Liferaft and Tender Prices Malta - Ouch Again!!!

[Anonymous]

I'm not aware (though could be wrong) that Italy and Spain have different servicing standards though I think maybe Australia has, in terms of food, water and meds to be carried.

I suspect the point is that a British yacht is required to meet British requirements. There is no requirement for a British yacht to carry a liferaft at all! It is often said that if you DO carry one, it must be in date --- which is utterly illogical. What nutcase would dream up a law or regulations that in effect meant that people would leave a perfectly good liferaft in their garage, not on the yacht?

 

[charles_reed]

Liferaft life expectancy

The fabric, I'd agree is good for a long time, but the frequency of inspection has more to do with the packed first-aid perishables and, most importantly, the CO2 bottle and regulator.

I've seen 25-year-old Beauforts being repacked after service!!

 

[fiveflipflops]

Had our 16 year BFA life rafted serviced, but did not look to good at joints in the fabric, so as we where about to sail across the Atlantic bit the bullet and purchased a new BFA pacific(part of Zodiac) in UK and had it delivery to the boat in Lagos by the Pet transport company for 50 pounds. Sailed across the Atlantic and on arrival had an email that the life raft was recalled, possible faultily valve. Took it to service centre, pulled painter, then nothing. It failed to inflate. The old raft inflated on inspection, it just looked tried. New is not always good.

 

[Richard10002]

I was speaking with my father the other night - the liferaft on his yacht is 14 years old and has never been inflated in anger in that time... the one I disposed of had not been inflated in anger since 1996, and I could guess that the new one I buy will not be inflated in anger either - do they actually get inflated at every service? I'm not so sure!!

None of us will know if our liferaft will work until we need to use it for real, which we all hope is never.

I say the new one I buy, but I've bought one - although it has a 2 week delivery time from Italy. It's the Mariner I mentioned above, but it's not a Crewsaver mariner, it's a Mariner Orion - 6 Man Canister - €1200, (still Ouch, but the best I could find). Paid for it in full as I dont want the dodgy pound to catch me out again, and I'm reasonably sure the shop will still be there in 2 weeks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Why am I going on about this? I hope it will help others. With the pound as it is - buy your stuff in the UK. It's probably better and cheaper than Europe now, albeit the same prices used to feel like rip off Britain. Better still... double check whether what you are disposing of can be serviced/repaired/ and keep hold of it if you can.

I've had an expensive shock here, so if it helps others avoid it, perhaps it was worthwhile.

News of the dinghy when I sort it out

Cheers for now

Richard

 

[absit_omen]

Digressing slightly. I was in a marina in Spain a few years ago and got into conversation with two guys working on a big old wooden boat.

They were telling me that, on the owners instructions, they had replaced the liferaft with a new one but did not know how to dispose of the old one.

These guys were Scousers and the old one was a huge barrel-like cannister which had been - ahem- 'liberated' from an Isle of Man Ferry.

After a 'few' beers we decided to chuck it in the marina and pull the painter.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The resulting explosion set off car alarms and stopped the traffic for miles. Within a picosecond this monumental edifice was whizzing off around the marina like an iceberg on speed - the guy who had pulled on the painter was in cardiac arrest.

One of the funniest moments of my sailing life. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Richard10002]

[ QUOTE ]
These guys were Scousers and the old one was a huge barrel-like cannister which had been - ahem- 'liberated' from an Isle of Man Ferry.

[/ QUOTE ]

The old Scouser or the old liferaft??

whole story made me laugh!!

 

[Mrnotming]

Some of you may like to mail order from www.marineparts.ie a firm with which I have no connection but was impressed by their prices for VHF DSC sets and handhelds and bought both from them at last but one Dublin Boat Show. Also they seem good value for inflatables. have a look!
Good sailing to all!