Liferafts / Service / Hire

[mickp]

My 6 man Liferaft ( Valaie type ) is quite old has not been serviced for 6 years ( Previous owner ) is it worth servicing whats the cost.
Has anyone hired a liferaft ( Canister ) over a long period say 12 month contract is this worth doing. I did hire a 4 Man once for 2 weeks and it cost a fortune.
Should I just buy a new one
Any thoughts

 

[jfkal]

Here in Singapore they charge me 200 EUR every two years. Still cheaper than the 2000 for a new one....

 

[Guest]

I have also inherited a 6 man canister with my recently purchased boat. Mine is an Avon 1989 and its service validity expired in Feb 2000.

I am taking it to Cosalt Safety for survey and possible service, on Tuesday in Liverpool since Cosalt will inflate it while you are there. I will let you know how I get on if it would be of help to you.

 

[Miker]

I'm intererested in knowing what Cosalt charge and whether they will service the liferaft while you wait, so saving petrol on two trips.

 

[ccscott49]

Unless you are writing the cost of hire off against income from charter etc, it's cheaper to own one and have it serviced, my last service onj a 6 man cannister cost £200, but that was in spain!

 

[philip_stevens]

My six man Avon liferaft was survey/tested in Feb of this year - cost £166. The actual survey and test was £88, and the rest was for torch cells, repair kit adhesive, anti-seasick tablets, and an exchange cylinder. Plus G. Browns VAT. It is over 10years old, and still passing survey.

So, yes, owning in my case is cheaper than on-hire. Take it to a liferaft tester and get his advice on whether it is still serviceable.

regards,
Philip

 

[mldpt]

I have just had my boat coded for skipper charter, my life raft was only a 4 man valeese and therfore not big enough it was 8 years old and serviced up until jan2002, however I decided I needed to be able to sail with at least 4 clients so have hired a 6 man in canister from Nationwide Marine Hire, it cost £380 for one year, this will go down against any profit I might make, unlikely considering how much it cost to get the coding, for this the raft gets serviced every year as required by the MCA I have also purchase a Hydrostatic release and mounted it all on the deck in front of my sprayhood, I thought this was quite reasonable and National Marine were most helpfull. their e-mail address is nationwide.liferaft@virgin.net