Life Raft

[Cotillion]

The previous owner said he used to do his own service on the life raft. With the new season coming up It's one of the jobs that needs doing so I was wondering if anyone else out there does it and what it entails.

A Master Mariner, he briefly outlined it saying he inflated it and left it for several days to make sure it stayed up and then repacked and armed it. Is there more to it than that?

His reason for doing it were not for economy but in the event of trajedy striking he new that if the time came to use it he would not be hoping the person who did re-packed it did it properly.

Or as he said"Would you trust someone else to pack your parachute".

Also what are the legal requirements when going abroad vis-a-vis certificates?

I must admit it would be good to see how it inflates so that if needed there will be no surprises.

 

[tyce]

How did he re-charge it?

 

[Csail]

Even though i could, i would still get the manufacturer to service it.

 

[Cotillion]

He didn't go into detail.

 

[raven]

I guess it cant be too difficult to DIY but I would much prefer to know it has been done properly by the competent authority.

Apart from checking the inflation and replacing (recharging) the canister you need to replace flares / seasickness tablets / batteries etc etc.

 

[simonfraser]

you presumably check you lifejacket ? imho youre more likely to need that.
i'd check my own liferaft too & put the stuff in it that i wanted, as said, at least when you find yourself with nothing but maltesers and whisky in the emergency rations at least it's your own fault /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[kliever]

Article appeared sometime ago in the yachting press PBO I think, appears its relatively straightforward,except for repacking.
John R

 

[dbewick]

Only a fool (or a woman) would pack maltesers.

 

[Otter]

From memory you should inflate it with a foot pump rather than setting off the C02. It puts less stress on the raft. I'm pretty sure that's what the service guys do, though they probably use an air line as an alternative.

If it's a canister then getting the watertight seal correct will be the tricky bit. If it's a valise then less of a problem.

 

[vyv_cox]

I understand the same, but it also saves setting off the CO2 cylinder. I assume you check weigh the cylinder to ensure the gas is still in there. Your only uncertainty then is whether the trigger will function when asked.

I know quite a few people who have always serviced their own rafts, although I don't think any of them ever needed to use one in anger. So the question is always in the back of one's mind..... Conversely, I have heard quite a few horror stories about deficiencies in professionally repacked rafts. You just can't win.

 

[Malish]

most nowadays are vacuum packed for longevity..... another issue for the diy route

 

[Impaler]

I did 100's of jumps in the Army and never packed my 'chute... luck or what?

 

[jerryat]

Full time cruising friends of mine always serviced their own liferaft. The thought scared the hell out of me until he explained that it did him too - at first. What he, like me, was most concerned about, was how the hell the thing was re-packed, so he simply videod the whole operation from unpacking and inflatiion, to checking and re-packing.

With such a superb record, it was a doddle. I remember him showing his video to a liveaboard evening gathering down in Spain when we were over-wintering there some years ago, to encourage others to do the same.

There really is no mystery about it and it certainly gets you very used to seeing the thing, its contents and how it works. I've serviced my Avon LR twice now with no problems. Only had to change the batteries, water and flares and check the cylinder weight and condition, and saved a lot of money. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Mine is in a valise, always stored in the dry below, and is in 'as new' condition. Like an earlier poster mentioned, I'd be much more wary about opening up a 'sealed' type. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif