What Happens to French Liferafts

[Novice]

I was reading in the latest copy of PBO that by law, French boats have to dispose of their liferafts after 12 years. Is there any way in which these scrapped liferafts can be reconditioned and used in the UK? I would have thought that provided they were properly serviced by a competent outfit, they could provide several years good service in UK waters.

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[Talbot]

That was my immediate response to the PBO article, Howevr I have not followed it up as I had just ggot a second hand raft anyway!

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[Gunfleet]

A good example of the stupidity of compulsion

The trouble with French safety equipment is that because it's compulsory most people use a sort of minimalist version that conforms with the letter of the law. You won't get many Frenchmen paying over a grand for a 4 man liferaft, which is what I did because I wanted a good one. After all, if I'm going to use it I want it to work. If you want a 2nd hand one you'd be better off sourcing in the UK

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[John_Walker]

Re: A good example of the stupidity of compulsion

What on earth makes you think that French life rafts are equipped to a minimum level? There was an article in PBO435 (March 2003) about the standard of life rafts and their contents. I checked my French raft and found it contained nearly everything that was recommended in the article. One of the benefits of compulsion is that it saves the inexperienced from buying unsuitable safety equipment. I wrote to the editor pointing this out after the article was published, but the letter was not published.

If anyone wants a second hand French life raft give me a call in nine years when I will have to throw mine away.

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[Gunfleet]

Re: A good example of the stupidity of compulsion

<<What on earth makes you think that French life rafts are equipped to a minimum level?>>
5 years living in Brittany and endless conversations with French sailors about what they are forced to buy. Apparently the very cheapest are to be sourced through Belgian chandlers and cost around £500. There's no reason (*on earth* I suppose you'd put it) why anyone, including you, could not have bought a decent life-raft in France. But France is choc-a-bloc with cheapo life-rafts and horshoe floats designed to obey the letter of the law.

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[John_Walker]

Re: A good example of the stupidity of compulsion

OK, so a cheap life raft can be bought in Belgium. You will always find people trying to cut costs, even with safety equipment. I don't remember seeing anything on the boats I have come across in France other than respectable makes. I certainly didn't set out to buy anything special, just the bog standard 6 man Plastimo Transocean and this seems to be what most of the neighbouring boats have. In Britain there are no compulsary standards, so you have to check carefully what you are getting for your money. At least a French raft will meet a reasonable set of standards and will have been regularly serviced. Always assuming, of course, that the owner has been obeying the rules.

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[waterboy]

Re: A good example of the stupidity of compulsion

I saw one liferaft at the Boat show that where the construction and seam welding reminded me of a beach toy. Maybe better than nothing if budjet dictates but not one I fancy entrusting my family and crew to if the s**t ever did hit the fan.

<hr width=100% size=1>I never make the same mistake twice. I always make new ones.

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Re: A good example of the stupidity of compulsion

What is the actual law.

Is it if you carry a liferaft you must renew after 12 years; Or.

You must carry a liferaft and change it every 12 years.

I ask because knowing the selling out going on here we will probably have this law imposed at some moment in the future. I for one wonder my needs for a liferaft having a multihull, if she takes water she will capsize and that IMHO is a far safer platform to strap to than sitting in a raft. I intend next year when lifted to paint my bridgedeck orange and fit harness points underneath. Also a locker with fresh water and my grab bag. I realise she may have fire but would hope my dinghy will get me away in that circumstance.

Carrying more wieght (liferaft) is a tough call for me, when I really don't think I would use it while Top Cat was still floating.

Just some thoughts.....

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Top Cat Homepage</A>

 

[charles_reed]

French liferafts

There are two distinct ranges - those for Category 2 boats (euphemistically titled coastal liferafts) which are genuinely minamilist (single-tube, uninsulated floor etc.) and those for offshore boats which can be as good as any you can buy anywhere.

However with liferafts as with most things there is a tendency to get what you pay for.
Certainly French yachties resent the compulsion to carry a liferaft and the need annual certificate of inspection.
However I suspect that due to volume you could probably buy better value for money liferafts in France than in the UK, but I would rate Bfa, Avon, Beaufort and Zodiac as the only "proper" liferaft manufacturers.

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[charles_reed]

I would reckon you're chasing the moon - it's generally considered that the safe life of a properly maintained commercial liferaft is about 10 years.

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