Liferaft servicing (again probably)

[Lightwave395]

I have an Ocean Safety 'standard' 4 man valise liferaft which was bought new in March 2017 and I have just been told it will cost me £280 + VAT to get it serviced by March 2020 'providing it doesn't need anything else'. OC also say that it can have three year service intervals until its twelve years old

I'm slightly confused by conflicting info that the MCA say (via the RYA website) that after the first three years it should be serviced annually although I assume (or hope) that might only be coded and commercial boats ?

I can't imagine being pulled over by the yachting police to have my liferaft inspected...

I've asked for a quote from Universal too

 

[matt1]

I have an Ocean Safety 'standard' 4 man valise liferaft which was bought new in March 2017 and I have just been told it will cost me £280 + VAT to get it serviced by March 2020 'providing it doesn't need anything else'. OC also say that it can have three year service intervals until its twelve years old

I'm slightly confused by conflicting info that the MCA say (via the RYA website) that after the first three years it should be serviced annually although I assume (or hope) that might only be coded and commercial boats ?

I can't imagine being pulled over by the yachting police to have my liferaft inspected...

I've asked for a quote from Universal too

The "every year after 12 yrs" seems industry std. Never heard of every year after first three years. As you say, that must be for coded boats only. TBH £280 doesn't seem too bad, probably less than I feared (Mine's an OS raft, due next year)

 

[Lightwave395]

The "every year after 12 yrs" seems industry std. Never heard of every year after first three years. As you say, that must be for coded boats only. TBH £280 doesn't seem too bad, probably less than I feared (Mine's an OS raft, due next year)

Yes, I agree, you need to speak to OC directly when your time comes as my local swindelry who are a drop off site for OC quoted me £450 + VAT !

 

[martinaskey]

Just had my Seago 4 man cannister raft serviced - nearly nine years old and not been serviced for a long time (if ever !).
Used Seago and they charged £298 inc VAT for a 3 year certificated service including cannister pressure check and next day courier collect / delivery.
Great service, friendly staff, quick turnround and a good price. What's not to like ?
They take any make ....https://www.seagoyachting.co.uk/servicedetail/
Martin

 

[MikeCC]

If advice from MCA then probably relates to coded boats.

However, coded or not, some race organisations want annual servicing specifically for valise types; presume because they might be more prone to damage.

 

[Bobc]

I have an Ocean Safety 'standard' 4 man valise liferaft which was bought new in March 2017 and I have just been told it will cost me £280 + VAT to get it serviced by March 2020 'providing it doesn't need anything else'. OC also say that it can have three year service intervals until its twelve years old

I'm slightly confused by conflicting info that the MCA say (via the RYA website) that after the first three years it should be serviced annually although I assume (or hope) that might only be coded and commercial boats ?

I can't imagine being pulled over by the yachting police to have my liferaft inspected...

I've asked for a quote from Universal too

I have the same raft. Just got mine serviced at Ocean Safety Soton for the first time last month. £493 inc. vat (ouch) with the next service due in Nov 2022

 

[Lightwave395]

I have the same raft. Just got mine serviced at Ocean Safety Soton for the first time last month. £493 inc. vat (ouch) with the next service due in Nov 2022

Bugger...! was there anything wrong with it other than routine stuff ?

 

[Lightwave395]

Just had my Seago 4 man cannister raft serviced - nearly nine years old and not been serviced for a long time (if ever !).
Used Seago and they charged £298 inc VAT for a 3 year certificated service including cannister pressure check and next day courier collect / delivery.
Great service, friendly staff, quick turnround and a good price. What's not to like ?
They take any make ....https://www.seagoyachting.co.uk/servicedetail/
Martin

I spoke to them, unfortunately while they take any make of lifejacket they only service their own liferafts it seems...

 

[Bobc]

Bugger...! was there anything wrong with it other than routine stuff ?

Nope, nothing wrong. Just normal first service.

 

[Graham376]

One of the Ocean Safety rafts is a rebadged SeaSafe so worth checking to see if yours is and maybe get a better price elsewhere but, £280 + VAT isn't out of the ordinary.

 

[Daydream believer]

My OS 4 man LR canister usually cost circa £ 300 ( been serviced every 3 years)but quite a bit more when the bottle needed refilling. That is now OK until 2022. However, LR reached 12 years & from then on needs 1 year service.
So it is a new LR for me at start of 2020.
With 2 years left on the bottle test ( got a test cert)the old LR is up for sale if anyone is interested.

 

[zambant]

Try ADEC marine

 

[Graham376]

There isn't any legislation about service intervals for uncoded boats so, 3 year or 12 months is up to the user to decide. Our previous raft, a Plastimo Offshore, still inflated and held pressure fine at 20 years but we decided to replace it just to be on the safe side.