Zodiac OPEN SEA MP6 Liferaft

[slavkod]

Dear all,

We will be joining ARC 2010. On board our sailing vessel we have Zodiac Open Sea MP6 manufactured 02/1996. So it is 14 years old. It was regularly maintained and so far there were no problems reported during regular inspections. Most of our cruising was MED. Atlantic crossing will be something totally different. Now the question. Is there kind of life time limit for safe usage of life rafts. I have searched Internet but with no success.

Raft will be inspected in March but before that I would appreciate any experience on the subject.

If there is doubt I would go and buy new one.


Best regards, Slavko

 

[SeamanStaines]

Raft will be inspected in March but before that I would appreciate any experience on the subject.

As far as I am aware the inspection and subsequent certification is unconditional, the raft is either fit for service or not. There are no time limits specified on the MSA coding for a vessel that I can see and I am sure that if there was an age restriction this would have been specified.

Certainly, there are vessels approved for public service with older rafts than this. I would suggest that Zodiac themselves would also have some guidance on this.

I for one always worry when items are replaced simply because they are 'old' rather than the condition of them (hydrostatic releases and flares being a particular annoyance to me!)

 

[John_Parkes]

Good luck with trying to contact Zodiac!!! It took going through Brighton Zodiac dealer to get some action on getting duck sorted in Europe. End result: plane some off floor boards which has made matters worse!!!

 

[spottydog]

I have a Zodiac and was told by the Zodiac approved service centre Zodiac will not service a liferaft more than 17 years old.