Plastimo ISO Liferaft 5 years old: Battery leaked destroyed raft

[dial-a-monkey]

If you have been putting off a service on your Plastimo Transocean ISO 9650 -1 48 Hours - warning

Ours is just 5 years old and it's the first service - when the raft service company tried to inflate it they discovered that the batteries stored in the liferaft had leaked and destroyed much of the liferaft material, even the zips, so it's totally finished and would not stay afloat in an emergency.

This raft service center deal with large volumes of commercial and cruise ships and have not seen this before in such a new life raft - so a warning for plastimo life raft owners?

Waiting to see what Plastimo say - but I'm pretty certain there won't be any warranty.

 

[RichardS]

Is 5 years the recommended service interval for that model?

Richard

 

[dial-a-monkey]

"Maximum service interval 3 years" - on the canister..

I would have thought 5 would be not great but OK..

 

[RichardS]

"Maximum service interval 3 years" - on the canister..

I would have thought 5 would be not great but OK..

With a 2-year overrun I would be surprised if Plastimo are interested but you never know.

Good luck.

Richard

 

[duncan99210]

Dry cell batteries have a fixed shelf life, so it's hardly surprising that they leaked when they were two years overdue replacement. However, the torch in our liferaft is in its own sealed box which would probably contain any corrosive fluid should the worst happen. Do you know if your torch was similarly packed?

 

[Seajet]

Duracell batteries are guaranteed leak proof, I'm pretty sure; surely they would have been a good idea for Plastimo to fit, both for this reason and longevity if one needs to use it.

Another example of ' why we went bust ' Plastimo quality ?

 

[kolster]

Of no help, but would the batteries be Duracell or dry battery types? The one is my Seago 4 man liferaft is a special and very expensive Lithium one.

 

[dial-a-monkey]

My girlfriend was there when they inflated it - But she couldn't tell me more - But the service technician took lots of photos - which we've asked for and will post when I get them,.

 

[nigelmercier]

Duracell batteries are guaranteed leak proof...

Ha ha ha ha ha.
Ha ha ha.
Ha.

 

[johnalison]

My ancient XM liferaft came with a 5yr first service and 3yr interval thereafter.

 

[kolster]

The one is my Seago 4 man liferaft is a special and very expensive Lithium one.

Just remembered that the battery had a 4 year guarantee ( dated on the battery ) and had to be replaced to give another 3 years before the next service.

 

[GrahamM376]

Duracell batteries are guaranteed leak proof, I'm pretty sure; surely they would have been a good idea for Plastimo to fit, both for this reason and longevity if one needs to use it. Another example of ' why we went bust ' Plastimo quality ?

Duracell are the worst I've ever found for leaking and destroying things. I guess it's the OP's problem for leaving the raft 2 years over the service schedule as that also invalidates the warranty but, presumably life raft torches should be waterproof and not leak battery contents?

 

[prv]

presumably life raft torches should be waterproof and not leak battery contents?

It would be nice to think so, but everything I've seen suggests that the kit in liferafts is usually the absolute cheapest plastickyest possible, thus saving both weight and money. I work on the assumption that the raft pack provides only the craft itself, and have assembled a grab bag with all the gear.

Pete

 

[GrahamM376]

Likewise and all batteries are removed from handheld radio, gps, torch etc. and stored separately in poly bags and changed annually.

 

[Rosbif53]

If you have been putting off a service on your Plastimo Transocean ISO 9650 -1 48 Hours - warning

Ours is just 5 years old and it's the first service - when the raft service company tried to inflate it they discovered that the batteries stored in the liferaft had leaked and destroyed much of the liferaft material, even the zips, so it's totally finished and would not stay afloat in an emergency.

This raft service center deal with large volumes of commercial and cruise ships and have not seen this before in such a new life raft - so a warning for plastimo life raft owners?

Waiting to see what Plastimo say - but I'm pretty certain there won't be any warranty.

I am sure that you observe your service intervals for the car, why not do it for the life raft which I would consider more important. What was the type of battery?

 

[dial-a-monkey]

Ordinary Alkaline battery from a Czech company I've never heard before "Cera"? The batteries had not expired and were supposedly good until Jan 2016.

Well yes we did neglect the service - while the raft wasn't being used - presuming wrongly that OK bits will need to be replaced but not that the raft would be destroyed.

This sort of thing - according to the service centre - doesn't happen to rafts even ones that have not been serviced in 10! years - and they do a LOT of rafts.

Plastimo did a recall on some of their life rafts 2 years ago? We contacted them then to find out if it effected us, they told us not, but i wonder hmmm

 

[prv]

Likewise and all batteries are removed from handheld radio, gps, torch etc. and stored separately in poly bags and changed annually.

I just have a factory-sealed pack of two dozen Duracells dated 2019

Pete

 

[sailorman]

Any updates on this Plastimo raft

 

[joker2]

BEWARE!! This post was misunderstood...the battery leak in NOT torch batteries..it is the manufacture's on board raft light and this could be a sleeping giant..it is an item Plasitmo fit...my 5 year old raft 10 man Transocean raft was just destroyed by this battery..My investigations are showing this may be happening to more than a few rafts. My raft would not have supported occupants if deployed....the service interval is three years...but this item is not changed out until at least six years and sometimes maybe not then as it is a unique battery not available in some parts of the world...I believe Plastimo are aware of this problem but have apparently NOT advised anyone....it is apparently happening to rafts that are serviced annually too...I suggest anyone with a PLASTIMO Trasocean Life raft ask their service agent immediately for advice....good luck....lets see what happens to me....I am stuck now cruising with no liferaft available to buy for two months...??.Life Hey...

If you have been putting off a service on your Plastimo Transocean ISO 9650 -1 48 Hours - warning

Ours is just 5 years old and it's the first service - when the raft service company tried to inflate it they discovered that the batteries stored in the liferaft had leaked and destroyed much of the liferaft material, even the zips, so it's totally finished and would not stay afloat in an emergency.

This raft service center deal with large volumes of commercial and cruise ships and have not seen this before in such a new life raft - so a warning for plastimo life raft owners?

Waiting to see what Plastimo say - but I'm pretty certain there won't be any warranty.

 

[nigelmercier]

Again, I call for raft manufacturers to be forced to fit all perishable items (food, water, batteries, medicines) in a seperate pouch just inside the main cover.