To buy or not to buy

[sarabande]

Just completed purchase of motor sailer in deference to my advanced years, and tried the 10 year old (unserviced !!!) Arimar 6 man liferaft out on what passes for the lawn. Surprise and joy, as it all unfolded with much sibilance.

Checked cost of service and replacement parts - and first quote is for £250 - 300.

Question. Has modern liferaft design (e.g. double floors, access, onboard kit, etc) and structural material changed so much in the last decade, that I am better served to put the £300 towards a new one at £800, and hand the old one to the offspring as a paddling pool ?

Or risk a 1 or 2 year old liferaft from ebay at £500 ?

Range of sailing: English and Bristol Channels, and W France (but don't tell my wife, yet).

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Sounds though the Arimar is in reasonable condition. Would be OK if serviced. My only worry is that its a bit to big for just two of you. You really want something smaller IMO.

Ebay is as good a place to look for a 2nd hand one, but you need to check condition and the seller really. I did OK on a 4 man liferaft there, and it still cost £300 for a good service.

I would not have thought there has been a huge technological change in their design over the last 10 years, but I don't have that knowledge alas.

 

[Guest]

"My only worry is that its a bit to big for just two of you. You really want something smaller IMO."

That is actually a very valid point and one that oft is forgot. A life-raft owes stability to 2 factors working together ... "ballast pockets under" and number of people inside.

It was a common comment from safety instructors etc. at sea colleges about unstable Life-rafts, especially the now defunct semi-rigid Igloo type that some ships had as well.

The Life-raft should be matched to the normal complement of boat ... then it is stable and best served. 1 extra in a reasonable LR will not be too much of a load increase especially if coastal etc.

 

[velo]

buy asurvival suit ex oil rig 50£ in our sea temps you die you would be lucky just toclimb into one .ie.raft dinghy and dry suit plus grab bag with well thought out accessories batts torches vhf grub iron rations flares silly raft normal yacht clothesfreeze to deatha lot of people die here in the western isles its the sea tempso get dry suits and live

 

[peterbringloe]

Speak to Messenger Marine. I think servicing should be less expensive tan your quote. www.messengermarine.co.uk