Life raft inspection costs....

[Mr. Sandman]

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" That was not expensive but I would think cyanide pills would be more useful.

[beamie]

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.

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

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" 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.