How long will a life raft last if it has not been used? Is there anyone out there that has an old one that they know still works? Should a life raft be replaced after so many years and if so how often?
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Richard...From my experience most need to be
tested on a regular basis. Normally about every 5 years. During the certification they will inflate the raft, check the seams ect and proprly repack the raft. If a certified test facility, and the key word is--certified--, says it passes all tests and is ok to use you are ok. You should expect to pay around $400.00 the depending on size and what you have done for certification. Dick McKee S/V ONE9TEEN
tested on a regular basis. Normally about every 5 years. During the certification they will inflate the raft, check the seams ect and proprly repack the raft. If a certified test facility, and the key word is--certified--, says it passes all tests and is ok to use you are ok. You should expect to pay around $400.00 the depending on size and what you have done for certification. Dick McKee S/V ONE9TEEN
Richard, that question has to be answered...
by the company that certifies the raft as Dick infers. It varies by make, model, etc. The certificating company must check all of the safety parameters and systems of the raft in question, e.g., auto inflate, provisions, flares, EPIRB, etc. The other question is whether the raft is designed for coastal or off shore applications, number of expected passengers, etc. I've probably just skimmed the surface here. Terry
by the company that certifies the raft as Dick infers. It varies by make, model, etc. The certificating company must check all of the safety parameters and systems of the raft in question, e.g., auto inflate, provisions, flares, EPIRB, etc. The other question is whether the raft is designed for coastal or off shore applications, number of expected passengers, etc. I've probably just skimmed the surface here. Terry
There are some guidelines on service life...
...that are generated by regulatory bodies. E.g. the French stipulate that, after 10 years of age, a raft no longer will qualify to meet their offshore sailing regulations for French-registered boats. ('Offshore' re: raft regulations would be like our coastal sailing). In a circular fashion, the logic probably makes sense. Given the regulations, many sailors must carry a raft or be cited...which means raft mfgrs. like Plastimo and Zodiac produce cheap raft products that are neither as robust nor as functional as the ones we typically see in U.S. boat shows. (This is not unlike the similar 'market vs. regulatory requirement' relationship that has existed re: VHF radios in the U.S. for decades. Some of us may carry VHF radios that perform to minimum FCC specs but are neither the most capable nor longest lived products - but they offered compliance at a bottom rung price). So...a meaningful lifespan is a function of several key variables and many lesser ones. Key variables would be what material is used to build up the tubes, how are the seams built (and how well), how has the raft been packed (worst is in a cannister on deck without vacuum bagging; best is probably a valise stored below in a dry locker), and how long between individual inspections. I know of no mfgr. who suggests 5 year inspections; most I've seen are 1- or 2-year with one at 3-year, no doubt in part for liability and product performance reasons. The max period viewed as acceptable - e.g. if the boat is in situ for a while and the raft is brought home and 'parked' in a dry/cool location - is 3 years, because much of the safety gear needs to be changed out or inspected at that point. The minute you step away from a mfgr. and begin dealing with a raft repair facility, you've added another layer of variability. One repair facility may find a certain repair (e.g. attaching a new valve assembly to older tube fabric) acceptable, while the next might not. The most stringent repair facilities are those doing aviation work, because the FARs and FAA certification process is so stringent. E.g. Winslow only recommends those aviation repair facilities where the personnel have gone to Winslow for their training (which BTW is in compliance with - and inspected by - the FAA)plus their own factory as authorized repair centers, as that way the insure maximum control of everything from the temp at which the glues are stored to the details of a given procedure for a repair. I recently helped a friend buy a used raft, as he's crossing the Atlantic shortly and couldn't afford a new one. We found lots of choices (eBay being one productive source) and in the end he got a 6-person Avon offshore-rated raft that was 2 years old for half the now-current retail price. (I heard about this raft via networking; nothing rivaled this on the Web). His first stop after picking up the raft in his car was to drive it to an aviation-certified raft repair facility in Tampa, where it was inspected and repacked. Jack
...that are generated by regulatory bodies. E.g. the French stipulate that, after 10 years of age, a raft no longer will qualify to meet their offshore sailing regulations for French-registered boats. ('Offshore' re: raft regulations would be like our coastal sailing). In a circular fashion, the logic probably makes sense. Given the regulations, many sailors must carry a raft or be cited...which means raft mfgrs. like Plastimo and Zodiac produce cheap raft products that are neither as robust nor as functional as the ones we typically see in U.S. boat shows. (This is not unlike the similar 'market vs. regulatory requirement' relationship that has existed re: VHF radios in the U.S. for decades. Some of us may carry VHF radios that perform to minimum FCC specs but are neither the most capable nor longest lived products - but they offered compliance at a bottom rung price). So...a meaningful lifespan is a function of several key variables and many lesser ones. Key variables would be what material is used to build up the tubes, how are the seams built (and how well), how has the raft been packed (worst is in a cannister on deck without vacuum bagging; best is probably a valise stored below in a dry locker), and how long between individual inspections. I know of no mfgr. who suggests 5 year inspections; most I've seen are 1- or 2-year with one at 3-year, no doubt in part for liability and product performance reasons. The max period viewed as acceptable - e.g. if the boat is in situ for a while and the raft is brought home and 'parked' in a dry/cool location - is 3 years, because much of the safety gear needs to be changed out or inspected at that point. The minute you step away from a mfgr. and begin dealing with a raft repair facility, you've added another layer of variability. One repair facility may find a certain repair (e.g. attaching a new valve assembly to older tube fabric) acceptable, while the next might not. The most stringent repair facilities are those doing aviation work, because the FARs and FAA certification process is so stringent. E.g. Winslow only recommends those aviation repair facilities where the personnel have gone to Winslow for their training (which BTW is in compliance with - and inspected by - the FAA)plus their own factory as authorized repair centers, as that way the insure maximum control of everything from the temp at which the glues are stored to the details of a given procedure for a repair. I recently helped a friend buy a used raft, as he's crossing the Atlantic shortly and couldn't afford a new one. We found lots of choices (eBay being one productive source) and in the end he got a 6-person Avon offshore-rated raft that was 2 years old for half the now-current retail price. (I heard about this raft via networking; nothing rivaled this on the Web). His first stop after picking up the raft in his car was to drive it to an aviation-certified raft repair facility in Tampa, where it was inspected and repacked. Jack
Jack, sure glad we avoided all that.
I've never researched the benefits of having a raft to sit it after the momma boat went down. Now I know we did a good thing. Saved a lot of cash and still have a RIB with a big motor to play with. All without having to jump through regulatory hoops.
I've never researched the benefits of having a raft to sit it after the momma boat went down. Now I know we did a good thing. Saved a lot of cash and still have a RIB with a big motor to play with. All without having to jump through regulatory hoops.
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