Liferafts and buying second hand

[LadyInBed]

Maybe less critical in a soft valise but the vacuum packing- size reduction is pretty well essential with a hard case raft.

I've just repacked mine in a valise, I didn't vacuum pack it but it would have been so much easier if I had. I had to use ratchet straps at a multitude of angles and a lot of sweat to get it back in the valise and do up the zips.

 

[fisherman]

Beware, the reason my ten years out of date Plastimo didn't work was that the lanyard from the bottle to the inside end of the painter was left slack, the painter was trying to pull the corner of the bag out through the hole in the canister. Even inside, the bag would not extend enough, I had to get to the lanyard inside the bag. Also, service people don't fire the bottle, they inflate with a hoover or similar, I was told the CO2 can degrade the fabric.

 

[Beneteau381]

Look for your local Sub-Aqua club they might have a use for it - training aid, pony cylinder, pool training cylinder.
PS obviously (for the pedants) they will have to replace the pillar valve.

I measured the thread, its tapered, 21 mm at the point where it is in the neck. I think pillar valves are parallel with an O ring seal.

 

[Beneteau381]

Reckon its worth it if you can recharge and rearm. Quite some years ago I set one off in the car park at Haslar Marina outside our old office. It was for ditching anyway. Just as well, it inflated OK but had several leaks. Didnt stay up very long.

The interesting bit really was the smell. Several people got inside it and said they felt sick. In the car park!!

Doing a write up and did the math of the total whole life cost over 18 years of a Seago with their fixed cost servicing. Its about £200 a year! It would be just as effective to buy a new one every 3 years whilst selling the old 3 year old one on Ebay!

 

[LadyInBed]

I measured the thread, its tapered, 21 mm at the point where it is in the neck. I think pillar valves are parallel with an O ring seal.

Parallel thread into Aluminium cylinders, quite a few steel cylinders have tapered threads (I have two in my shed).

 

[Billy Blue]

I did this exercise to see what was inside it.
Watch "Inflating my redundant Plastimo Coastal 6 person liferaft" on YouTube
httpsh://youtu.be/_hQC9MVCcVk

 

[Beneteau381]

I did this exercise to see what was inside it.
Watch "Inflating my redundant Plastimo Coastal 6 person liferaft" on YouTube
httpsh://youtu.be/_hQC9MVCcVk

As I found out, pretty flimsy stuff inside.

 

[capnsensible]

As I found out, pretty flimsy stuff inside.

It surprises everyone doesnt it. The quality is very poor. I guess the manufacturers take the attitude that no one turns up with a defective parachute either.......

 

[pagoda]

I was moderately impressed by my Seago Offshore raft at the liferaft workshop. Absolutely immaculate from inside the vacuum bag. (it's 12 years old) There was not a speck of moisture , rust or anything amiss with the bottle or firing mechanism. Th e hand pump works adequately for topping up. The canopy and floor inflate. The raft remained inflated for 2 days without change. The paddles are flimsy but of extremely limited use for a raft anyway. The dated items were replaced, batteries, flares etc. It's re-packed and ready for returning to the boat. It was very useful to see it in the flesh. If you can arrange to see yours outside the canister/ valise - go for it! ( a workshop with compressed air is a better choice than firing it)

 

[LadyInBed]

The kit in mine was about what I expected for its age
Bits in the bag -
Bucket, 1st Aid kit, Pump, Flares, Bungs, Thermal protection suits, Sponges, Sick bags, Sea sick tablets, Waterproof notepad, Hole Patch, Signal Mirror and Instructions.

Flashing beacon, tested it - ok

Torches in sealed bags. I opened one and tested it - ok

Torches and Beacon in situ attached to the roof

 

[CJTurner]

I am looking for advice (not desirability) of self servicing an out of date liferaft on the basis that I would sooner know what is inside than discover that one of these horror stories apply if ever needed in earnest. Also that it's better to have one - self serviced or even out of date, than not. Who doesn't have an out of date flare after all? The only issue I see is the repacking into a suitable sealed plastic bag - I am sure the manufacturers won't sell them to the public. Has anyone solved this problem?
Chris

 

[Beneteau381]

I am looking for advice (not desirability) of self servicing an out of date liferaft on the basis that I would sooner know what is inside than discover that one of these horror stories apply if ever needed in earnest. Also that it's better to have one - self serviced or even out of date, than not. Who doesn't have an out of date flare after all? The only issue I see is the repacking into a suitable sealed plastic bag - I am sure the manufacturers won't sell them to the public. Has anyone solved this problem?
Chris

I’m just doing an article about DIY, biggest issue is the CO2 bottle, needs hydro test at 7 years allegedly, H Roberts ofLiverpool can test, refill and reset the trigger for around £120 of most bottles. The bag, I cut the end off the vac bag,it was much bigger than needed, I suspect Seago use the same one for all of their ranges, decent duct tape will reseal it and a vacuum cleaner will vac it. The biggest issue is getting it the right size to get it back in the bag.
PS Home Page

 

[Beneteau381]

P

I am looking for advice (not desirability) of self servicing an out of date liferaft on the basis that I would sooner know what is inside than discover that one of these horror stories apply if ever needed in earnest. Also that it's better to have one - self serviced or even out of date, than not. Who doesn't have an out of date flare after all? The only issue I see is the repacking into a suitable sealed plastic bag - I am sure the manufacturers won't sell them to the public. Has anyone solved this problem?
Chris

PPS the weight of the CO2 bottle plus the gas is marked on the side, you can soon tell if it still has a full charge by weighing it. Also be aware, when you undo the bottle, there is a lot of pressure in there, set it off by mistake and it will be a 6 kilo jet propelled missile!

 

[[163233]]

The kit in mine was about what I expected for its age
View attachment 85873 Bits in the bag -
...Pump...

Pretty much the same as mine, that pump, I tried it and the handle came off.