I opened up my liferaft today...

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Talk to Viking.

In Co. Cork he'd be better going to CH Marine, Viking is in Dun Laoghaire.
They serviced my Plastimo LR which came with the boat and was quite a few years out of date.

https://www.chmarine.com/acatalog/solas-liferaft-servicing-ireland.html
No connection, just a satisfied customer of long standing.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

It's customary for the owner of the raft to be allowed to be present at the servicing facility when the raft is being repacked. This can be an opportunity to include extra items (if they will fit). Unfortunately in Pandos' case it would mean a long journey from Cork to Newry .

 

[Robert Wilson]

I think it's worth driving 100 miles to watch someone service your liferaft. Mine was vacuum packed and rep[laced perfectly in the canister with all the securing straps in place.

There is a date stamp on the inflation cylinder and after 6 or 8 (?) years, it is pressure tested and refilled.

I took mine down to Liverpool ( https://norwestmarine.co.uk/index.php/liferaft-lifejacket-servicing-liverpool ) where they have an operating theatre clean building full of commercial rafts the size of terrace houses being serviced.

It was really useful for me and the crew to sit in our raft and look at all the various bits and pieces. The bloke took his time to show us how everything worked an it only costs £60 (plus VAT) to have it serviced plus the cost of any replacement equipment. And if you're just a leisure user, you don't need to put anything perishable back in, you can put everything you need in your grab bag where it can be checked more regularly.

I used Norwest three years ago, for a similar price. Very quick turn-around. I think I'll deliver it myself this time and watch/understand. Good advice, thanks.:encouragement:
I like your idea of not replacing "perishable" as I have my stuff of that ilk in my grab bag.

 

[fisherman]

remember they don't fire the bottle, so pay attention to the bottle service side.

 

[ctva]

When I did mine a few years ago, I left out all the perishable bits and non essentials for a UK costal ditch. So the flares, pills, batteries and torch etc. are all in a grab bag along with the PLB, water, first aid kit and other stuff.

This year I will probably definitely let it off (14yo Seago 4 man cannister) on a nice sunny day in Loch Crinan to see how it all goes.

 

[A1Sailor]

When I did mine a few years ago, I left out all the perishable bits and non essentials for a UK costal ditch. So the flares, pills, batteries and torch etc. are all in a grab bag along with the PLB, water, first aid kit and other stuff.

This year I will probably definitely let it off (14yo Seago 4 man cannister) on a nice sunny day in Loch Crinan to see how it all goes.

Would you consider letting HM Coastguard know about it in advance? It would be embarrassing if somebody in Lock 16 helpfully dials 999 and an SAR helicopter arrives!

 

[rszemeti]

It was really useful for me and the crew to sit in our raft and look at all the various bits and pieces. The bloke took his time to show us how everything worked an it only costs £60 (plus VAT) to have it serviced plus the cost of any replacement equipment.

That seems very reasonable ... some of the places seem to charge an awful lot more, going on for 1/3rd of the cost of a new raft!