I will need to purchase a six person life raft within the next few
months. I am interested in soliciting opinions on which makes/models
are recommended by group members. Most of our cruising will
be "serious" coastal, but there will be occasional open water crossings.

Tim Johnson

Tim asked:  I am interested in soliciting opinions on which makes/models are
recommended by group members.

SNIP SNIP  :)

The only thing I'd add is make sure you know where your going to put it.  I
sold my $3,000 Plastimo 6 man raft on Ebay for $800, because it wouldn't fit
on the boat in a location it could be safely launched.  I believe a hard
case on deck is the best place to store the raft, so if we ever extend our
cruising to include serious offshore multi thousand mile distances I'll
equip the boat with an externally mounted raft and hydrostatic releases.
Thanks!  Scott

PS, Service is another BIG issue.  Finding someplace that even knew anything
about a Plastimo raft was a challenge.  Remember, it has to be repacked
every few years, for a few hundred bucks each time.

And since it has to be repacked every few years, you might as well run a
drill and actually deploy it every few years. Do it off shore. In the
rain. At night. Actually get in it. Now imagine doing that in a storm,
heck imagine doing it in 30 knots. . It's an eye opener.

tr

As Keith notes, Winslow wins as both aircraft and marine rafts per Practical
Sailor.

Be glad you got rid of the Plastimo raft. Years ago I went to the 1st Safety
at Sea Seminar at the Naval Academy. They demonstrated a Plastimo raft.
Strong young people pulled on the lanyard - it would not inflate.

Later, in the water they got one to inflate. The guy who popped it must have
been a football player.

Givens was all the rage awhile back. They are expensive, heavy, and very
well ballasted.  < http://www.givensliferafts.com/ >

Ron Rogers

Tim: We have a 6 per. Wnslow, and I kept it in a pelican case they sold with for 3 yrs, and then sent back for repack ( didn't use) and got repacked in a container. I was very impressed with their service and return. They know what they are doing.
Dusty

Tim Johnson tim@timandclair.com wrote:
I will need to purchase a six person life raft within the next few
months. I am interested in soliciting opinions on which makes/models
are recommended by group members. Most of our cruising will
be "serious" coastal, but there will be occasional open water crossings.

Tim Johnson

http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/passagemaking-under-power

To unsubscribe send email to
passagemaking-under-power-request@lists.samurai.com with the word
UNSUBSCRIBE and nothing else in the subject or body of the message.

Passagemaking Under Power and PUP are trademarks of Water World Productions, formerly known as Trawler World Productions.

Got a little couch potato?
Check out fun summer activities for kids.