Liferaft certification - Where and how often

[Pamlicotraveler]

Is anyone familiar with the CG rules about how often (or if) liferafts have to be serviced? Ours says the certification expired in Nov. Also, where to have it done. It is a Viking.

[norsearayder]

i had to certify my liferaft yearly only when i was commercially fishing...i dont know of anyother mandatory inspections..i suspect many people that are sailing dont do that..up here in the northeast therepack people take there job as a matter of life and death...everytime a boat goes down they all check their records to see if they were the ones doing the repack !!! its a matter of honor that all of the rafts work upon request...quite a different senario than those southern outfits that repack with old newspaper and steal your raft

[sailingdog]

I don't believe there is a required USCG rule. I think it depends on the manufacturer's recommendations. Some of the newer liferafts, which are essentially vacuum-packed, don't have to be inspected or re-packed every year—having a three or five year schedule instead.

[camaraderie]

Right...no mandatory schedule for pleasure vessels but an excellent idea to do if you are doing ocean sailing every 2-3 years.
Pam...the best place I know "nearby" is USA services in Norfolk. They do an excellent job and ARE Viking dealers as well.
http://shop.usaservices.com/ProductC...?idCategory=12

[hellosailor]

Norsea-
"up here in the northeast the repack people take there job as a matter of life and death..." If I remember correctly, the one documented instance of a repack station being prosecuted for stealing the raft and packing debris instead--which was discovered after someone needed their raft--was "here in the Northeast".
Pride? Perhaps. Or, the knowledge that enforcement has been taken.

The issue is nationally known:

" He said that two issues raised by members would be addressed, i.e., extending the serviceable life of pyrotechnic visual distress signals which Ms. Eleanor Mariani raised, and life raft safety issues raised by Mr. J.J. Marie, particularly related to the recent cases of fraud in repacking life rafts." (2001)
http://www.uscgboating.org/nbsac/Mtg...l_nbsac_66.htm

and the earlier
http://www.uscgboating.org/nbsac/Mtg...l_nbsac_64.htm
Which discusses the issue even earlier (1999)

Have the repack done where you can be present to observe it. You'll be more familiar with the raft, and no reputable facility will be insulted by your insterest in the process.

[Pamlicotraveler]

Thanks everyone.. Cama - There used to be a company in Morehead City but they stopped handling Viking. So I will call and probably send the item to USA in Norfolk....When you need it you want it to be right...

[Loewe]

I second Cam's rec of USA Services. We've worked with Dennis for years and they do good work. Have you come in and activate, inventory, educate yourself etc. They also do all our dinghy repairs.
Regards,
Red