Liferaft Mounting - Plastic Ones OK?

[Jonny A]

I'm looking to get a 4-man cannister liferaft for my little Contessa, to be mounted on deck just forward of the mast. Popular online chandlers seem to stock stainless steel deck cradles, costing up to £300, and plastic ones for under £50. As long as the cannister is well strapped in, and I make sure the straps are kept in good condition,. I can't see any reason to pay the extra £££. Am I missing something?

 

[awol]

If they are the 4 off plastic angles I would recommend beefing them up. I had them on my CO32 and the raft got washed off by a couple of very enthusiastic waves - got over the first one then submarined under the 2nd one. I still have them but now on a wooden frame with much stronger and better attached straps.

 

[Jonny A]

If they are the 4 off plastic angles I would recommend beefing them up. I had them on my CO32 and the raft got washed off by a couple of very enthusiastic waves - got over the first one then submarined under the 2nd one. I still have them but now on a wooden frame with much stronger and better attached straps.

Thanks, that's exactly the sort of feedback I was looking for.

 

[Helidan]

I'm looking to get a 4-man cannister liferaft for my little Contessa, to be mounted on deck just forward of the mast. Popular online chandlers seem to stock stainless steel deck cradles, costing up to £300, and plastic ones for under £50. As long as the cannister is well strapped in, and I make sure the straps are kept in good condition,. I can't see any reason to pay the extra £££. Am I missing something?

This is all you need for decent liferaft mounting. We supply loads with our hire liferafts.
Premium liferaft cradle - Seago

 

[Daydream believer]

I have 4 plastic angles & UV has damaged them & they have cracked & started to disintegrate. I shall be replacing before the season is out.

 

[Neeves]

We have a custom made cradle bolted to the transom. On a cat the worst case is an inversion and having the raft amidships on deck seems, basically, wrong.

Jonathan

 

[Jonny A]

I've gone for the stainless option, thanks for the comments.