liferaft

[fisherman]

Don't want to open a general debate, just asking for any comments on this particular one:

http://www.safety-marine.co.uk/Life-Raft....htm?P4601-S64-

 

[Aja]

It doesn't say if it has a double floor or not. Would be the first thing I looked for - even in a 'coastal' liferaft.

Other than that seems reasonable for the intended use.

Donald

 

[fisherman]

Good point, I've asked them.

 

[StephenSails]

The raft I think is a Eurovynyl one, made of pvc and plastic. You would get a better raft from Seago for about the same money. No connection, I just used to sell and service them for a living.

 

[fisherman]

Thanks-just shows the pitfalls. IBS in Falmouth has the Seago, £575 inc VAT. They point out that some of the Italian rafts can be difficult to service.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Are Seago any good, who are they? I have always looked at them as being a cheap and cheerful badge engineering company. Products built down to a price type of company.

 

[fisherman]

Careful, we're about to embark on 'nothing but a Viking will do'. Seago are made in China..........

 

[Sans Bateau]

Ah! As I suspected. So getting a Chinese life raft serviced is easier than Italian? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[fisherman]

According to IBS, mind you, they are the agents. "Seago have made huge inroads into the market, here and in Europe, we have sold hundreds."

It's a matter of not having components to service the Italian ones.

http://www.seagoyachting.co.uk/ISAF.html

 

[fisherman]

I will get a 40% grant for this: my instinct is to have it unpacked and tested at purchase, at my own cost. Having at the moment a hired raft, I take comfort in the fact that it is looked at every year, rather than every three.

 

[StephenSails]

Seago liferafts are made from rubber(which is better) they are also designed and come from the same guy that founded XM Yachting.

As for the cheaper Italian liferafts I can assure you that they are dificult to pack and the safety kit in them in when I serviced rafts a few years ago was a bit on the toy side of things.

 

[fisherman]

Notice that no one has related any hands on experience of using any particular brand of raft in anger, or practice. Looking at the spec on the link above they seem quite good, inflated step, weighted ladder etc., and probably as good as the Plastimo on hire at the moment. Going to have a look at the demo raft shortly.

 

[Vara]

Didn't that Irishman? spend 5 or so days in a Seago,he and his crew got pics in the mags at the time.
Just checked google images and can't find it so I must have imagined it.
I seem to remember some posts on the subject,Found one.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?Number=1155211&page=5

 

[StephenSails]

You did not imagine it, I remember hearing about that as well.

 

[fisherman]

This one, I think

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/3658528.stm

 

[fisherman]

No double floor.

 

[charles_reed]

Reading between the lines

it's what is euphemistically referred to as a "coastal" liferaft comparable to the Plastimo or Seago.

Vinyl, tiny freeboard, single-skin floor. OK if you have a fire aboard, in calm conditions in coastal waters.

A decent, part-inflated inflatable dinghy would be a rather more practical and equally effective alternative.

Most service centres reckon, Avon, Beaufort, Bfa to be best.

 

[DAKA]

The seago does not have a double floor but they claim to be insulated.