Hiring liferafts

[Dehla_Soul]

It's my first season with a new boat and as yet I do not have a liferaft in the current inventory. As the majority of my sailing is around the Solent, I have not felt pressed to get one just yet.

However, I now have plans to cross the channel and believe that it would be a wise move to have one on board for the trip. Please could anyone recommend a good place to hire one from at a competitive price? Further to this, what is the opinion regarding hiring vs. buying - I have heard that the servicing costs of a liferaft, when added to the initial purchase cost, and considering the lifetime of the liferaft itself, provides little financial advantage over hiring?

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[Becky]

I was in this same position last year, and at the last minute telephoned Ron Hale in Portsmouth, who gave me directions to find the shop, and hired me a fully serviced liferaft. I think I paid £90 for 2 or 3 weeks.
He advertises in the magazines under life rafts, but he also sells dinghys and outboard engines. Can recommend him.

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[stephenk]

Hired one last week for annual trip from solent to France. (and with appaling weather was very glad I did !)
Cost was £41 plus £9 insurance for 7 days with Premium Liferafts as advertised in yachting mags.
Was delivered and collected from Marina FOC.
Good service and product appeared in good order.

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[xstucker]

Having owned a 6-person raft and had it serviced each year, the cost of servicing averaged £140 per annum. This is considerably cheaper than hiring for a year, and of course the rental companies know that we only need a raft during the season so the difference in cost between 6 months and a year is minimal. Check the link to Ron Hale as mentioned in an earlier post.

http://www.ronhalemarine.co.uk/

Simon



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[Ruffles]

Hi,

I bought an ex-hire raft from Ron Hale a couple of years back.

The guy in the shop suggested that servicing every 2-3 years was sufficient which was very honest of him considering he was losing business.

I seem to remember it cost me 400+vat for a lazilas 4 man. Previous to that I was paying 120+vat per year to hire so I think I got a good deal. I also avoid the hassle of getting the thing back to the hire company every year.

Rob.


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[newboater]

Hire every time,have been accross channel each of last 6 years and just arrived back from Caruna to camaret (biscay) and home, we always hire it`s convenient and relatively inexpensive with no ongoing costs.

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[kevinmo]

I hired recently from Messenger Marine. 2 weeks cost me £100.00 if I remember correctly. They delivered beforehand and collected afterwards from the marina.
http:// [url]www.messengermarine.co.uk [/url]
01243 370703

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[Piers]

Try calling Nationwide - John Baker - on 07885 631 066

He's been helpful to many forumites.

<hr width=100% size=1>Piers du Pré
http://www.dupre.co.uk