Liferaft Blues- a deflating experience.

[ColinR]

Today I inflated my venerable liferaft. 20 years old, its last service ran out last year. I have bought a replacement and needed remove the flares and air cylinder from the old one in order to dispose of it, so I decided to inflate it. Having sailed with it for thousands of miles and trusted in it as a last resort, I wanted to have a look at it. What a shock! It has two air chambers and while the lower one inflated, the top one had the large valve entirely detached so the air went straight out of a 50 mm hole. The raft itself appears in excellent condition, the fabric etc could be brand new. The valve is in two parts, an inner which I can’t locate at all inside the tube, and the outer threaded knurled part which fell off on the ground (read sea in an actual deployment). If this valve was meant to be glued in place then there is no trace of glue, the fabric is clean. The raft was still in service up to the end of last season and I’m certain it has been like this at least since the last service. The flares were still just in date, so it clearly was opened up at the very least.
Apart from that, looking at the flimsy paddles, drogue, blunt knife etc really brought home to me what a terrible situation it would be to trust one’s life such a craft. When my new raft is serviced, I’m going to be there to see it for myself.
The raft in question is XM Offshore 4 man valise. I won’t name the service agent as I haven’t yet spoken to them.

 

[Concerto]

Shocking discovery. Thank goodness you did not depend on it to save your crew.

 

[Graham376]

XM life rafts were subject to recall a while ago because of faulty valves. Our Plastimo was found to have 2 broken valves so neither tube would have inflated.

 

[prv]

The valve situation is pretty alarming - but the shoddiness of the accessories is par for the course. I work on the principle that the raft pack might as well contain only the craft itself, and pack all the necessary kit in the grab bag.

Pete

 

[[70521]]

One good reason to hire.

 

[fisherman]

Why would hiring be any different? It's a raft, it gets serviced, whether you own it or not.

If you want to be bored yet again look at the MAIB report on the Lady Hamilton/Blithe Spirit collision, particularly with reference to the hired raft. I won't name the hire co, it's 13 years on and we must expect they have improved.

 

[LadyInBed]

I am thinking that self service is the only way to be sure.

 

[pandos]

I opened my aft last year. It had not been packed properly so the protective vacuum bag had been worn through. I connected a compressor and discovered that the tubes would not inflate through the pipe from the bottle....it had been serviced a few years previously..the batteries would have been out of date prior to the indicated next service date. And the torch was useless even with new batteries.

I opened up the valve and I am fairly sure the parts were incorrectly fitted because when I reassembled it it inflated using compressor.

I think when tested they inflate through the individual valves in the chambers so this defect could have been there since manufacture.
There are many reports from marine accident investigations where rafts failed...

I am going to repack myself and put in decent supplies...

I would like to test the trigger mechanism but it looks pristine and the bottle is the correct weight... So better the devil I know....

 

[ColinR]

Is self service an option? I cant imagine getting the whole thing back in the bag again. And presumably it must be packed in a particular way to ensue it inflates? Also there might be an insurance issue and with national authorities for example in France who check that gear is serviced and in date. A DIY service certificate is unlikely to be accepted.

 

[Refueler]

I know that I will be buying a raft this year .... second hand 4man valise version. I will unpack .. service myself ....

As to any rules about Official Service Agents - way I look at it ... considering there are no rules to FORCE you to carry one for general boating - then I feel content to do it myself.
If I was in official racing / where rules force carrying a raft - then that's a different matter all together.

 

[Stemar]

My flubber is my liferaft, which is adequate for Solent pottering but, given the number of horror stories about them, I'd certainly want to service it myself or, be present at the service.

Stories include more than one canister filled with rubbish after a service in the far east

 

[Refueler]

My flubber is my liferaft, which is adequate for Solent pottering but, given the number of horror stories about them, I'd certainly want to service it myself or, be present at the service.

Stories include more than one canister filled with rubbish after a service in the far east

Previously on Baltic crossings - have had the Avon part inflated but folded in half on foredeck ... that way at least it will float with two in it while one pumps it up rest of way ... I know it sounds bad ... but it was a matter of doing best with what we had. Of course not easy with no floor but ...

 

[Boathook]

Reading all this about liferafts, I don't think that I will bother with one. I keep my dinghy inflated on the back deck and when on holiday, complete with outboard and oars and it is only a few seconds to release it, and slide off into the water. Being a tinker dinghy I also have a sailing rig for it but rarely use that. The only extras that I would need to consider is a drogue and some form of cover but hopefully if the weather is that bad I will be in some safe harbour or anchorage.

 

[pandos]

Worth reading MCIB reports on Asgard...rafts fell apart.... And Megawat where the raft failed to operate properly..

 

[rszemeti]

I am thinking that self service is the only way to be sure.

I am 100% with you on this. Our raft had been serviced by an approved centre, the little card was ticked and signed and stamped ... but the flares and first aid kit were not present (but they were ticked on the list).

Parachutists ALWAYS pack their own canopies ... if you are going to depend on something for safety, you need to be sure it has been done right. We serviced our own (older) raft last year ... if I buy a new raft, the first question I will be asking is "Can you supply a comprehensive set of servicing and packing instructions?" and if the answer is "we only release those to service centres" I shall look elswhere.

 

[rszemeti]

Is self service an option? I cant imagine getting the whole thing back in the bag again. And presumably it must be packed in a particular way to ensue it inflates? Also there might be an insurance issue and with national authorities for example in France who check that gear is serviced and in date. A DIY service certificate is unlikely to be accepted.

The French authorities have no jurisdiction on the safety arrangements on a UK flagged vessel.

As for the insurance ... if the officially serviced raft was sunk, you won't be around to worry about insurance arrangements. Personlly, I will service my own and know it is done correctly. I would suggest anyone who does not feel competent to service one themselves attends the service and repacking, and if the service centre objects, then take it elsewhere. Far too many stories of shoddy and incomplete work for it to be a rarity, and don't forget 99% of rafts will never ever be owner inflated, so the failures we read about are from the 1% that actually try them!!

 

[rszemeti]

Apart from that, looking at the flimsy paddles, drogue, blunt knife etc really brought home to me what a terrible situation it would be to trust one’s life such a craft.

I bet the torch was a useless dim bulb too ... ours was utterley hopeless. Replaced it with a good, waterproof, non-SOLAS LED torch that whilst not "approved" is actually visible at a reasonable distance and lasts 4 times as long on a set of batteries ...

 

[rotrax]

I raced motorbikes - at up to International level - for 45 years.

I had two serious crashes on motorbikes I had not prepared myself - with one I was forbidden to even adjust the riding position on the day.

Since those two events, one which left me with a broken arm, I only ever rode motorbikes I had prepared myself. I had 3 finishes in six lap races on the IOM TT Circuit from 4 starts, so I like to think my preparation was good.

I now ALWAYS service my own liferafts.

The well thought of company in the NW serviced one for me and upon return the valise had a 5 inch cut in the side - looked to be from a Stanley knife. They denied all knowledge. I suspect it was caused when removing my packaging when I sent it. "We never use Stanley knives" they said.

Well, someone or something caused it, and it was not me!

It is not rocket science and taking a video during unpacking helps with re-packing.

The three I have self serviced all went back into the vac bag and valise OK. I evacuated the chamber with a hand pump on suck, used a ratchet strap to compress it, with a piece of carpet under the ratchet mech. to avoid damage.

Give it a go - very satisying - and cost effective!

 

[langstonelayabout]

Parachutists ALWAYS pack their own canopies ... if you are going to depend on something for safety, you need to be sure it has been done right.

Well, sort of.

Yes, skydivers usually want to pack their own MAIN canopies or have them packed by those that they trust. Being brutally honest canopy design is pretty mature and they would still deploy properly if you just stuffed them into the D bag and the container. Probably.

However, your own RESERVE canopy is always packed by a licenced rigger indoors in accordance with the manufacturers requirements, every 6 months (here in the UK). The rigger will charge you about £40 for the reserve packing and also sign/date the card in the reserve cover of your rig/container. You don't pack this one yourself and if the chief instructor of the DZ you are jumping at suspects a problem, he'll ban you from jumping until you've had a repack (everyone knows everyone in the UK skydiving scene)

Worrying to hear of the problems with the liferafts though.

 

[Stemar]

Well, sort of.

Yes, skydivers usually want to pack their own MAIN canopies or have them packed by those that they trust. Being brutally honest canopy design is pretty mature and they would still deploy properly if you just stuffed them into the D bag and the container. Probably.

However, your own RESERVE canopy is always packed by a licenced rigger indoors in accordance with the manufacturers requirements, every 6 months (here in the UK). The rigger will charge you about £40 for the reserve packing and also sign/date the card in the reserve cover of your rig/container. You don't pack this one yourself and if the chief instructor of the DZ you are jumping at suspects a problem, he'll ban you from jumping until you've had a repack (everyone knows everyone in the UK skydiving scene)

Worrying to hear of the problems with the liferafts though.

Well, it'll prevent people jumping to a conclusion