[SOLD] Viking ISO 4 person life raft

[Designdawg]

Viking 4 person, Model 4UKL in valaise. ISO 9650-1 approved. Includes Emergency Pack E. Certification current to 02/2018. Purchased new 2010. $950.

[Boatguy30]

Location?

[Designdawg]

Sorry I forgot to post that, Boatguy. I'm in the opposite corner from you, the San Juan islands, north of Seattle.

[Ernie101]

Designdawg
Since the next certification will be the third one, according to Viking it requires more work (a hydrotest, I believe) than the other certs - they estimate the cost at $900 plus for the third re-cert. They also figure the average life of their rafts at 15 years. So... a new one is about 2400. Your asking price plus the recert that is required in less than 12 months will be $1850, for a raft half way through its life... So, if we take half the new price ($1200) and subtract the cost of the recert ($900) that suggests that $300 might be a reasonable price - if that sounds good to you please let me know - I'm in the Bellingham area so picking it up would be fairly simple. Thanks, Ernie

[AmericanVagrant]

Originally Posted by Ernie101

Designdawg
Since the next certification will be the third one, according to Viking it requires more work (a hydrotest, I believe) than the other certs - they estimate the cost at $900 plus for the third re-cert. They also figure the average life of their rafts at 15 years. So... a new one is about 2400. Your asking price plus the recert that is required in less than 12 months will be $1850, for a raft half way through its life... So, if we take half the new price ($1200) and subtract the cost of the recert ($900) that suggests that $300 might be a reasonable price - if that sounds good to you please let me know - I'm in the Bellingham area so picking it up would be fairly simple. Thanks, Ernie

That math only works if, in the year 2025, the raft is worth zero dollars. This simply isn't the case, a quick look at ebay will demonstrate that.

For liability purposes rafts are inspected at given intervals but let's be honest, practically speaking a properly stored and looked after raft will go significantly longer than the number on them dictates.

[Ernie101]

That may be true - it's probably like real estate - it's worth whatever someone is willing to pay! Good luck
Ernie

[Boatguy30]

They're pretty much considered junk at 12 or so years old these days. They're built to a price and just don't hold up. That said the raft seemed a good deal carry it for 3 year then sell it for the suggested $300

[Jason Flare]

I followed used rafts on eBay for about six months before I threw up my hands and bought a new raft.

IMHO the rafts on eBay are there to catch the uninformed.

[mogulskibum]

Originally Posted by Jason Flare

IMHO the rafts on eBay are there to catch the uninformed.

But they're all BRAND NEW, never used!

[Designdawg]

The Viking raft is sold. In response to the discussions re: the value of it, it was sold for full price, with two back up offers

[Jason Flare]

I didn't say no one would buy it, only that the arithmetic didn't work for me.

[shaneinseattle]

If the item is sold, you might consider marking it "sold" so it doesn't show up labeled as "for sale" any longer. Just a housekeeping suggestion that saves everybody from wasting time inquiring about sold items. Thanks.