mcp 32 Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 What is a sensible thing to do with a old out of date life raft? I doubt it is worth anything? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,581 Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Garbage Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 343 Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 I had one i took to playcentre and inflated for the kids. They loved it opening and then played in it for a week or two. So if you are binning it, id take it off your hands and do that again! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,581 Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Check it for drugs first😁 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 343 Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 9 minutes ago, Black Panther said: Check it for drugs first😁 I did dive in first to get the knife and flares! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dagwood 57 Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Sea scouts are another group that enjoy them too... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 They are great for sea survival training. Either donate it to someone doing a proper course, or do a DIY course with some mates in a swimming pool or calm beach. If you are going to biff it, it would be a great opportunity to practice 'playing' in one. Or donate it to a group that would benefit, i.e.sea scouts. I'm intending to do some practice drills with my out of date inflatable life jackets. Having done a sea-surivival course some time ago, and having had the odd LJ inflate at in-opportune times, it is really handy to get used to what they are like inflated, both whilst trying to do something (wrestle a sail) or whilst swimming and / or trying to get back onto the boat with one on. Just swimming in them is a really good way to get people to understand the importance of fitting them properly in the first place. And on the liferaft, its noted that people who have had a play in one on the water suddenly realise how flimsy they are, how vulnerable you are in one, and how you should work damn hard to stay on your boat in the first place. So yes, there is definite benefit in playing in it, or giving it to a group who will. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eruptn 95 Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Having done several HUET courses and a offshore survival course I'd agree go have a play .... capsize it, see if you can get in it with some gear on .... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mcp 32 Posted April 14, 2020 Author Share Posted April 14, 2020 I like the idea of donating it to someone doing a sea survival course. If anyone has some contacts? If I get no luck there I will flick you a PM Clipper. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jon 360 Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 15 hours ago, mcp said: I like the idea of donating it to someone doing a sea survival course. If anyone has some contacts? If I get no luck there I will flick you a PM Clipper. You can try Al Gyre at Sea Wise he runs courses so guess he needs rafts or coast guard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,220 Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 IMO the liferaft industry, sales and service, is a rort. Low quality stuff like this is common/standard. I had a raft that was so badly packed by one of the main industry players, that it failed to inflate 🤬 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,220 Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 10 minutes ago, Knot Me... maybe said: Did it fully inflate? Has it stayed inflated? Once I had unkinked the hoses, mine did inflate. But one tube went down overnight.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ex TL systems 63 Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 I would much rather trust in a well setup dinghy with stuff in it that you have checked recently. And sails. And a gps. Etc etc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,220 Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 Great, so like mine, yours would have been an issue if you had to use it. 😟 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 343 Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 My raft was 18 months out of service. The torch didn’t go, the flares were at least 2 years out of date, and it went down quite badly too. Tried to use pump and it lasted 2 pumps and was stuffed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlastairW 15 Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 I know it's kind of beside the point of there being emergency survival gear in the raft, but knowing that the gear in the raft is probably inadequate just hammers home to me why we carry a grab bag with water, food, torch, plb, first aid kit, etc. As for the deflation etc, how old are these rafts and what is their service history? Genuinely interested as I have a raft coming up to time for it's first service, and the cost of it makes me question if it's worth having it done until we actually need the certification for heading offshore. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,220 Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 My raft that did not work was condemned at a service attempt. It was a 6 year old Seasaver 4, been serviced once, before we left on our last big trip, expired while we were away, condemned on return. never used, soft bag, and vacuum sealed, kept in liferaft locker out of the sun. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 343 Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 Mine looked very old, and yep, we now assume there is nothing in the raft and have a grab bag with what we might need. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlastairW 15 Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 Thanks IT, we have a Waypoint Ocean 4 person, also in a soft bag, vacuum sealed, and kept out of the sun. We got that one, even though it wasn't the cheapest, but the manufacturer gave a 3 year service period, and it worked out better value over the longer term. I am bothered though, that the problems seem to happen after service, and it would be good to get a feel for how common it is for issues to be found when the raft comes up for it's second (or subsequent) service. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dtwo 157 Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 My impression, after recently researching and buying a raft, is that the latest rafts are a step above. Most of them seem to be made of TPU which doesn't act the way the old rubber-coated rafts did. I believe one of the drivers behind servicing was to repack the raft so the folds were on previously unfolded material. Many new rafts now have a 5 year period to first service. Absolutely agree with the need for a well thought out and researched grab bag. I was very dubious buying a Chinese made raft - imagine jumping in and finding a brick in place of the survival equipment (hopefully a bad dream and not reality). I guess you have to regard the money spent on a raft like your insurance premium - hopefully a waste of money.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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