The fee's are going up it seems for annual inspections. Mine was a grand this year and the last inspection was just last April. I need to find out what the heck they did for $1000.
(lsre did the work)
What do you pay?

It is not always the same. Some years the provisions are out of date and some years they are still good. Every so many years they need to hydro the CO2 tank etc etc.

In short they don't always do or have to do the same work every year.

Every 5th year is the expensive one.
Mine was $1338.00 a few years ago. :fury: (and another $350 epirb battery every 5 years)
About $700 every other year.
Sucks to have to do it !
But it's peace of mind when you are out and people's lives are depended on you.

I know I have to be safe and abide by the regs, it just seems excessive that an inspection that costs > $1000 and a small battery for an electronic device that cost 350 has a bit of fat built in the price.

IMO this could be reduced (alot) with today's technology. IMO it is excessive. Rafts could be made to go longer than every year and batteries don't cost that much and the installation of them is not that hard.

PS....I got the breakdown of the costs... it was basically $300 higher due to flair replacement. They also had to replace the "asprin":biglaugh: That was not expensive but I would think cyanide pills would be more useful.

Sandman,

You're right it is excessive. I think some things that have to be understood is allot of the regulations for rafts were developed by the USCG and IMO (Int Mar Org) with commercial shipping in mind. And even there I think still excessive. I believe in the industry you will see some time intervals change and get extended a bit for this is a big cost for shipping companies. Unfortunately it seems these same regs filter down to the small boat fleet.

I have seen rafts being repacked. It is not that hard to do. Anything that is a regulation you pay a price for. Also some of the price may be dictated by the manufacturer. ( like the price if high end reels). It is very expensive for the raft repack companies to get certified to repack rafts because they have to go to all the individual manufactures, it is not blanketed.

I have seen rafts inflated that are clase to 20 years ago in perfect shape get replaced with new for at that age the amount of testing required superceeds the price of a new raft.

On my opinion every 3 years would be respectable.

Note that you can go beyond the expiry service date on the stamp by 3 months and still be within regs. There is no extension on the hydro release though.

LRSE is one of the more expensive places around to get it done. Much cheaper prices up around Boston and down toward NY.

I checked around and LRSE was in the ballpark with the others I called and their work is good. I think they also pickup at West Marine stores(or they used to). I also bought all my flares,batteries etc on line and brought them to them and saved some $$$. I know a friend who got burned by a company near Boston.
They all charge but safety is the key issue

I know I have to be safe and abide by the regs, it just seems excessive that an inspection that costs > $1000 and a small battery for an electronic device that cost 350 has a bit of fat built in the price.

IMO this could be reduced (alot) with today's technology. IMO it is excessive. Rafts could be made to go longer than every year and batteries don't cost that much and the installation of them is not that hard.

PS....I got the breakdown of the costs... it was basically $300 higher due to flair replacement. They also had to replace the "asprin":biglaugh: That was not expensive but I would think cyanide pills would be more useful.

I hope you never have to get it one.
But you won't complain after that.

I think my complaint is really more of a question. Yeah I don't like shelling out upwards of a grand every year on a raft inspection but my real point is how come they can't extend the inspection to 3 years. Some rafts are now vacuumed packed and they go for a 3 year inspection instead of the non-vacuumed packed rafts that require every year. These vacuumed packed rafts do not seem to be approved for comm fishing. (at least I can not find one).
What do you think the reason behind that is? I thought it was the SOLAS packs but you can get both A&B in the vacuumed packed ones now... but still no comm rating. I would think vacuumed packing would be a good thing for all rafts as they would stay pristine condition.

Can't really blame the gov as its a universal thing, rafts have to be inspected every year overseas. I'll be down by LRSE today, maybe I'll stop by and ask.

I'd wager a lot of it is just liability built into the system. You're paying into a future insurance settlement for someone...

-spence

Factors that go into inspections:
SOLAS regs
USCG regs
Mfg regs (some are every year, some are every 3 years, etc)

All of which change the duration between inspections.