Life Rafts

[Captain Rich Adler]

I've got a 9 year old soft pack 8 man DBC raft, always stored in the cabin during the season. When I brought it in for servicing this year, they told me the canopy is delaminating. They tell me average life span is 14-15 years. DBC will supply a repair/service kit for around $1263 that should be good for 4 to 5 years or a total rebuild for around $3000. The dealer can also supply a Viking 8 man soft pack for around $2800. Any thoughts?? I'm feeling kind of hosed with the offer from DBC.

[AquaholicFishing]

I'd opt for the new Viking for $2800. Granted I would normally trust a patch but not for something that could one day save lives. I'd go with the new.

[000's]

Get a new one its only good for 12 years then you need a new one.

[rarhomes]

I think I would go with the Viking. I think they are one of best on market, and the Viking people are very good to deal with. I was very pleased with mine.

Capt. Rick

[Captain Rich Adler]

It's the upper canopy that needs repair, not the raft portion, if I have the canopy repaired and next year it needs something else, I'm going to be pretty hot.

[Over Under]

We've been selling REVERE and are set-up direct with the factory and have very good pricing on rafts. The two offshore rafts we have been selling are the:

1. Revere Offshore Commander

2. Revere Offshore Ocean

The first one will price out similar to the Viking. The second one is being discontinued and if the the particular raft you are looking for it will likely come fairly cheap. i just quoted a 6 man valise at about 2,000.

Let us know if we can help in any way.

email me at: rhyne.trey@gmail.com

Tight Lines,

Trey

[jimbo62]

I just got my quote to inspect test, update and repack my valise life raft for $1000 from Marine Safety in NJ. That seemed pretty expensive to me and I told the guy so. At the end of the day, my options seem limited - either spend the grand or spend close to $3000 for a new one.

I know that money spent on safety is worth it, but that just seems pricey.

[Captain Rich Adler]

Jimbo- I feel your pain, thats whom I'm working with too. Seems like a pretty good business to be in, automatic repeat business for inspections, limited life span of the product for repeat purchases. I'm sure insurance costs are high, but how often are claims made??? Starting to sound better than fishing!!

[Capt Lindsay]

I read the stories about the phenomenal prices some outfits charge for annual raft service and shudder. Switlik is headquartered in Trenton, NJ and I have taken my 6-man Coastal raft back to their factory for service every year except one for the 22 seasons that I have owned it.

The one year I didn't take it back to Switlik, I took it to another outfit in New Jersey that a friend swore by. They charged me 50% more than Switlik ever did.

Now there are years when more has to be done to the raft but I have never paid Switlik more than $450 and most years such as this one where the cost was $284 for full testing, service, and replacement of required equipment, usually batteries, etc.

Someday I would like to be there to see them pop the raft out of the canister though. It's the only time I ever want to see it deployed.

Capt. Lindsay Fuller
June Bug Charters
609-685-2839
http://www.Fish-JuneBug.com

[Roddy Hays]

This is slightly off-subject, but I just want to say that ever since I once tested three hydrostatic releases (time to renew them so dropped them overboard on a rod to see how they popped) that failed to function properly, I have always put two life-rafts on my boats. One on the bow for half the ship's compliment with a hydrostatic release, and one on the bridge in a valise for manual release. The one on the bridge also happily caters for the insecurity I felt when hearing a fellow captain relate how his boat burnt so fast from the cabins up that they could not get forward to release their raft before the boat sank, survival hopes aflame.

Along the way at a sea-survival course in the UK I also learnt that trying to get an 8 or 12 man raft off a boat in realistic conditions is a horror-story in the making. A smaller 4 or 6 man raft is much easier to handle. Interestingly, the instructors there didn't have faith in hydrostatic releases either, teaching us that a manual release was a far better option when available.

So, If you're looking to replace your 12-man liferaft, maybe you should consider two 6-man packs instead, if your local regulations allow it. I hate the idea of having all my eggs in one basket.

Just a thought.