What to do with old life raft?

[westernman]

I have 2 old RFD 8 man solas commercial liferafts in GRP flat pack containers from 1998.
Last used/serviced about 12 years ago.

Any ideas what to do with them?
I have tried giving them away on the "Bon Coin" down here. But no takers.

It would be a shame to take them down to the dump. If I can get them into the car. They are 85kgs.

Obviously if any one wants them, they are welcome to come down here (Montpellier, France) and take them.

 

[NormanS]

I gave mine to a family with youngsters, who we're going to use it as a paddling pool.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I part exchanged my old one for a new one from a local supplier.

They said they would use it for training asthey did when I did the STCW 95 course

 

[srm]

As suggested above:

A training centre may be interested. When I was running STCW survival courses we used the contents of a couple of old rafts for demonstration. After a while we stopped accepting old rafts - though I still have two liferaft drogues on my boat on the basis they may come in useful for emergency steering or in conditions that do not require the full Jordan drogue.

Likewise a paddling pool is probably the only other practical use one can think of.

 

[jamie N]

I was going to suggest a nursery/primary school for the summer term. Please don't dump them though!

 

[Clancy Moped]

A sailing school?

 

[srm]

If giving them away bear in mind that they probably contain very out of date pyrotechnics.

 

[Neeves]

You can chop them up and the large pieces make waterproof covers for anything, like a roof rack. The cylinders should last for ever but maybe a lifraft servicing operation might take them off your hands.

Disposal of the pyrotechnics might be your biggest issue.

Jonathan

 

[srm]

The cylinders should last for ever

But require pressure testing and refilling every ten years if used.

 

[rotrax]

The local Sea Scouts?

 

[Major_Clanger]

Talk to the local Maritime Gendarmerie. They'll almost certainly take them off your hands and use them for training.

It's a win-win as they'll dispose of any flares too (though they may turn their noses up at the out-of-date biscuits).

 

[westernman]

The local Sea Scouts?

They don't exist here. (Montpellier, France).

 

[Roberto]

I have 2 old RFD 8 man solas commercial liferafts in GRP flat pack containers from 1998.
Last used/serviced about 12 years ago.

Any ideas what to do with them?
I have tried giving them away on the "Bon Coin" down here. But no takers.

I'd say try the SNSM, but on the last couple of occasions I heard they already had all they needed, including out of date liferafts

 

[Zing]

I threw mine away. Sorry, but they are no use once they get to a certain age. A bit like people really.

 

[Neeves]

I threw mine away. Sorry, but they are no use once they get to a certain age. A bit like people really.

Rubbish

Liferafts can have a long life if stored correctly and regularly serviced. As long as this is followed and conducted properly life rafts will be reliable - totally different to adult people.

Jonathan

 

[penberth3]

Rubbish

Liferafts can have a long life if stored correctly and regularly serviced. As long as this is followed and conducted properly life rafts will be reliable - totally different to adult people.

Jonathan

So you're happy to ignore the manufacturer's service life?

 

[Zing]

Rubbish

Liferafts can have a long life if stored correctly and regularly serviced. As long as this is followed and conducted properly life rafts will be reliable - totally different to adult people.

Jonathan

No. You are totally wrong about that. They have to be thrown away at a certain age or you put your life at risk. 12 to 15 years is the lifespan of a modern liferaft.

 

[Neeves]

The key words, carefully selected, were 'regularly serviced'.

If they are regularly serviced and certificated they are good to go, if they are beyond their service life they will not be certificated (unlike some adults who are never certified until it is too late - I can think of a few politicians who might fit the concept).

Jonathan

 

[Mataji]

Put it on eBay with a starting price of £1. You will probably be surprised by how much it makes.

 

[westernman]

No. You are totally wrong about that. They have to be thrown away at a certain age or you put your life at risk. 12 to 15 years is the lifespan of a modern liferaft.

These are "commercial".
I was told they are good for 30 years.

I stopped using them because the servicing needed to be done every year, and cost about 1/2 the cost of a new liferaft.
A new liferaft did not need to be serviced for 3 years.