Liferaft

[Liquid Asset]

We are picking up our boat this weekend and we are making a 250 mile trek through the Gulf. Our Liferaft off of the boat failed inspection because it is 23 years old. They are recomending purchasing a Revere 8 person Offshore Ocean to replace the Avon Offshore 8 person that is condemed. Do yall have any opinions. It is substatially less money than a new Avon or a Switlik. Thanks

 

[Liquid Asset]

no one has an opinion?

 

[ADaily3224]

A friend had an Avon life raft that he sent to the Avon dealer in Annapolis for an update and inspection. I don't remember the details but I think they may offer a trade or a rebuild? You may want to check to see if the option is available, probably doubtful for one that is 23 years old?

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I inspect some liferafts and can highly recommend buying a Winslow. They have lots of different models depending whether you go way offshore or mostly coastal. They even have amodel for Great Lakes users. Winslow offers soft packs,(my favorite), or a hard pack. The rafts are modern, light, and very well made. They weigh about half what a Switlik or Avon weighs. 800-838-3012 (Factory) or call me @ 313-882-3230 for a good price. winslow.com. I have a 1985 36C Hat.

 

[Freestyle]

This advice will no doubt be controversial but here we go.

West Marine catalogue says an inflatable (not RIB) dinghy is a substitute for a life raft.

I know which of the two I would prefer if money were no object but ... how far off shore will you be and how many times do you plan to go out so far.

BoatUs and others will rent a life raft to you for a few hundred bucks for your voyage and you might as well rent an EPIRB while you are at it.

It costs money to have the kind of fun boating offers.

Bruce

 

[MikeP]

Dinghys as life rafts

The problem with calling the dink a life raft is...can you deploy it immediately in an emergency. In most cases, the answer is, "no." To use the dink, you usually have to go through some fairly lengthy process to deploy - even if it is mounted to the swim platform. If the boat is catastrophically holed and starts down, you won't have time to disconnect the dink - it will simply head to the bottom with the boat.

Sure, if it's a hole that the pumps can't quite keep up with, you will have a fair bit of time to get everything in order and, hopefully, launch the dink. But counting on that is not much of an emergency plan.

To me the only proper way to do this is with a dedicated life raft. That being said, I don't have one.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

A liferaft is just that and is always ready in an emengency. I made a mistake about the website for Winslow Liferaft Co. It should be www.winslowliferaft.com. Sorry

 

[Banshee36]

I went through the same thing this spring. My liferaft was 16 years old and i had it serviced every year. This year the service and maintence was going to cost around 1500.00. I replace my old plastismo with a reverve shoresava 8 CG approved in a canister for about 2500.00. This raft is perfect for my application, off shore charter fishing and is in a cannister, with Manual release. For a cruiser I am sure you can find something cheaper and in a bag.
Try the back of the Back of the Boats U/S magazine or check with Life raft servicing companies, sometimes you can buy their rental rafts.

FYI, I bought mine from Vane Brothers in Baltimore, MD and I think They have a location in Norfolk, VA.
JW

 

[jim rosenthal]

Get a Winslow, if you possibly can. In a lengthy comparison test by Powerboat Reports a year or two ago, Winslow beat the daylights out of everyone else, hands down. I wouldn't have anything else. Get a Winslow. They are also smaller and easier to stow, a big plus on medium size yachts such as ours.

 

[tomrealest]

I also read the Powerboat Report and agree their position was very clear that Winslow had a far superior product. I cruise off shore and around the Bahamas. It killed me to pay about $5,000 for a well equipped raft with some of the bells & whistles because I am conservative and tight with my money. For $265 extra, they will vacuum pack it and it only needs to be certified after three years.

We're not cats with nine lives. I, my family on board and guests on board only have one life. I am absolutely sure I will never deploy that raft. If I do, I will know I have done the best I can for the people on board.

 

[Liquid Asset]

Well, I bought the Offshoshore Ocean Revere. It is one of those things that I hope I never have to use, but if I do it will be nice to know that I have it. I already have a globalfix epirb and I wouldnt leave sight of land without it, so why not have a raft. I ordered one in a can w/ a hydrostatic release and mount. Thanks or the opinions.