self servicing of liferaft

[niccapotamus]

Spurred on by Dylan's post about a liferaft for £50 and by the fact that we have a new boat with an old liferaft last serviced in 2008 I was wondering about servicing it myself - mainly as doing these things yourself means that you avoid the horror stories of liferafts that haven't been properly serviced, and that I also understand how the stuff on my boat works = take personal responsibility

I would like to be very clear that I am in no way a skinflint and eyeing up the number of pies that the service money would save !

Does anyone else self-service
is there a guide to what needs to be done
is it a pain or relatively simple?

 

[rob2]

It's an interesting question and your thoughts echo many owners' fears of paying someone to do a shoddy job! I wonder where "authorities" and interested parties stand on this, e.g. race organisers and your insurers. There have been articles in PBO and other mags on what is involved in a service and they often advise you to witness the process so that you know what pops out of the box when required and what equipment is in it.

I suppose one's competence in other tasks will indicate the chance of a successful DIY service. Can you pack a fortnight's holiday clothes into a single suitecase without creasing? Can you repack the latest gizmo which arrived DOA to return for refund? Other consideratins are having the space to do a 24 hour inflation test and a vacuum pump and bag sealer for the repacking (wonder if double sided tape would work OK?). You will also need to source the sealing tape for a canister if it is that type.

Take plenty of photos as you unpack it to give you a fighting chance of getting it back in and to take to the service centre should you have to give up and take it there!

Rob.

 

[sarabande]

the inevitable Youtube video on how it is done professionally , but it's in German. Easy enough to follow the sequence of actions, and to make a process list from the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdpPBjyaA4c


I've a couple of LR's that need servicing (mainly because the Mars Bars are a few years past their best , so I'd be happy to join in. If other people wanted to do the same could we organise a forum gettogether and have a go together ?. I see the stumbling block being the C)2 cylinders and the triggering mechanism being needed to be bought in advance, not exactly from the local supermarket...


EDIT

here's one in English, well American.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq_ca5rztwQ

 

[[70521]]

mainly because the Mars Bars are a few years past their best

The modern Mars Bars are rubbish.

 

[KREW2]

The other problem is if you go to France.
I believe if you carry a life raft it must have an in date test certificate from a qualified tester.

 

[Lyndsey Doyle]

The other problem is if you go to France.
I believe if you carry a life raft it must have an in date test certificate from a qualified tester.

Only for French registered boats.

 

[niccapotamus]

beat me to it Lyndsey - I was going to ask that question - coz we are uk registered ship then I think we have to comply with UK rules ?

 

[prv]

I wonder where "authorities" and interested parties stand on this, e.g. race organisers and your insurers.

Race organisers might insist on professional service, but I don't think the OP races. I've never heard of insurers being interested.

Pete

 

[niccapotamus]

Race organisers might insist on professional service, but I don't think the OP races. I've never heard of insurers being interested.

Pete

nah - don't race

 

[Tranona]

The problems with self service is buying the new bits, testing the firing and inflation and then, crucially packing it away to fit the canister or valise in a way that ensures it is waterproof (for canister) and it will fire successfully.

If you watch your raft being serviced you will see it is labour intensive, hence the charges.

As your raft is last serviced 2008 it is likely to be 10 years or more old and you may well think it worth buying a new one (given the low prices) with longer service intervals and a long potential life.

 

[niccapotamus]

The problems with self service is buying the new bits, testing the firing and inflation and then, crucially packing it away to fit the canister or valise in a way that ensures it is waterproof (for canister) and it will fire successfully.

If you watch your raft being serviced you will see it is labour intensive, hence the charges.

As your raft is last serviced 2008 it is likely to be 10 years or more old and you may well think it worth buying a new one (given the low prices) with longer service intervals and a long potential life.

with that it's very tempting to consign it to the recycling tray and carry on sailing without one for a few years until we make that elusive "bigger" trip

 

[john_morris_uk]

I'm normally happy to have a go at most things, but I wonder if I could do it to this standard?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZICBM4tcBIg

I can manage the reading of the magazine in the cupboard bit...

 

[duncan99210]

The firing mechanism is not tested in liferaft servicing, as that would bump the cost up considerably. Instead, the cylinder is check weighed against the weight stamped on the cylinder: if it's within limits, it is simply refitted. The only items that need replacement are those items packed in the raft that are time expired: flares, rations, seasickness pills, torch batteries etc. As is the case for life jacket servicing the raft is inflated by pump and left for 24 hrs to check for punctures.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Where would you get a new cylinder from?

 

[Tranona]

with that it's very tempting to consign it to the recycling tray and carry on sailing without one for a few years until we make that elusive "bigger" trip

Much the most sensible approach. The likelihood of needing one in the sort of sailing most of us on here do is close to non -existant.

Of course that does not stop many people from buying rafts, particularly as they are now so (relatively) cheap to own and available!

 

[bitbaltic]

Where would you get a new cylinder from?

I've often wondered that too. If you self-service and the cylinder fails the weigh-in, where do you get a replacement short of bundling the whole thing up and taking it to a service centre anyway?

 

[KAM]

The advantages of doing your own are that when its inflated you can see what its like and where all the bits are and practice using it, pumping it up etc. Its easy enough to check weigh the cylinder and check the firing mechanism. If its a problem getting it back into its container some of the items like pumps and paddles and lifed items such as flares and food are better in a grab bag. I would not worry about resealing the inner bag. Mine was just plastic sheet taped up. The raft was stowed on deck but always looked like new when pumped up. The first time I checked it the light had been wrongly assembled and would not have worked. There were also several loose items not attached which may have been lost when the raft inflated.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Still no lead where you can get a new cylinder.

 

[rotrax]

The firing mechanism is not tested in liferaft servicing, as that would bump the cost up considerably. Instead, the cylinder is check weighed against the weight stamped on the cylinder: if it's within limits, it is simply refitted. The only items that need replacement are those items packed in the raft that are time expired: flares, rations, seasickness pills, torch batteries etc. As is the case for life jacket servicing the raft is inflated by pump and left for 24 hrs to check for punctures.

Exactly right.

Our liferaft is an expensive American job-a Coastal Commander 6 man in a valise. Only service centres in the USA, Italy-where it was made-or the Caribean.

We took it in bits, weighed the cylinder, inflated it and left it up for a week, replaced flares water and provisions, changed the batteries in the torch.

Upon deflating I used the suction bit of a powerfull dinghy pump to extract as much air as possible and then used ratchet straps to compress it and get it back into its valise. I believe a pro outfit use a hydraulic press for this!

It lives in its valise under a custom made canvas cover on the coachroof.

Worked for me.

 

[Bobc]

Any dive centre can refil the cylinder for you.