Recommendation for buying a Seago liferaft.

[Concerto]

For some months I have been looking to buy a 4 man valise liferaft. At the beginning of the year, the prices of all liferafts leapt in price from about £665 to £749. Continuous searching I found the best discounted price was £710. However a new name to me popped up with a price of £679. Nothing was mentioned about shipping, so I decide to phone them. Yes, the price was correct and included shipping. So, I ordered it over the phone on Tuesday and it arrived on Thursday. Looking at the delivery label, it had been sent from Seago, so was the latest stock available. This level of service deserves being recommended. The company is The Wetworks Ltd in Burnham on Crouch, Essex.
Seago Sea Cruiser ISO 9650-2 Liferaft - Cannister / Valise - Models 4/6/8/10 Person
Looking at their web site, I expect to be using them again in the future.

 

[ashtead]

Do they give any discounts still at seago if you trade in a well loved unused one? I wonder why this one has a black rather than yellow valise?

 

[Yealm]

I've always wanted a two man one - I've never done an offshore trip with more than two - cheaper/lighter, better for the small boats that many of us have. But don't seem to exist..

 

[Concerto]

Definitely a black valise.

No idea about a trade in as I have always sailed without a liferaft for decades, but with a 5 month trip planned this year I felt it would be wise to carry one.

4 man is the normal starting point for marine liferafts. You can get smaller and lighter ones for aviation but they cost a lot more and only have a 2 year service period. The cost saving to make a 2 man marine liferaft would only be small, so probably not an economic proposition.

 

[Graham376]

I've always wanted a two man one - I've never done an offshore trip with more than two - cheaper/lighter, better for the small boats that many of us have. But don't seem to exist..

Oh yes they do, if you want something very expensive with small ballast pockets - Aero Compact 2 Man Liferaft (transair.co.uk)

Just seen Concerto beat me to it

 

[Yealm]

Definitely a black valise.

No idea about a trade in as I have always sailed without a liferaft for decades, but with a 5 month trip planned this year I felt it would be wise to carry one.

4 man is the normal starting point for marine liferafts. You can get smaller and lighter ones for aviation but they cost a lot more and only have a 2 year service period. The cost saving to make a 2 man marine liferaft would only be small, so probably not an economic proposition.

Yes, I wonder if a 2 man might be an economic proposition - at the right price and size, might go from a niche product to widespread adoption by weekend/coastal sailors?
I guess as noone’s done it, I’m wrong!

 

[Tranona]

Yes, I wonder if a 2 man might be an economic proposition - at the right price and size, might go from a niche product to widespread adoption by weekend/coastal sailors?
I guess as noone’s done it, I’m wrong!

If it is cost you are thinking about, the saving would be minimal as would the size/weight. The difference between a 4 and 6 man Seago is £150 and weight 4kgs (about 12%). If you have ever been in a liferaft in a pool then you will know that a 4 man is restricted with only 2 people in it, never mind in real survival conditions. If you want a light small survival pod then as suggested you have to go for an aviation raft which is a completely different design concept. There are simple light "coastal" rafts such as the Lalizas Ultra Compact but they are no cheaper and are little more than a paddling pool with a canopy.

In reality you are never going to need one but if you do feel happier with a raft on board then a proper one makes sense as they are comparatively cheap (in real terms less than 50% of the price 25 years ago) and infinitely better designed and made.

 

[DanTribe]

I have just sent my 4 man Seago for it's 1st service, can't comment on quality as I've not used it and hope not to!
I tried other service depots but it seems only Seago can service them. Friendly lot though. If you find a cheaper price, Wetworks will probably beat it.He does like a deal.

 

[Graham376]

I have just sent my 4 man Seago for it's 1st service, can't comment on quality as I've not used it and hope not to!
I tried other service depots but it seems only Seago can service them. Friendly lot though. If you find a cheaper price, Wetworks will probably beat it.He does like a deal.

Possibly so they can hide any defects without word getting around. I wouldn't buy any equipment which relied on return to importer for servicing.

 

[Yealm]

If it is cost you are thinking about, the saving would be minimal as would the size/weight. The difference between a 4 and 6 man Seago is £150 and weight 4kgs (about 12%). If you have ever been in a liferaft in a pool then you will know that a 4 man is restricted with only 2 people in it, never mind in real survival conditions. If you want a light small survival pod then as suggested you have to go for an aviation raft which is a completely different design concept. There are simple light "coastal" rafts such as the Lalizas Ultra Compact but they are no cheaper and are little more than a paddling pool with a canopy.

In reality you are never going to need one but if you do feel happier with a raft on board then a proper one makes sense as they are comparatively cheap (in real terms less than 50% of the price 25 years ago) and infinitely better designed and made.

More about size. I’ve rented them for trips- just too bulky/heavy.

 

[Tranona]

More about size. I’ve rented them for trips- just too bulky/heavy.

If you want it to stand a chance of saving you if you really need it, that is the price you have to pay. As i suggested the difference in size between a notional 2 person as opposed to four and still have the same capability is minimal.

 

[Lucy52]

I bought a new Seago from their office two years ago. My valise one was down to annual servicing, so it made sense to buy new. There was no trade in, I was told that the cost of disposal made it uneconomic. In a way, I regret not firing it off to see how it worked and to take any goodies out, then dispose of it bit by bit.

 

[awol]

In a way, I regret not firing it off to see how it worked and to take any goodies out, then dispose of it bit by bit.

You were wise not to to. There are no goodies - a couple of misshapen sponges, a vial of possibly out of date emetics, some hand held flares, a couple of plastic spoons, a pump suitable for a Lilo, some plugs, a weak torch, spare batteries, a drogue and a blunt knife. Maybe more but I was definitely unimpressed!

 

[Charlie Boy]

You were wise not to to. There are no goodies - a couple of misshapen sponges, a vial of possibly out of date emetics, some hand held flares, a couple of plastic spoons, a pump suitable for a Lilo, some plugs, a weak torch, spare batteries, a drogue and a blunt knife. Maybe more but I was definitely unimpressed!

Hopefully hey we’re anti-emetics. Otherwise you’d be in real trouble

 

[Lucy52]

I see taking your own grab bag seems essential, just to survive.

 

[Concerto]

I see taking your own grab bag seems essential, just to survive.

That is correct. Even the seasickness tablets they supply are not packed in the liferaft due to UK drug regulations.

 

[Graham376]

That is correct. Even the seasickness tablets they supply are not packed in the liferaft due to UK drug regulations.

Since when? Seasickness tabs have always been packed in our life raft and IIRC they're on the standard list of contents for all rafts.

 

[Concerto]

Since when? Seasickness tabs have always been packed in our life raft and IIRC they're on the standard list of contents for all rafts.

They were packed separately in ploythene bag loose in the box the liferaft came in. There was a note saying they could not be packed in the liferaft. The note is now on the boat so I cannot quote it exactly. Even the guarantee card and online registration have a section to request seasickness tablets.
Register product - Seago
Make sure liferaft and ISO 9650-2 selected and you can see the check box for seasickness tablets.

 

[Graham376]

They were packed separately in ploythene bag loose in the box the liferaft came in. There was a note saying they could not be packed in the liferaft. The note is now on the boat so I cannot quote it exactly. Even the guarantee card and online registration have a section to request seasickness tablets.
Register product - Seago
Make sure liferaft and ISO 9650-2 selected and you can see the check box for seasickness tablets.

To me, that would indicate Seago rafts are kept a long time between manufacture and selling so the tabs may be out of date, wonder if packed torch batteries are within use by date.

 

[Lucy52]

They gave me the tablets in a separate packet. I don't remember them being short-dated. I must look them out and check.