Liferaft review?

[john_morris_uk]

Has anyone got any views on the Ocean Safety range of life rafts. Is their Ocean ISO one any good? Has anyone read any reviews lately?

We are looking for one suitable for blue water cruising so the budget model is probably not suitable and we have heard that they didn't review well.

Any thoughts or helpful comments?

 

[chanelyacht]

I can't speak for their latest range, but I've used Ocean Safety for many years and always found them to be robust, well made, and the customer service is excellent.

I've got two 6 year old ones used regularly for training and they certainly stand up to abuse.

If you're ever near Hamble, go along and have a look and a chat.

 

[Tradewinds]

My choice a couple of years ago was Viking's Resc'you Pro - a 4-man in canister in our case (this was to replace our ancient 1993 Lifeguard with which we circumnavigated). I chose it because it had an inflatable 'ramp' type entry, rather than ladder, which was deemed to be easier for the 'less agile' - which was definitely the case in 2014.

I got an email quote from Viking at Southampton - in stock @ £xxxx + delivery. I asked the chandler at Suffolk Yacht Harbour where I was berthed to see if he could get a quote from Viking Southampton and perhaps we could do a deal (this was in June 2014). The price to him was not far off mine but he could knock off the delivery (£60). Happy to put the business through him I said go ahead. He emailed Viking Soton for a pro-forma invoice which he would pay against straight away and he heard nothing. Emailed again (and I think phoned) - no invoice.

So, due to head off, with the agreement of the chandler I cancelled the order and with great fortune bought an almost new Ocean Safety ISO Ocean 4-man (in a canister) from a forum member for my summer cruise for a great price, got it serviced and sailed away.

Arriving back early September, the chandler informed me that he had just received a pro-forma invoice from Viking Soton to say that the liferaft was ready for delivery!!

So, not much help I suppose but if that's Viking's attitude to customer attention I'm happy to give them a miss.

I've heard the cheap OS liferafts are re-badged - I think their ISO Oceans are a different beast (though I wouldn't be surprised to learn otherwise).

Obviously, this liferaft has not been used in anger.

HTH

 

[GrahamM376]

I've heard the cheap OS liferafts are re-badged - I think their ISO Oceans are a different beast (though I wouldn't be surprised to learn otherwise).

One of the Ocean Safety rafts is a re-badged SeaSafe. When we looked around for a replacement raft, the Sea Safe was recommended as better than the budget end rafts so we went for the self righting version. This advice came from a service station selling and servicing many makes. http://www.seasafe.co.uk/shop/ct/-s...ts/pd/seasafe-self-righting-4-person-liferaft

Before buying any raft, check if any service agents in your proposed cruising areas.

 

[Sybarite]

Has anyone got any views on the Ocean Safety range of life rafts. Is their Ocean ISO one any good? Has anyone read any reviews lately?

We are looking for one suitable for blue water cruising so the budget model is probably not suitable and we have heard that they didn't review well.

Any thoughts or helpful comments?

FWIW it was an Ocean Safety raft which did not deploy properly in the case of Daniel Fournier (see YM May 2015).

It was relatively new and not yet due its first service.

I wrote to them asking for their comments. They said that they would recover the raft and come back to me on it. I'm still waiting.

In a comparative test in France it was the Plastimo raft which came out on top.

 

[Bluebird]

Quelle surprise!

 

[Lyndsey Doyle]

Good morning, I have a 1 yr old Ocean Safety 4 man canister ISO, on deck with auto release.
Their customer service, as said, is excellent, (Plymouth branch)...I've never tested the raft!

I believe Ocean Safety supply the RNLI's liferafts which must be a reccomendation.

 

[Sybarite]

Quelle surprise!

:sleeping::sleeping::sleeping:

 

[chanelyacht]

I believe Ocean Safety supply the RNLI's liferafts which must be a reccomendation.

Not for someone on here!