Life raft service

WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR
LIFE RAFT
SERVICED EVERY YEAR

Marine life rafts exist in a harsh environment. They are exposed to both fresh and salt water, wide changes in outside temperature, abuse by the crew in handling and stowage, in addition to the life raft fabrics normal aging process.
There is no way to keep a life raft completely dry on a boat. Life raft containers both leak and have condensation problems. They can also become damaged through improper stowage or rough weather conditions, thus allowing sharp fiberglass edges to chafe the life raft as well as allowing further water intrusion.
In spite of all this, the life raft is designed to perform under conditions where the main vessel would not survive. There is no way to determine if a life raft remains in optimum functioning condition without having it serviced regularly.
Of the three important functions of a life raft, the first and foremost is that the life raft must inflate. The inflation system is the key to this process. Inflation cylinders are manufactured from either steel or aluminum. Both of these materials suffer from corrosion and/or electrolysis when put in an environment of fresh or salt water. Making sure that both the inflation cylinder and the life raft inflation system are in working condition is the first priority when servicing a life raft. A service facility inspects for corrosion and/or electrolysis problems and correct gas charges in the cylinder(s). During servicing cylinders have been found to be in great shape one year yet corrosion will have created a hole in the cylinder twelve months later. Testing to insure the proper working order of the inflation valve(s) in the life raft itself will also be done by the service facility.
Once the initial inflation of the life raft has occurred, the life raft must continue to remain inflated. Abrasion of the life raft caused by movement of the life raft inside the container and damage due to moisture are the two biggest problems confronting a newer life raft. Additionally, as a life raft ages, the material itself can become porous or develop weak spots. Allowing the life raft a chance to dry every year along with repairing problem abrasion/ageing areas before they become un-repairable is of extreme importance.
Finally, the equipment stored in the life raft must function. Most life raft equipment has a designated service life to assure proper operation. Items such as flashlight batteries, flares, repair kit cement, food and water are required to be replaced at designated times. Water damage to the equipment can render it useless.

Having a life raft serviced on an annual basis provides the best possibility that the life raft will inflate properly, hold air once inflated, and contain functioning equipment packed inside the life raft.