XM 4 Person Cannister Liferaft.... any known problems?

Fascadale

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The time has come to buy a liferaft

Are there any known problems with the "XM 4 Person Cannister Liferaft" ? Has anyone had any nasty surprises when the liferaft has been serviced ?

I know it is not the Rolls Royce of liferafts but then I drive a Ford.

To be used for coastal sailing, West Coast , Orkney, with maybe, in future years, a crossing to Norway.

(I've got a PLB so we don't need the EPIRB v Liferaft discussion)

Cheers
 
Whilst respecting the fact you may just wish to have an XM raft, have you considered other makes? I just recently, wanting a budget raft, bought a Seago canister for £499. This was not just a price driven decision, the Seago raft came out tops (over the XM) in a recent PBO test.
 
Agree I've just done the same thing, following advice on the forum. I also purchased a budget raft a seago 6 man valise. with free delivery from marinesuperstore port solent. very pleased with the purchase.

i think you will find the XM is made from PVC where as the seago is made out of butane rubber with better seams.

This may be of interest !
 
I've got an XM valise and it works every time.


On a more serious note, it has just had its second service and the condition of the raft was described as very good
 
I had a look at a boat show and was not impressed at the time with the PVC ( the xm I think) I thought that there may be a tendency for age cracking at folds when packed and under cold conditions and had more confidence in the 'feel' of the 'rubber' ones. This from several years experience in the lab of a sheet pvc manufacturer. mind you there's good quality Pvc and cheapo stuff, the 'handle' of the XM was middle of the road.
 
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