LBS - Again

[JohnR]

So far I have spent three days wandering around the LBS. I have spent less than £150.00 in cash purchases but I have saved myself 22% on boat insurance, 40% on liferafts and safety equipment, 10% on a tender and motor and other savings, simply by comparing prices, haggling and above all seeking out the smaller stands off the main drag. I am not going to say what it is all going to cost me in the end but these savings are based on best quotes I got either last year or at Southampton.
The stands I really hate are the ones that wouldn't give me a price on the spot but promised to write - they obviously need me sitting down when I get their quotes - to hell with them.

 

[Gludy]

I am into buying a liferaft because I probably have a high chance of needing one - what makes did you get the 40% off on? I am looking for an 8 person cannister version with insulated floor. Any tips before I head to the show would be apreciated

Paul

 

[Guest]

Re: ah but

ah but these saving are reduced by the massive value of your time, are they not?

Myself, I saved a fortune by buying a bottle of champagne at the sunseeker caff, and then, feeling a bit rough, I went home. I should also point out that I gave some to colin, but he went on the hard stuff (S**tron) later. I expect that he has ballooned to sixteen stone and all his hair has gone white - we'll see on Friday!

 

[boomer]

How on earth do you manage to fill 3 days (so far) at LBS? We went on the Preview Day, spent only £500 and had difficulty filling six hours. As we left we promised ourselves that this would be the last time we came (exactly as we did last year!!) Indeed, apart from the delightful Ellen McArthur, it was difficult to tell this years LBS from last years - some of the stands were identical and the rest seemed to have little new or exciting to offer. Its become a ritual and habit I am determined to break - only made bearable by meeting old friends.

 

[JohnR]

Have a look at Adec Marine, upstairs, and ask them for their Code of Practice price list. Strange looking liferaft which I am going to have another look at tomorrow as I need two of them.

 

[JohnR]

Re: ah but

But I got given lunch in the BMIF caff and then couldn't remember what So*tron was for or why I would want it

 

[JohnR]

I can never buy anything in case its cheaper on the next stand and then it takes me some time to realise that I have just gone round all the stands twice and I can't remember which stand it was nor what it was that I wanted so I go back to find the stand I started out from and ask them what it was that I had set out to search for - see?
And I am going back tomorrow just in case (well the ticket is free)

 

[Guest]

2 Liferafts, going chartering or is it one for you and one for the missus.
Paul js.

 

[JohnR]

One has transponder, gin, and other essentials; the other is not fitted to Solas B and is for the crew (whoever they happen to be) <G>

 

[Guest]

Just read other post you replied to John, is the Aleutian 64 going to be your new toy then, if you need crew/ engineer put me down for that .

Paul js.

 

[Guest]

Re: two sorts of customer

Careful, John. There are two sorts of customer: most hope for a free lunch from the supplier, but the rarest (very small group) buy lunch for the suppliers, and sound investment it is indeed.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Re: ah but

Sunseeker champagne probably better in his tank than solsh#t!! (and a hell of a lot cheaper)

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Paul, I went looking for a 6 man raft at the Show and ended up looking at 4 man rafts because I was told that if you put 2 adults + 1 child in a 6 man raft, its potentially unstable and, in any case, you can get 5 or 6 people in most 4 man rafts. Its uncomfortably tight but, since, by law, the stability has to be double whats required, it wont sink. So, if you regularly cruise with a lot less than 8 people on board, then you might be better off with a 6 or even 4 man raft.
Also compare specs on rafts. There are some around described as coastal or coaster which dont have any sort of cover and look not much more than lilos to me. I would'nt buy one of those.
Also compare servicing schedules. Some rafts have to be serviced annually, others dont or just have to be inspected and the difference in these costs is often far more than the difference in purchase costs.
Again speaking personally, I would go for a 'name' manufacturer like Avon, Zodiac, Ocean Safety or Plastimo rather than the slightly dodgier looking Italian or Spanish ones

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I agree. The motor boat hall was really boring. The same manufacturers in the same places with the same boats. Yawn. I ended up wasting a couple of hours looking at yachts and trying to work out why some 40 footers cost a lot more than equivalent sized motor boats

 

[Guest]

Re: good advice and...

...praps consider renting the thing? otherwise monster expensive after three years.

agreed re 8-man raft is too big for gludy's boat - better smaller..

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: good advice and...

I would have thought other way round? I think renting a raft costs £300-500 (?) a year. 2-3 years and you've paid for it

 

[longjohnsilver]

Weight

Don't have much experience with liferafts (and don't want any!) but do know they weigh a lot, suspect 8 man is going to weigh a ton and will need several people to lift it!! And where do you store it?

Look at something smaller, how often are you going on extended cruises offshore with more than just a few of you?

 

[BarryD]

Re: good advice and...

What about service costs? If you're serious about this thing saving lives then it needs to be serviced, water ingress can ruin the construction seals over time (think there was another thread on the matter). It would be a false economy to throw it overboard confidently and watch it sink <G> IMHO Proabbly cheaper to rent one when you need it and keep the tender for more "relaxed" evacuations.

Barry D

 

[JohnR]

Re: two sorts of customer

But all the suppliers are quing up for trips around the bay in April, they will screw me then for free lunches!

 

[paulineb]

Relaxed evacuations....

... sounds like we're back to Mr B reading his MBY on the loo.

Pxx