Empathy List Archives

MB

Milt Baker

Thu, Feb 10, 2005 12:25 AM

A good friend retires soon and will start coastal cruising in his Grand
Alaskan 60, and he's asked for a recommendation on a six-person life raft
and hopes to make a deal on a new one at the Miami International Boat Show
starting next week.

When I had my vintage 1983 Avon four-man life raft serviced two years ago
and inspected it myself during the servicing, the service tech told me the
new Avon life rafts are made in Hungary or some such place and are not
nearly as good or long-lived as the old ones. (Amazingly, mine is still in
great shape and easily certified.) The life raft tech also had disparaging
words about some of the other models. As I recall, he liked the Switliks.

Having never had to actually use a life raft for anything more than a
drill. I confess to being life raft ignorant. What features and brands,
PUPsters, should I suggest that my friend look for. Getting a really good
life raft is far more important to him than saving a few bucks.

The only advice I've given my friend so far is to be certain he gets a life
raft with an inflatable floor, since he'll be cruising as far north and
east as Nova Scotia--possibly farther--and cold water through a thin
liferaft floor is one of the best means known to man for inflicting
hypotheria on the occupants.

Thanks in advance for your counsel,

--Milt Baker, Nordhavn 47-32 Under Construction

A good friend retires soon and will start coastal cruising in his Grand Alaskan 60, and he's asked for a recommendation on a six-person life raft and hopes to make a deal on a new one at the Miami International Boat Show starting next week. When I had my vintage 1983 Avon four-man life raft serviced two years ago and inspected it myself during the servicing, the service tech told me the new Avon life rafts are made in Hungary or some such place and are not nearly as good or long-lived as the old ones. (Amazingly, mine is still in great shape and easily certified.) The life raft tech also had disparaging words about some of the other models. As I recall, he liked the Switliks. Having never had to actually use a life raft for anything more than a drill. I confess to being life raft ignorant. What features and brands, PUPsters, should I suggest that my friend look for. Getting a really good life raft is far more important to him than saving a few bucks. The only advice I've given my friend so far is to be certain he gets a life raft with an inflatable floor, since he'll be cruising as far north and east as Nova Scotia--possibly farther--and cold water through a thin liferaft floor is one of the best means known to man for inflicting hypotheria on the occupants. Thanks in advance for your counsel, --Milt Baker, Nordhavn 47-32 Under Construction

A&

Andrew & Linda Fraser

Thu, Feb 10, 2005 12:57 AM

We got the Switliks SAR6 It is leaps and bounds better than the old Avon's
4person offshore(I sold mine and it was still good) The SAR6 is huge and
you can get it with what they call a drop stitch floor. Good for cold water
and Doggie toe nails, much better then a regular or inflatable floor. Ever
time we got our raft serviced we would go down and get inside to keep it
fresh in our minds where everything is inside the raft. The space of the
SAR6 is great as I am 6'6" you could not lay down in the Avon you can in the
SAR6 with lots of room for the Wife and doggies. Remember do not get a raft
to large as you are part of the ballast system also a very large raft is
hard to right with only two people

Andrew & Linda Fraser
M/V KAISOOBA N46
N6ZPK N6ZPL

We got the Switliks SAR6 It is leaps and bounds better than the old Avon's 4person offshore(I sold mine and it was still good) The SAR6 is huge and you can get it with what they call a drop stitch floor. Good for cold water and Doggie toe nails, much better then a regular or inflatable floor. Ever time we got our raft serviced we would go down and get inside to keep it fresh in our minds where everything is inside the raft. The space of the SAR6 is great as I am 6'6" you could not lay down in the Avon you can in the SAR6 with lots of room for the Wife and doggies. Remember do not get a raft to large as you are part of the ballast system also a very large raft is hard to right with only two people Andrew & Linda Fraser M/V KAISOOBA N46 N6ZPK N6ZPL

SD

Steven Dubnoff

Thu, Feb 10, 2005 3:33 AM

At 04:25 PM 2/9/2005, you wrote:

A good friend retires soon and will start coastal cruising in his Grand
Alaskan 60, and he's asked for a recommendation on a six-person life raft
and hopes to make a deal on a new one at the Miami International Boat Show
starting next week.

I can speak from zero experience here, but the most comprehensive review of
these, a cooperative effort by Equipped to Survive and Practical Sailor,
really liked the Winslows. Your can purchase the Practical Sailor marine
review from www.practical-sailor.com, but the conclusions are much the same
as the aviation review, available for free here:

     http://www.equipped.com/raftstoc.htm

Best,

Steve

Steve Dubnoff
1966 Willard Pilothouse
www.mvnereid.com
sdubnoff@circlesys.com

At 04:25 PM 2/9/2005, you wrote: >A good friend retires soon and will start coastal cruising in his Grand >Alaskan 60, and he's asked for a recommendation on a six-person life raft >and hopes to make a deal on a new one at the Miami International Boat Show >starting next week. I can speak from zero experience here, but the most comprehensive review of these, a cooperative effort by Equipped to Survive and Practical Sailor, really liked the Winslows. Your can purchase the Practical Sailor marine review from www.practical-sailor.com, but the conclusions are much the same as the aviation review, available for free here: http://www.equipped.com/raftstoc.htm Best, Steve Steve Dubnoff 1966 Willard Pilothouse www.mvnereid.com sdubnoff@circlesys.com

SD

Steven Dubnoff

Thu, Feb 10, 2005 3:38 AM

At 04:57 PM 2/9/2005, you wrote:

We got the Switliks SAR6 It is leaps and bounds better than the old Avon's
4person offshore(I sold mine and it was still good) The SAR6 is huge and
you can get it with what they call a drop stitch floor.

You should read this:

http://www.equipped.com/switlik_safety_alert_04-1.htm

There is, as far as I can see, a recall on that and many other Switlik
models. Apparently exposure to very hot temperatures, followed by exposure
to very low temperatures can (rarely) result in self inflation.

The fix is free.

Best,

Steve

Steve Dubnoff
1966 Willard Pilothouse
www.mvnereid.com
sdubnoff@circlesys.com

At 04:57 PM 2/9/2005, you wrote: >We got the Switliks SAR6 It is leaps and bounds better than the old Avon's >4person offshore(I sold mine and it was still good) The SAR6 is huge and >you can get it with what they call a drop stitch floor. You should read this: http://www.equipped.com/switlik_safety_alert_04-1.htm There is, as far as I can see, a recall on that and many other Switlik models. Apparently exposure to very hot temperatures, followed by exposure to very low temperatures can (rarely) result in self inflation. The fix is free. Best, Steve Steve Dubnoff 1966 Willard Pilothouse www.mvnereid.com sdubnoff@circlesys.com

MM

Mike Maurice

Sat, Feb 12, 2005 2:02 AM

At 07:25 PM 2/9/05 -0500, you wrote:

The only advice I've given my friend so far is to be certain he gets a
life raft with an inflatable floor, since he'll be cruising as far north
and east as Nova Scotia--possibly farther--and cold water through a thin
liferaft floor is one of the best means known to man for inflicting
hypotheria on the occupants.

My raft did not have an insulated floor. I made do with some air mattresses
as a substitute.

MIke

Capt. Mike Maurice
Tualatin(Portland), Oregon

At 07:25 PM 2/9/05 -0500, you wrote: >The only advice I've given my friend so far is to be certain he gets a >life raft with an inflatable floor, since he'll be cruising as far north >and east as Nova Scotia--possibly farther--and cold water through a thin >liferaft floor is one of the best means known to man for inflicting >hypotheria on the occupants. My raft did not have an insulated floor. I made do with some air mattresses as a substitute. MIke Capt. Mike Maurice Tualatin(Portland), Oregon

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Life rafts