What's The True Cost Of A Liferaft?

[Joe Mullee]

Besides the cost of a new raft itself (and possibly the cradle) how much does it cost to own a liferaft over its' lifetime? Specifically, I'm curious about how much a re-inspection can cost and what exactly the inspectors do for the charge? Is the charge different for a four man vs. a six or eight man raft? Do they inflate the raft before re-packing it?

From what I've gathered these costs are significant and it's a big reason many owners of life rafts don't get reinspections done according to the suggested maintainace schedule.

Thanks.

 

[tommays]

Well

I go on CAT A races that have a mandatory liferaft requirement with and owner that is serious about running a safe boat

We live on long island and he generally has enough time to personally take the raft to the service center in Connecticut were they do the service while he waits

I am told they open and inflate by hand as the gas cylinders are rather hard on the unit

I believe we are on a 3year cycle

 

[Joe]

So... any idea how much this service cost the owner?

 

[tommays]

You have to pick a brand and then inquirer were the service centers are as NOT everybody lives 90 minutes away from one and your NOT droping it off at the UPS store

even the price on a 4 man varies 4k or more depending on your requirements

 

[Steve Dion]

http://www.defender.com/pdf/life_raft.pdf

 

[boblufkin]

I paid 1500 for a raft and it costs 1100 every 3 years for the re certification.

 

[shemandr]

Someone gave me one. Seemed like a good idea to have it. It was so Friggin' heavy I couldn't move it around with out someone's help. The repacking was pretty expensive, but after reading the DIY instructions didn't seem that unreasonable. I gave it to a guy who was going offshore and I think he got it repacked on the cheap because he's in the boat service business and has relationships.
Seriously, just getting it in/out of my Pacifica was a chore. It would be a nice safety device offshore, but in my driveway it was a major risk to my vertebral discs. I really can't imagine what kind of hardware it would take to secure it on a deck. But it would have to be beefy.
You can lease a life raft which may be more economical than owning/maintaining. Liability figures in there too.

 

[Delezynski]

A couple of thoughts I had....

What's the cost of NOT having a raft? :naughty: Sleep at night much?

What are your cruising plans? Outside the US, repacking can be BIG costs and a BIG problem.

IF I could NOT be there during the repack, I would do it myself! I have heard about a recently repacked raft opened, only to find old rags in the case!!!!

I have an older raft in need of repack. I could not sell it for U.S. $100. And it's so heavy I don't think I will take it on our next cruise. May just purchase a smaller light weight one and 2 EPIRBs. I think it's a better idea then getting a heavy duty offshore raft.

Greg

 

[Chris Patterson]

Where does a feller buy the CO2 canisters for them? Specifically an Avon?

 

[WayneH]

I have looked into liferafts at the Admiral's "suggestion." We found the Sea-Safe 4 person raft in a valise that weighs 68 pounds. It runs $2100. The shop where we were looking at them posted $400 for servicing every three years PLUS parts. Parts is where you run up the price of servicing. Flares and smoke signals and rations are things that expire and have to be replaced.

Two things have actually stopped us from purchasing one so far. First, the Admiral is not ready for Blue Water. She says we can walk home from anywhere we currently sail. But she also is looking at liferafts?

Second and maybe more important is where to store it when not in use. Where to store it during a voyage so that it is accessible quickly without confusion in an emergency.

But it looks like we are buying one sometime within the next year. More research is required.

 

[Delezynski]

I have looked into liferafts at the Admiral's "suggestion." We found the Sea-Safe 4 person raft in a valise that weighs 68 pounds. --- SNIP ---

Second and maybe more important is where to store it when not in use. Where to store it during a voyage so that it is accessible quickly without confusion in an emergency.
--- SNIP ---

Wayne,

When the 68 pound raft is stored aboard, can the Admiral deploy it all on her own? Due to the weight of our old raft, I mounted it, covered by a white cloth tarp, between the forward hand rails and tie downs with webbing straps. I then lashed a filleting knife to the hand rail to cut it free if needed. A note, we also have a filleting knife lashed to the inside frame of our dodger for use when on passage.

I think a LOT of people approach the life raft (AND EPIRB) in an emotional way rather than logically. But I do like the way your thinking about "walking to shore". Our last cruise along the Gulf Coast we decided NOT to even take our raft.

With the advent of EPIRBs, unless you are in the FAR north or south, or crossing the deep South Pacific, I think one of those super rafts is not needed. As I said, I think we are planning on a small light weight raft that Jill (my admiral) can carry up and down a dock by herself, and 2 EPIRBs (or PLBs), one for each of us that will fit on our harness. With idea that we would only pop one at a time.

We have also made 2 ASBs (Abandon Ship Bag). One larger for the life raft and one for our dink. They both have VHFs in each of them.

Just our view......

Greg

 

[4arch]

Cruisers Beth and Evans cruised extensively without a life raft and discussed their choice in a post linked here. I largely agree with their analysis although I don't know if I could approach the issue so rationally if I were planning an offshore passage. They may also overstate the ability for the crew of a foundering boat to make emergency repairs in a panic situation. In any case, it's part of human nature for emotion to come into play in risk analysis. Being able to acknowledge that may be a safer approach than trying to overcome or ignore it. For many people the cost of the raft is going to be a small price to pay for peace of mind - whether or not it's the most logical choice.

 

[justsomeguy]

Cruisers Beth and Evans cruised extensively without a life raft and discussed their choice in a post linked here. I largely agree with their analysis although I don't know if I could approach the issue so rationally if I were planning an offshore passage. They may also overstate the ability for the crew of a foundering boat to make emergency repairs in a panic situation. In any case, it's part of human nature for emotion to come into play in risk analysis. Being able to acknowledge that may be a safer approach than trying to overcome or ignore it. For many people the cost of the raft is going to be a small price to pay for peace of mind - whether or not it's the most logical choice.

Interesting. Thanks for the link.

 

[Gunni]

Something that hasn't been discussed is life raft rental. In the past we rented a liferaft - believe it was Vane Brothers in Baltimore.

 

[Doc_holiday]

Seems to me, unless you are a full time cruiser and just need one for a long trip, you can lease them. I've seem the ads in SAIL, Good d boat, and a couple other magazines. Might be worth looking into if only going out occasionally.