Life raft for Rent. Why not?

[carlo de leo]

Hello experts!
Thinking about making a passage, I made some search on the prices on Life rafts-it's impeditive!
So It Cames me the idea to purpose to rent one! Well, you might think, what if you really need to use it? And worstly, What if a tragedy occurs? To solve this, i'll purpose a bail check!
This can help minimize costs for both parts...
Bad Idea?
Thanks!

[TheOffice]

I rent rafts from Vane Brothers in Baltimore for offshore races. There are other sources as well.


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[carlo de leo]

Originally Posted by TheOffice

I rent rafts from Vane Brothers in Baltimore for offshore races. There are other sources as well.


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Good to know!
Here in Brazil, theres no such service.
Tks

[denverd0n]

There are several places here in Florida that will rent you a liferaft. Cannot speak to anywhere else in the world that this might be commonly available.

[a64pilot]

Every time I flew over water I rented a liferaft, usually at Ft Pierce where I cleared Customs, not nearly as expensive as I would have thought.
Small life raft, but as I don't have need for one often, by the time I'd have it re-inspected and all, it's cheaper to rent.
I did the same for a Sat phone, as I didn't need it often, it's cheaper to rent.

[Cadence]

Makes sense possibly tied to Epirb rental. "leave he upkeep to us.".

[roland stockham]

Looked into it in Europe for a transatlantic trip. Cost at that time made in un-economic for anything more than an occasional W/E or when picking up a boat for delivery that had no raft. Given that it is essential every time you leave habour I can't see it making sense for a boat in commission.

[reed1v]

If we had to do it over again, we would rent the liferafts. Fresh, inspected rafts are the way to go. Ours rotted away in their canisters or had bad servicing by supposed raft "professionals." They do have a shelf life and a rental from a respected safety firm is worth the money.

[grantmc]

Very common to rent rafts in New Zealand. Suppliers sometimes allow drop off at and pick up at a different city service. Very reasonably priced for in service rafts, about $25 per day.

As with everything there's a price point where it's better to buy.

[barnakiel]

The idea is OK. UK sailors often rent rafts from rent places.

A raft does not care if you own it or rent it.

Make sure it has been checked not too long ago and read what your country regulations say about liferafts onboard to avoid any silly conversations further down the road.

b.

[Scott Berg]

I rent them for deliveries all the time
I tend to buy a new epirb for the owner as part of the delivery as the cost is so low


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[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Scott Berg

I rent them for deliveries all the time
I tend to buy a new epirb for the owner as part of the delivery as the cost is so low


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Good business sense.