn't an issue and left it with them. A few days ago a brand new 4 man cannister arrived free of charge!

What service. Brilliant.
 
About the same for me, for a 3-year service. This included inflating it in my presence, so I could see how everything went together.

It's getting on a bit now and I have been told that, in view of age, the next service will only be good for 1 year. At which point I may consider a new one.

I was told that of my Avon and for two years paid out £160 for a yearly service.

This year I was in Portugal, took it in to a service agent who said he could do a 3 year service, I queried the fact that I was told in UK it could only be done yearly he said he would look at it and then confirmed a 3 year service interval would be OK.

Are we being ripped off?
 
£200 for a 4 man Seago. It would have been a bit more (+£30ish) but I chose not to have flares put in. I have Flares, plus DSC capable handheld VHF with fully charged spare battery, plus spare mobile phone all in my grab bag so hopefully I don't need any extra flares.
 
Top