PBO Liferaft Review - would you be put off by the firing pin problem?

[West Coast]

I need to buy a new liferaft this season, for coastal cruising. So very interested in the recent PBO test. I had been considering the Waypoint raft and it seemed to be liked by the test team, apart from the problem of the failed firing pin!

Given that Waypoint will pay great attention to this failed component, would the panel consider buying this raft? Or avoid?

 

[nigelmercier]

Buy a Viking.

 

[zikzik]

Or an Ocean Safety ISO. This test showed the best as tested were the most expensive. Performance for a life raft is surely the only consideration.
Lets hope none of us ever need to use one.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I need to buy a new liferaft this season, for coastal cruising. So very interested in the recent PBO test. I had been considering the Waypoint raft and it seemed to be liked by the test team, apart from the problem of the failed firing pin!

Given that Waypoint will pay great attention to this failed component, would the panel consider buying this raft? Or avoid?

No, I would not, because if a duff firing pin managed to get through their quality control processes, what other horrors are lurking?

 

[silver-fox]

I would, they are now probably the most focused manufacturer on that issue!

 

[Gwylan]

Seriously considering renting the next liferaft. Seems to be cheaper and always have an in date raft.

 

[awol]

Seriously considering renting the next liferaft. Seems to be cheaper and always have an in date raft.

The "Lady Hamilton" rented their liferaft!

 

[Tranona]

The "Lady Hamilton" rented their liferaft!

And Megawatt! Best "performance" of a liferaft in real conditions was a Seago, but it was almost a planned deployment and the weather was kind.

 

[silver-fox]

I am feeling very undecided on this issue as I prepare to select a replacement liferaft.

It is very easy to accept the high price can deliver high quality but sadly, it doesn't always. Sometimes it just reflects old fashioned manufacturing methods, or high profit margins or huge marketing budgets. For us, the consumers, the problem is "all cats look grey in the dark" Unlike products in every day use how can you differentiate between a good and bad product? Or assess the basis of a product's market reputation? The fact is that they are used in anger so infrequently we simply cannot judge.

There are of course the ISO specifications ISO 9650 -1 or ISO 9650 -2 depending on whether you are going coastal or further afield. But having worked for a number of companies that sported ISO accreditations, I know it does not necessarily guarantee quality.

The magazine tests are useful - to a point - but don't tell you how a liferaft behaves in rough weather - or if it works at all at say 3, 5 or 7 years old or whether an unfit, exhausted sailor has a hope in hell of getting on board encumbered by wet clothes and an inflated lifejacket?

So what am I going to do? I think my approach will be as follows: -
1. Read whatever reviews I can get my hands on
2. Study the boarding arrangements which I see as a major issue
3. Look at the international service network/availability
3. Short-list
4. In the absence of any other deciding selection factors buy from the short list on price

Any constructive advice or information, particularly on where I can read reviews or learn more about product performance would be gratefully received.

 

[FishyInverness]

I am feeling very undecided on this issue as I prepare to select a replacement liferaft.

<snip>

There are of course the ISO specifications ISO 9650 -1 or ISO 9650 -2 depending on whether you are going coastal or further afield. But having worked for a number of companies that sported ISO accreditations, I know it does not necessarily guarantee quality.

The magazine tests are useful - to a point - but don't tell you how a liferaft behaves in rough weather - or if it works at all at say 3, 5 or 7 years old or whether an unfit, exhausted sailor has a hope in hell of getting on board encumbered by wet clothes and an inflated lifejacket?

So what am I going to do? I think my approach will be as follows: -
1. Read whatever reviews I can get my hands on
2. Study the boarding arrangements which I see as a major issue
3. Look at the international service network/availability
3. Short-list
4. In the absence of any other deciding selection factors buy from the short list on price

Any constructive advice or information, particularly on where I can read reviews or learn more about product performance would be gratefully received.

Silver-Fox, I'm quite happy to throw a little information into the ring that might help you. You are indeed correct that ISO accreditation does not immediately assure quality, and in the case of the ISO 9650 standard, its laughable that asolutely any liferaft company can build to this standard and DO NOT REQUIRE TO HAVE IT SIGNED OFF, INDEPENDANTLY CHECKED OR VERIFIED! - It means that the standard becomes a benchmark, as opposed to a genuine standard that must be verifiably met.

Ocean Safety, of the rafts mentioned above that I have personal experience of (I think Viking do this too, but I have no personal experience), get their ISO standard independantly verified and checked by a 2nd organisation - I have to say that on inspection at their servicing base, their ISO raft does appear to be of high quality on first impression.

 

[blackbeard]

+1 for silver-fox and FishyInverness.
For what it's worth - I was told by one firm which services liferafts that, while they would normally service any make, there was one (not mentioned so far in this thread) make which they refused to service on the grounds that, even when serviced, it would not perform adequately in use. As a general comment, before making a final choice, it might be helpful to ensure that the firm you might select to service the raft is, in fact, happy to do so.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I need to buy a new liferaft this season, for coastal cruising. So very interested in the recent PBO test. I had been considering the Waypoint raft and it seemed to be liked by the test team, apart from the problem of the failed firing pin!

Given that Waypoint will pay great attention to this failed component, would the panel consider buying this raft? Or avoid?

I wouldn't buy one! In the tests, it failed the most important - it didn't inflate which is essential. There are many alternatives so get one of those.

 

[Bobc]

If you're going to buy, then buy a Viking.

Renting is an alternative, and these people are a good source of rental rafts http://norwestmarine.co.uk/shop/Life_Raft_Hire.html

 

[West Coast]

I wouldn't buy one! In the tests, it failed the most important - it didn't inflate which is essential. There are many alternatives so get one of those.

I know, but its a pity, as the raft ticks so many other boxes (size, weight and other positive comments in the review)

 

[greeny]

I too am in the market for a new liferaft. I will not be buying Waypoint. The test demonstrated that it did not inflate - possibly a one off failure - who knows?
I don't know why it didn't inflate, was is a failed component or a failure in assembly of that component? Which component in the "chain" failed? Have they changed anything on future rafts and what about the ones that are out there in service already. The comment that they will pay great attention to this failed component in the future does not do it for me. I would have expected a bit more information to be forthcoming from them to explain the failure.
Too many questions for me to buy one although otherwise it looked a good raft.
Greeny

 

[GrahamM376]

I need to buy a new liferaft this season, for coastal cruising. So very interested in the recent PBO test. I had been considering the Waypoint raft and it seemed to be liked by the test team, apart from the problem of the failed firing pin!

Given that Waypoint will pay great attention to this failed component, would the panel consider buying this raft? Or avoid?

I wouldn't worry too much, most makes have had their problems, Viking had a recall because of faulty valves and our last raft, a Plastimo Offshore was also found to have broken valves on its last repack - it wouldn't have worked!

I replaced the Plastimo with a new SeaSafe Self-Righting, which was recommended by a service station who services many makes, leisure and commercial. I was also told that one of the Ocean Safety rafts is also a SeaSafe but not self righting.

One concern I had was location of service agents, didn't want to add another £100 for carriage costs.

 

[West Coast]

Good point re servicing, don't know if the local servicing centre here in Glasgow will service a waypoint.

 

[Burnham Bob]

For what it's worth, my SEAGO 4 man canister is due for a service. They quoted me £199 for the service and only £40 for the pickup and return door to door so £100 for carriage seems over the top.

 

[GrahamM376]

For what it's worth, my SEAGO 4 man canister is due for a service. They quoted me £199 for the service and only £40 for the pickup and return door to door so £100 for carriage seems over the top.

We're not in the UK and service stations are few. Seago for instance as a friend found out, unless they've added more, were Barcelona or LaRochelle both many miles away in different countries from us, not that I would buy Seago anyway.

 

[Elessar]

Seriously considering renting the next liferaft. Seems to be cheaper and always have an in date raft.

I did this for a while. Trouble is you swap the raft each year and each time its a different size, and always in a battered old canister.
This year i bought a new zodiac. This has extended intervals between services, few do this after the first 3 years. So the 10 year cost is cheaper than renting or other rafts.
And i have a spanky new canister for which i have had made a purpose built home.

As a planing stinker though i am never going transat in this boat. Viking may be a better answer if thats what you're doing but i dont know I didn't research that.