Would you buy a second hand life raft?

I have just joined this Forum, because I am a really newbie at Sailing, and this post has caught my attention, because I was thinking the same thing!!

Some super replies, and it has got me thinking!!! . .. I even watched the video onYouTube, about how to service a life raft!! . . . Interesting, and not really too difficult !!
 
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Premium liferafts have quoted meHire rates for 1 week upwards a guide:-
holdall 4 person Iso /RORC raft hire for 6 months £ 307-00.--- EPIRB GPS patt 6 months £ 280-00
4 weeks ditto £148-00 & £145-00
Discount on EPIRB available when hired with raft
Prices inc VAT
 
I have no problem considering a second hand raft ... in fact I am searching online for ideas on one for the coming season.

My needs are basically max 4 man, I could go 2 man - but prefer 4 ... with canopy ... and being in Baltic with quite frequent shipping - I am not too worried about the included gear inside ..... as long as the raft inflates and keeps me out of the worst of weather etc.

It also means that for me - using approved service agent is not such a requirement ... I am reasonably au fait with what I need to do with it ... and mine would be a valise not a hard canister .... making opening up much easier and the closing ...

If I was a serious live-aboard - cruising many miles and oceans - that's a different matter altogether.

This leads me to question the reqt's of some ... considering that many yotties don't actually go that far offshore ... maybe a channel crossing ... Ch. Isles .... North Sea bit etc. - what raft do you need ? Full SOLAS job like a ship ? Or a lesser coastal job ?
Just asking ...

One final word ... and this comes from actual real life events .....

Size of raft should be sensible for the job in hand ... the SOLAS magazine that gets sent to ships some years ago highlighted large rafts with insufficient people in ... sounds daft I know - but they highlighted the fact that a raft without sufficient people in can in fact flip in rough weather where strong winds are even with the water pockets.
It first came to light with the semi rigid Igloo rafts that some ships installed ... then it was noted with inflatable rafts.
My point is - size your raft according to your boat - not just go for larger thinking its better ....
 
I know that holdalls are cheaper, but for me at least, they are not a good idea. I would have to store one in a locker or somewhere in the saloon, perhaps under the table.
they are quite heavy & reaching down into a deep locker, possibly moving something on top, possibly holding a heavy lid open in a rolling sea, could be difficult. I know how hard it is to get my canister one off & on the boat at the start & end of each season. I do it on a steady level boat when I am able & not exhausted. I just cannot imagine getting a holdall up on deck in an emergency. Especially as that emergency might come in a rush & I have other things to do. Grabbing the grab bag, crew, setting off the EPIRB, using the VHF etc.. My liferaft sits on the cockpit floor under the mainsheet traveler. I have to step over the traveler so I may as well step over the LR as well. But in any event it is still going to be difficult to slide it over the stern. It creates a lot of weight in the back of a 31 ft boat which is another consideration. 30Kg is a lot of weight to sling about in rough weather.
 
DB highlights one of the problems of rafts on yachts .. where to stow ... how to launch ...

Not so bad on a MoBo - but many sail boats have limitations that really can make a problem.

For me - the simplest solution is to hang the valise of the pushpit ... but that's only because I would not go for the heavy canister 4 - 6 man job ... I can accept the much lighter 'Survival' brand which runs at under10kg for a 4 man in a valise.

A lot of boats I see with rafts mounted under the boom near mast ... out of the way - but I always wonder what happens when it is needed ? Inflate there - get stuck with kicking strap ... mast stays .... or manhandle to the side and then pull painter to inflate ?

I think some people buy - mount and smile ... ignoring the act of using ...
 
I got one with a boat - out of service - Took it to a respected servicing company who offered to inflate it whilst we were there.

Long story short - the pressure relief valve just fell off the tube leaving a large hole in the fabric. The liferaft would have failed if deployed in anger.

It turned out that the liferaft had been subject to a recall but the previous owner hadn't bothered to return it and had never had it serviced. It was then so far past the recall date that the free replacement scheme had ended.

SO by all means buy one IF it has a service record but one that is perhaps 5 years old plus and with no service history then probably best to assume it's junk
 
ghostlymoron said:
Seeing as a life raft is your last resort, you need it to work when deployed. If it's not been serviced I would assume it's won't inflate and the contents will be unusable.
Click to expand...

Don't assume it will work even when serviced by authorised agent. On next service, ours was found to have both inflation valves broken, the insulated floor missing and the well out of date torch batteries had leaked.
 
Refueler said:
A lot of boats I see with rafts mounted under the boom near mast ... out of the way - but I always wonder what happens when it is needed ? Inflate there - get stuck with kicking strap ... mast stays .... or manhandle to the side and then pull painter to inflate ?
Click to expand...
You pull the tabs, heft it over the side (and modern ones are properly hefty) and give the painter a yank. You don't inflate it on deck.

I have to admit that I'm a touch suspicious that the hydrostatic release would work as there's a good chance it'd tangle in the rigging.
 
Refueler said:
One final word ... and this comes from actual real life events .....

Size of raft should be sensible for the job in hand ... the SOLAS magazine that gets sent to ships some years ago highlighted large rafts with insufficient people in ... sounds daft I know - but they highlighted the fact that a raft without sufficient people in can in fact flip in rough weather where strong winds are even with the water pockets.
It first came to light with the semi rigid Igloo rafts that some ships installed ... then it was noted with inflatable rafts.
My point is - size your raft according to your boat - not just go for larger thinking its better ....
Click to expand...

On our Sea Survival course, the instructor made exactly the same point; that an under-loaded raft is unstable, and that a raft is designed to take a substantial overload - I think up to 100% of the nominal load. If I were purchasing a new liferaft I'd be looking at one sized for the usual crew, and trust that it would be able to take more if necessary, albeit in considerable discomfort! But an underloaded liferaft is less safe than an over-loaded one.
 
Graham376 said:
Don't assume it will work even when serviced by authorised agent. On next service, ours was found to have both inflation valves broken, the insulated floor missing and the well out of date torch batteries had leaked.
Click to expand...
If it fails when deployed in an emergency, it's unlikely you'll make a claim under warranty.
I hope you reported the shoddy workmanship to the authorising body so that the agent is struck off.
There's always a chance that even if you do the servicing yourself, you may not spot such defects due to lack of experience.
 
If recently serviced by a certified service agent. I don’t see why not. Expired no.

I have one due for service. It’s in the garage, until I take it for service. I got a six man because I have a wife and three kids and I didn’t like the prospect of drawing straws. Or 6 man with women a children first we still have a spot left.
 
JBJag27 said:
You pull the tabs, heft it over the side (and modern ones are properly hefty) and give the painter a yank. You don't inflate it on deck.

I have to admit that I'm a touch suspicious that the hydrostatic release would work as there's a good chance it'd tangle in the rigging.
Click to expand...


I am well aware if how to deploy a Life Raft .....

My point is that I see so many boats especially sailboats that have sited the raft in a convenient location - not so much for deployment - but out of the way of sailing !

If you have a Hydrostatic release - then its even more important to have a free area .... BUT do not forget - Hydrostatic releases are last ditch affairs because your boat is sinking !!
 
SO by all means buy one IF it has a service record but one that is perhaps 5 years old plus and with no service history then probably best to assume it's junk
Click to expand...

The only bit I agree with there is not to buy if it is old and no history of service. But if there is history and its only just come up for renewal - then whats problem ?

I'm a great believer in being there during service ... if the agents say - go away - not allowed to observe - then I would go elsewhere.
 
Daydream believer said:
I thought that the main law of launching a liferaft was that you did wait for the boat to sink
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??

The only time I heard anything like that - was with a high freeboard / hard to manhandle large liferaft.

Think about what happens though and how far that boat has to sink before 'pulling the painter' ........ the release may pop once boat is only a few feet under .... but all that painter has to be pulled out of the container before it triggers the inflation ....
 
It all depends on how practical and competent you are. I once obtained a free liferaft out of the scrap bin at a liferaft servicer. Yes it had a few minor issues, but with a bit of commonsense I had it repaired to a servicable standard that I would have been comfortable in using should I need to. I also had the reassurance in knowing exactly what condition the liferaft was in and how it functioned. I also knew exactly what it contained and was also able to include a few special treats.
 
Refueler said:
??

The only time I heard anything like that - was with a high freeboard / hard to manhandle large liferaft.

Think about what happens though and how far that boat has to sink before 'pulling the painter' ........ the release may pop once boat is only a few feet under .... but all that painter has to be pulled out of the container before it triggers the inflation ....
Click to expand...
I think you missed the point. - there is a saying that one should get UP into a liferaft not Down into it. :D
 
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