Typical liferaft service cost?

[Bandit]

My raft is 12 years old. a Plastimo 1 to 12 years service every three years, after 12 years service annually is quite a large raft say £400 to service.

When its 12 years old its cheaper to bin it and buy a new raft with servicing every 3 years.

I understand in France life rafts are condemned at 12 years old?

 

[TNLI]

Looking at a few old receipts for a 4 man offshore liferaft, it might be as much as 300 quid these days, although that is valid for 3 years, when it was only one in the old days of annual servicing.

 

[harvey38]

Looking at a few old receipts for a 4 man offshore liferaft, it might be as much as 300 quid these days, although that is valid for 3 years, when it was only one in the old days of annual servicing.

Thanks for the heads up but you're responding to a post pushing six years old?

 

[TNLI]

That is

My raft is 12 years old. a Plastimo 1 to 12 years service every three years, after 12 years service annually is quite a large raft say £400 to service.

When its 12 years old its cheaper to bin it and buy a new raft with servicing every 3 years.

I understand in France life rafts are condemned at 12 years old?

 

[TNLI]

That is

Yes that is true, so avoid getting an old raft serviced in France. This Practical Sailor article is worth reading, and for some other time waster, yes I can read the date of a post, but prefer old mature threads, rather than starting a new one.

Know Your Life Raft Inspection Requirements - Practical Sailor (practical-sailor.com)

 

[Tranona]

Yes that is true, so avoid getting an old raft serviced in France. This Practical Sailor article is worth reading, and for some other time waster, yes I can read the date of a post, but prefer old mature threads, rather than starting a new one.

Know Your Life Raft Inspection Requirements - Practical Sailor (practical-sailor.com)

Perhaps that is why you get such negative responses. You have added nothing new and are not asking for any information or help so why are you bothering? In fact you "new" information is actually misleading.

 

[TNLI]

This is interesting if you are in the UK and have a Seago liferaft:
Seago Servicing - Seago (seagoyachting.co.uk)

Which part of the PS article is misleading ??

 

[Solent Sailor]

Either you lot have got tiny or low spec rafts or I've been ripped off (perfectly possible).

6 man ISO by Ocean Safety, 3 years old (so first service) £550 inc VAT. This is in the last six months.

 

[Tranona]

This is interesting if you are in the UK and have a Seago liferaft:
Seago Servicing - Seago (seagoyachting.co.uk)

Which part of the PS article is misleading ??

In post#22 you made a sweeping and misleading statement about servicing intervals. In fact in the UK for leisure craft there is no fixed service intervals. As you see from the Seago link there are in fact various service intervals (or rather periods of certification) depending in part on the age of the raft. Other countries and manufacturers have different servicing regimes and costs and often (as in the UK) a distinction between private and commercial use. The PS article is from Australia and has little relevance to the subject of the thread which was about the cost of servicing rafts in the UK.

So I wondered why you bothered to post such a useless piece on non information on a thread that is several years old and had run its course.

 

[TNLI]

Just a quick sweeping useless update, this is a copy of a message from the main Seago dealer about my old 4 man Seago liferaft. Seems like they just want to sell new or good used liferafts if a raft is out of warranty, which in this case is 15 years from the date it was made. Jimmy Green another good UK Chandlery that has a liferaft servicing center has the same 15 year rule for all rafts. It might be a copy of the EU regulations. So here is the reply:

Hi Trevor,
Unfortunately that won’t be possible as the raft is not suitable to be in service after 15 years. The parts will not be available to you as they are not sold to anyone other than official service agents and they do not resell the items. A new raft is the best and cheapest option especially if you need a canister model. We may have slightly older raft here we could do a deal on but at this point in time we don’t know as we are refurbing and the location of everything is not accessible.
Kind regards,
Kieron

So 2 dealers down, but I'm not giving up until it's condemned. I don't think there is a requirement for the RORC pack to be replaced after its removal, if the service cerfificate says the raft has no survival pack. I prefer to put the RORC pack in the grab bag along with extra water and waterproof VHF. Alas the new cylinder and firing pin are required, along with an inflation test. If it fails that test, then it will be scrapped.

Most offshore insurance companies do require a liferaft to be listed and the service related paperwork inspected before issuing an insurance certificate. Some of them like Pantsareus in Germany that insured me for both the Atantic circle and circumnavigation, do accept copies of the papers and pictures IF the boat is less than a certain number of years, (Pantsareus list 30 years old I think). The service interval has to be that listed by the raft manufacturer, although there is no legal requirement for set intervals. Just like they don't even look at PFD's or other vital safety gear, unless it's a commercial insurance survey. Oddly enough my own insurance company does not ask any safety questions at all, although I only have out of water and non tidal waters at present. Even Pantsareus never asked for info on the EPIRB, which is just as important as a liferaft or my favourite unsinkable survival dinghy, the PORTLAND PUDGEY.

Lifeboat | Unsinkable Lifeboat | Self-Rescue Lifeboat (portlandpudgy.com)

 

[newtothis]

Just a quick sweeping useless update, this is a copy of a message from the main Seago dealer about my old 4 man Seago liferaft. Seems like they just want to sell new or good used liferafts if a raft is out of warranty, which in this case is 15 years from the date it was made. Jimmy Green another good UK Chandlery that has a liferaft servicing center has the same 15 year rule for all rafts. It might be a copy of the EU regulations. So here is the reply:

Hi Trevor,
Unfortunately that won’t be possible as the raft is not suitable to be in service after 15 years. The parts will not be available to you as they are not sold to anyone other than official service agents and they do not resell the items. A new raft is the best and cheapest option especially if you need a canister model. We may have slightly older raft here we could do a deal on but at this point in time we don’t know as we are refurbing and the location of everything is not accessible.
Kind regards,
Kieron

So 2 dealers down, but I'm not giving up until it's condemned. I don't think there is a requirement for the RORC pack to be replaced after its removal, if the service cerfificate says the raft has no survival pack. I prefer to put the RORC pack in the grab bag along with extra water and waterproof VHF. Alas the new cylinder and firing pin are required, along with an inflation test. If it fails that test, then it will be scrapped.

Most offshore insurance companies do require a liferaft to be listed and the service related paperwork inspected before issuing an insurance certificate. Some of them like Pantsareus in Germany that insured me for both the Atantic circle and circumnavigation, do accept copies of the papers and pictures IF the boat is less than a certain number of years, (Pantsareus list 30 years old I think). The service interval has to be that listed by the raft manufacturer, although there is no legal requirement for set intervals. Just like they don't even look at PFD's or other vital safety gear, unless it's a commercial insurance survey. Oddly enough my own insurance company does not ask any safety questions at all, although I only have out of water and non tidal waters at present. Even Pantsareus never asked for info on the EPIRB, which is just as important as a liferaft or my favourite unsinkable survival dinghy, the PORTLAND PUDGEY.

Lifeboat | Unsinkable Lifeboat | Self-Rescue Lifeboat (portlandpudgy.com)

I love the idea of a Pudgey, but £750 for a Seago 4-man vs several thousand for a Pudgy? That's a lot of 15-year cycles before you break even.

 

[TNLI]

I love the idea of a Pudgey, but £750 for a Seago 4-man vs several thousand for a Pudgy? That's a lot of 15-year cycles before you break even.

I've not sailed a Pudgey, but have sailed an inflatable dinghy before, and although it took nearly anhour to inflate and rig, it was real good to sail. I was stunned how well it went to windward. The Pudgey cost around 5 if you want all the extras, or 3 grand if you only want a pair of oars and the lifeboat kit. I'm umming and arring about buying the complete set, but will not decide until much nearer the day I set sail or motor out of Poole bound intially for Trinidad. Very interesting Youtub clip:

Best Life Boat + Dinghy? [Show Us Your Dinghy] - Don's Portland Pudgy - YouTube

 

[38mess]

I just hire mine, 12 person all bells and whistles, £350 a year. On a side note, a 12 person life raft will fit around 6 normal size people without being on top of each other.
A good sea survival course will show you the difference between budget and better quality life rafts and how small they actually are once inside.

 

[TNLI]

I just hire mine, 12 person all bells and whistles, £350 a year. On a side note, a 12 person life raft will fit around 6 normal size people without being on top of each other.
A good sea survival course will show you the difference between budget and better quality life rafts and how small they actually are once inside.

Many moons ago I was told by one of the chaps in my local raft service center, not to buy a 6 man raft if I was sailing 2 up, cos in bad weather when the raft rolls around or even tips over, you get thrown across the inside and might well injure yourself or the person you collide with. The other negative was that unless you were rich enough to buy a toroidal raft. Also it can be more difficult to right when you are tired. One person can right a 12 man raft, but it's not easy. No chance if you are tired and cold.

 

[38mess]

I was warned ma

Many moons ago I was told by one of the chaps in my local raft service center, not to buy a 6 man raft if I was sailing 2 up, cos in bad weather when the raft rolls around or even tips over, you get thrown across the inside and might well injure yourself or the person you collide with. The other negative was that unless you were rich enough to buy a toroidal raft. Also it can be more difficult to right when you are tired. One person can right a 12 man raft, but it's not easy. No chance if you are tired and cold.
I hope I never need to try.

 

[TNLI]

The plot thickens, as it appears the liferaft mafia have formed a cartel to try and avoid servicing old rafts. Just got this message:

Thank you for your enquiry,
We can confirm that we able to service Seago Liferafts if they are purchased directly from us, this is due to Seago now changing how they service their manufactured rafts.
They have requested that any that are not directly purchased through us are serviced directly through them.
I have tried to locate your account with the address provided on the form and I am unable to locate one for you.
Can you kindly confirm if you purchased your seago raft from us please?

Kind Regards
Nicola Evans
Sales Assistant
Suffolk Marine Safety Ltd


BARSTEWARDS the lot of them. Waiting for 2 more replies from other SEANOGO raft mafia members before trying more companies further North !!

 

[TNLI]

Second update from the liferaft mafia HQ:

• Good afternoon,
  As the raft was not purchased directly through ourselves, as advised by Seago we are unfortunately unable to service this raft.
  If, in the future you do require a new life raft please see the below link:
  Suffolk Marine Safety | Marine Safety Equipment Hire & Service UK
  
  Kind Regards
  Nicola Evans
  Sales Assistant
  Suffolk Marine Safety Ltd
  Unit 108
  Claydon Business Park
  Great Blakenham
  IP6 0NL
  Suffolk
  We are open Monday to Friday 08:30 - 17:30
  Excluding Bank Holidays
  T: 01473 833010
  E: nicolaevans@suffolkmarinesafety.com
  W: www.suffolkmarinesafety.com
  
• NOW LOOKING FOR A USED PORTLAND PUDGEY, as it's not looking good in terms of todays replies from the raft cartel and mafia gangs.
• 
  

 

[SaltyC]

Second update from the liferaft mafia HQ:

• Good afternoon,
  As the raft was not purchased directly through ourselves, as advised by Seago we are unfortunately unable to service this raft.
  If, in the future you do require a new life raft please see the below link:
  Suffolk Marine Safety | Marine Safety Equipment Hire & Service UK
  
  Kind Regards
  Nicola Evans
  Sales Assistant
  Suffolk Marine Safety Ltd
  Unit 108
  Claydon Business Park
  Great Blakenham
  IP6 0NL
  Suffolk
  We are open Monday to Friday 08:30 - 17:30
  Excluding Bank Holidays
  T: 01473 833010
  E: nicolaevans@suffolkmarinesafety.com
  W: www.suffolkmarinesafety.com
• NOW LOOKING FOR A USED PORTLAND PUDGEY, as it's not looking good in terms of todays replies from the raft cartel and mafia gangs.
• 
  

Interesting!! A discussion I had with Suffolk Safety last Friday. First question is it a Seago, if so we cannot service unless sold by us. 2nd question what age?
So it appears, where previously I could have a 20 year old liferaft serviced (valise stored in locker) all centres now appear to be working on obsolescence at 15 years.