Judders
Well-Known Member
I think I'd like to have one onboard for our trip from Hamble to Plymouth. Can anyone recommends place to hire one or share experience?
Hiring a Liferaft
- Thread starter Judders
- Start date
temptress
Well-Known Member
we just hired an extra one from suffolk sailing for our summer escape as we have a lot of crew for a few days...
Have used them in the past and they are to be recommended. I believe they deliver anywhere in the UK.
http://www.suffolk-sailing.co.uk/
Have used them in the past and they are to be recommended. I believe they deliver anywhere in the UK.
http://www.suffolk-sailing.co.uk/
fisherman
Well-Known Member
The liferaft which failed to inflate when FV Lady Hamilton sank was hired from Premium Liferaft Services.
Racecruiser
Well-Known Member
We use Premium Liferafts 01621 784858 who are based in Burnham On Crouch but have a shed at Mercury Marina on the Hamble for pick-up and drop off, key with the marina office. All works fine and they have a local bloke who can be contacted by mobile.
fisherman
Well-Known Member
How do you know? The report:
http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/Lady_Hamilton_Annexes.pdf
Racecruiser
Well-Known Member
Well I have to admit when I say all works fine I am only talking about the collection arrangements etc. Never had to deploy one of Premium's rafts thankfully.
One of the attractions of hiring is that you should get recent kit, properly serviced - having scanned the report you attached there does seem to be a question over those aspects.
ithet
Well-Known Member
You can hire from universal safety on the Hamble. Not used them myself yet though.
http://www.universalsafety.co.uk/Liferaft_Hire
http://www.universalsafety.co.uk/Liferaft_Hire
Ex-SolentBoy
Well-Known Member
Are liferafts really that important for coastal sailing?
taz
Well-Known Member
Surely anything that prevents or lessens the risk of a fatality is important.
webcraft
Well-Known Member
Why not arrange for an escort boat then, or perhaps just not go?
A liferaft is only necessary IMO when you are likely to be out of VHF range.
- W
taz
Well-Known Member
Do try to be constructive, it isn't like you to be sarcastic
A liferaft is only necessary when you are in need of it, imo, and these situations aren't confined to offshore sailing, are they?
As the op stated, he'd like one, not 'are they worth having?'
Judders
Well-Known Member
Clearly I believe a liferaft to be unecessary for my Solent sailing, otherwise I'd have one. I think if we were forced to abandon the boat in the Solent or say just off the Nab on a Sunday afternoon that we could lash our lifejackets together and surive until rescue, however in order to carry all the headlands safely between Hamble and Plymouth we are going to have to be a good twenty miles at times from the nearest lifeboat during the hours of darkness. In the event of a fire, I'd like to give the RNLI longer to get to us before the hypothermia kicks in.
Of course it is a fair point to say that finding a group in the water in the Solent is not always easy, but it's just that escalation of risk and the larger search area, tips the balance in my view.
Of course it is a fair point to say that finding a group in the water in the Solent is not always easy, but it's just that escalation of risk and the larger search area, tips the balance in my view.
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
There are more things to bump into around the coast than offshore but, to some extent I suppose it depends on where you sail and who is likely to around to fish you out before hypothermia sets in. Big difference between (say) the Solent in summer and Irish Sea or west coast of Scotland in winter.
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
As a matter of interest, how much does a 4 man cannister offshore raft cost to hire as opposed to buying a second hand one with a known service history?
fisherman
Well-Known Member
Or even buying a new one, Seago 4 man about ?£550? with three years to first service.
taz
Well-Known Member
I'd rather be sat in one of those than bobbing around in a lj.
webcraft
Well-Known Member
How many vessels - in a year in the channel - sink within one hour of the original incident?
- W
fisherman
Well-Known Member
A very very small percentage. This does not mean that everyone has a very very small percentage requirement for a raft. Most people have no need whatsoever, one or two people need it 100%, and no one knows who that will be.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Plus the cost of doing the course before fitting it to the boat of course, so add a couple of hundred to that to cover all of the crew.
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
The Sea Survival Course is well worth doing for anyone as it isn't just about life rafts.
