life raft re-certification costs

[Journeyman]

just got 2 quotes for the required 3 year re-certification of our Viking 4 man.

both are for $1500.

for a raft we bought new for $2500.

so $1500 every 3 years to keep it current?

what’s everyone else paying for these periodic service re-certs?

thanks,

journeyman

[GordMay]

From 2013 ➥ https://www.practical-sailor.com/iss...k_10977-1.html

From 2011 ➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ion-60101.html

[Pete7]

I continue to be shocked at what you guys pay for liferafts and servicing in the US.

My (£600) Seago 4 man is in for its 3 year service and I expect it to cost between £200 and £250.

https://www.seagoyachting.co.uk/servicedetail/

I know that's no comfort, but $1500 for a service, sheesh ;-(

Pete

[Dockhead]

Around here, it costs £100 to £150 plus the consumables, not including hydro testing the cylinder. If you use the full slate of consumables purchased from the service station, the cost can add up fast, but $1500? Seems crazy. You can buy a whole new quality life raft for less than that, around here.


I have TWO rafts, so I'm somewhat sensitive to the costs. To keep costs down, I bring my own consumables, and I work with a friendly service station which is not anal about slightly expired flares or canopy batteries. So I typically spend £300 or so per raft, but every 10 years (or whatever) you will be hit with hydrotesting or replacement of something expensive, like the canopy light battery.

[Paul L]

It's a bit of a racket. Price depends a lot on the brand and where you do the recert. For cruisers you pretty much get to pick when you decide to recert: 3 year schedule, or let it go another year or so, or just before next big passage. You don't get a lot of choice as to where to do the recert because shipping is not practical.
My Viking 4-man Rescupro costs NZD$1,800 (USD$1,260) in Auckland NZ at the only company certified to handle Viking there.

[nickorem]

I had a Viking 4 man UKSL. Had it recertified by Landrigan in Boston May 2013 for $1,380.77.

[jenders]

Just had my Viking 4-man repacked and re-certified in Alameda CA. It cost just under $1500. I agree it's a racket and outrageous. Few choices on the US West coast for Viking service, however.

[WanderingStar39]

The vacuum sealed ones go longer, 5 years the first time. When mine was due for re-certification, I opted to use the money to buy a folding dinghy that stows on deck. That boat doubles as a tender. I still carry the liferaft, and don't worry too much. I realize that this might seem dangerous. But I rarely am even 100 miles offshore. The need for the raft over the dinghy would be in bad weather, cool or cold water, with the big boat sinking quickly. Even then, I expect my uncertified raft will work. The odds are at least 1000/1 of ever needing the raft. I do carry two EPIRBS, often a SPOT Tracker, PFDs, flares etc. Some people have the money to buy the best of everything, I cruise on an old boat with old gear as simply as I can.

[thruska]

In USA certification only required if commercial.
This subject has been hammered over several threads.
It boils down to need and cost , over want and money available.

[Dougtiff]

Well, yes, life raft station's are a rip off for sure, its always the statement, we hafto use our product's, because the coast guard requires it, which is bull **** for a pleasure vessel, and they know it, after watching rafts being serviced in singapore by great guys, who do commercial ships, and allowing me to participate in my raft, i learned what to do, check for corrosion., weight the cylinder, pump up the raft with air, ect., i do my own, the most difficult thing is, repacking, so it fits back in the case.

[mvmojo]

I always self-certified mine by opening it up, inflating it for 24 hrs to make sure it held air, replacing the out of date stuff like flares, meds, water, etc. and re-packing. That's all the commercial recertification places do. You are not required to have a certification unless you are a commercial vessel.

[Ostinato]

I have an 8 person Viking bought in Miami for about $3000 in 2012. I have had it re-certified every three years in Europe for not more the $750 each time. Looks like i'll be getting rid of it when I return to the states. Those prices are shocking and a ripoff. Sorry to hear this.

[jmschmidt]

It's a total racket. Does anyone remember when the Coast Guard made pyrotechnics required equipment n pleasure boats? Before that the 12 gauge ones were less than a dollar a piece and are nothing more that a weak version of a 12 gage shotgun round which I can buy today for 22 cents each. The out-of-control cost of safety gear causes many people to ignore the requirement and the need. Now try to re-battery your EPIRB, might as well throw it away and buy a new one.

[Gaia]

One somewhat novel solution is to buy a steel boat �� Like ours! Having said that we do have a liferaft and yes, sadly, it needs reinspection if not recertification. This is somewhat complicated by the fact that it is New Zealand made and not all certifiers will take makes they are not familiar with.

We were quoted $1100. But it will take a week and involves two trips across the state.

Jim

[hellosailor]

One could argue that if the difference between recertifying and replacing is just $1000....put out some free ads and try to sell it, as is, for $1000. And be done with it. Just get that thousand dollars back, if someone will pay you that, and buy a new one.

What the US market is, is what it is. We could always ask something like BoatUS to start a petition for Congress to regulate things...but be careful what you wish for.

At least the good news if that you have a Viking, which is a damn good raft.

If you have a recreational (i.e. not mandatory carriage) vessel, then of course you could always repack it yourself. A clean floor, a clean tarp, inflate it with some clean dry gas (nitrogen or CO2 from a welding supply, they rent the full tank out), do your own check for leaks or deterioration, weigh the gas bottle to make sure it hasn't leaked, eyeball things closely...this is actually an easier job than putting on makeup and an evening gown and having your hair done up. (There must be some analogy for guys that's similar, I just couldn't think of one at hand.)