[PUP] life raft inspection and recommendations

[Daniel Guenther]

We recently had our 8-man Avon repacked in Ft. Lauderdale.  They charged 
$900 to replace the few items in the emegency bag, claiming that it was a 
year past due and "everything" had to be replaced.  I think the retail cost 
for "everything" is about $100.00.
  Keith's idea about just sending the items for packing are good, but don't 
expect them to guarantee their work if you do.

Dan
Excalibur
Cheoy Lee 55



>From: passagemaking-under-power-request at lists.samurai.com
>Reply-To: passagemaking-under-power at lists.samurai.com
>To: passagemaking-under-power at lists.samurai.com
>Subject: Passagemaking-Under-Power Digest, Vol 34, Issue 16
>Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:02 -0400
>
>Send Passagemaking-Under-Power mailing list submissions to
>	passagemaking-under-power at lists.samurai.com
>
>To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>	http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/passagemaking-under-power
>or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>	passagemaking-under-power-request at lists.samurai.com
>
>You can reach the person managing the list at
>	passagemaking-under-power-owner at lists.samurai.com
>
>When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>than "Re: Contents of Passagemaking-Under-Power digest..."
>
>
>Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: Liferaft inspection and recommendations (Keith)
>    2. Re: Liferaft inspection and recommendations (Dave Cooper)
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Message: 1
>Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2007 09:09:50 -0500
>From: "Keith" <keith at anastasia3.com>
>Subject: Re: [PUP] Liferaft inspection and recommendations
>To: "Passagemaking Under Power List"
>	<passagemaking-under-power at lists.samurai.com>
>Message-ID: <00dd01c7fdeb$6920d610$c4aac446 at 40134410001>
>Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>	reply-type=original
>
>I sent my Winslow back for repacking after about 4 years. It was fine, but
>the cost of replacing the expired items was surprisingly high. 
>Specifically,
>a couple of batteries for the strobe were about $50 each (obviously
>specialty items) and the light sticks were a whopping $10 each or so. I
>think next time I'll see if I can just send them the items and have them 
>put
>them in the repack for me, instead of buying all the stuff from them. I did
>have the raft vacuum packed, so it's good for at least three more years
>without a repack. It is in a valise in the saloon, stored indoors but
>quickly accessible.
>
>I saw someone suggest that you should inflate your liferaft right before 
>the
>repack. While it's a good idea to become familiar with your raft before you
>need it, I've been told that you should never inflate it with the CO2
>cylinder unless it's a true emergency. At the factory, they just use
>compressed air to inflate it slowly to pressure test it. I know Winslow
>welcomes you to the factory to see your re-pack (or original assembly) if
>you set up a schedule with them in advance.
>
>
>Keith
>_____
>Life is short, make fun of it.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Dave Cooper" <swansong at gmn-usa.com>
>
> >
> > I wish I could say wow but over the years Scott's experience have 
>matched
> > ours. More often than not the liferaft's were basically condemned by our
> > repacker in ST Thomas when sent for repack. Seams that had delaminated,
> > tanks that were corroded, the list goes on.
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 2
>Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2007 11:45:22 -0400
>From: "Dave Cooper" <swansong at gmn-usa.com>
>Subject: Re: [PUP] Liferaft inspection and recommendations
>To: "'Passagemaking Under Power List'"
>	<passagemaking-under-power at lists.samurai.com>
>Message-ID: <008c01c7fdf8$c0b9fe80$7101a8c0 at Dell>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
><Keith wrote: I think next time I'll see if I can just send them the items
>and have them put them in the repack for me, instead of buying all the 
>stuff
>from them.>
>
>Many repacking stations will only certify the pack if they supply the gear.
>Sort of like use my oil filters or no warranty on the engine! I don't agree
>with this but you should make sure that whomever you select will do what 
>you
>wish and still sign the papers. Also remember that some manufacturers
>specify what can go into the repack.
>
>Some of the stuff I've seen in rafts was just junk and the charge of the
>repack was astronomical for this "junk".
>
>Here is a good article on liferaft repackers.
>http://www.caribbeancompass.com/liferaft.htm
>
>Brad's parachute analogy is good.
>
>Sort of like some cars that have been in an accident and the repair shop
>doesn't repack and arm the airbags correctly. Lots of good they do for you
>when you discover this.
>
>As always YMMV....
>
>Dave & Nancy
>Swan Song
>Roughwater 58
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>Passagemaking-Under-Power Mailing List
>
>End of Passagemaking-Under-Power Digest, Vol 34, Issue 16
>*********************************************************
http://gethalo3gear.com?ocid=SeptemberWLHalo3_MSNHMTxt_1