Liferaft hydrostatic release - renewal period

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BlueSkyNick

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Having owned our current boat for two years, I have finally got around to moving the liferaft from being strapped down just foreward of the mast, to a cradle mounted on the pushpit. This is to make it easier, especially for SWMBO, to launch as required.

I am including a Hammar H-S release, in case "the ship goes down". However, I bought the unit 2 years ago when the project was first considered !! Now its expiry date is April this year.

Is it generally the done thing to replace these units, as soon as the date is reached? I wouldn't mind betting that many owners get at least one more year out of them. I've seen a forumite's boat with one three years out of date.

My current view is that it has been in its original box in a very dry locker for the past 22 months, and 2 years starts from when it is exposed to the external sea air, rain and splashing.

What does the panel think?
 
The 2 year lifespan takes no account of wether the unit is constantly subjected to spray and pounding on a vessel thats at sea 365 days per year or spends most of its life quietly on a yacht in a marina.Or even stored in a locker.

Personally I would give it another year.
 
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Having owned our current boat for two years, I have finally got around to moving the liferaft from being strapped down just foreward of the mast, to a cradle mounted on the pushpit. This is to make it easier, especially for SWMBO, to launch as required.


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Hi Nick,

I will probably be doing something similar very soon - have you got a picture of how it's fitted, (or could you provide one?).

Hoping not to have to reinvent the wheel.

BTW did you miss my post/request in Moody Owners about removing the discharge pipe to the rear loo? (about 2 weeks ago, or so). Your help would be appreciated.
If you're busy, dont worry!!
 
I bought a new liferaft last year and decided to replace the HS Release that had been attached to the old liferaft.

The Old one was getting on for 2 yrs past its "Sell by Date".
I figured that rather than just chuck it in the marina skip, I'd see iff it would actually work.

I attached it to a heavy object with a rope attached to it and lowered it into the marina. Pulled it up and bingo, Sliced clean through.

Just my experience.

Trev
 
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I will probably be doing something similar very soon - have you got a picture of how it's fitted, (or could you provide one?).

Hoping not to have to reinvent the wheel.

BTW did you miss my post/request in Moody Owners about removing the discharge pipe to the rear loo? (about 2 weeks ago, or so). Your help would be appreciated.
If you're busy, dont worry!!

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Richard, sorry for the tardy reply - I was on the boat still doing the job when you posted!

The ideal solution, IMO, is a universal cradle mounted horizontally in the middle of the central pushpit, as low as possible. This is the most secure, protected, and easiest to access in an emergency.

Unfortunately I cant do this because of a diagonal strut across the transom which braces the wind farm. I have mounted the cradle vertically on the port side of the same pushpit which isn't ideal, but is the best I could do. It still leaves the gate clear.

I will take a picture when I can get far enough away without getting wet !

i will check the MOA forum for your other question. I have tried to delete all recollections of replacing heads waste pipes from my memory.
 
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Richard, sorry for the tardy reply........

........I have mounted the cradle vertically on the port side of the same pushpit which isn't ideal, but is the best I could do. It still leaves the gate clear.........

...............I have tried to delete all recollections of replacing heads waste pipes from my memory.

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Not tardy at all - perhaps we create a rod for our backs here as questions tend to get answered in minutes, rather than days /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I can picture where your raft is... but is it inboard or outboard, and is the cradle such that a hydrostatic release will allow it to open and the raft get free - need a picture really, but dont get wet.

Sorry about the heads thing - I will happily reciprocate when you have to do the forward one, (8m of pipe I will never forget!!)
 
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I can picture where your raft is... but is it inboard or outboard, and is the cradle such that a hydrostatic release will allow it to open and the raft get free - need a picture really, but dont get wet.

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The raft is outboard, the hydrostatic release has one end fixed to the boat - has to be the correct way round, per the instructions. I have fitted a swan-neck fast release on the other side, which means the raft can be let go manually, with little difficulty.

It's all very straightforward - I will take a coupel of pictures from the deck.The hardest bit is standing on the bathing platform holding on to a 35kg liferaft, and trying to make it secure!
 
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