Liferaft Servicing

By: SurvivalAtSea.com | Liferaft Services

It is important to note that life rafts are much different than lifeboats, and that the two are not the same by any stretch. Lifeboats, as the same suggests, are boats; they can have inflatable, rigid, fiberglass or wooden hulls. Life rafts, in contrast, are inflatable devices that come with devices designed for their spontaneous use and smooth operation. Liferafts are intended to provide a place for survivors to wait until help arrives, versus a lifeboat which has the ability to move around and can sometimes fit more people. Below, the image on the left is a liferaft. The image on the right is a lifeboat.

It is essential for owners of life rafts to pay attention to service requirements, not only to be legal on the water but in order to be properly and safely equipped in the event that the life raft needs to be used. According to the Coast Guard, all life rafts should be serviced a minimum of every 12 months at a Coast Guard approved service center like Liferaft Services, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturing company. Servicing the liferaft requires a vast array of tools, procedures, and trials to ensure the complete reliability of the unit on the water. For this reason, it is important to keep in mind that after being brought in for service, the liferaft will likely not be returned for several weeks afterward. As a result, most boaters choose to have their rafts serviced during the season in which they do the least amount of boating. After this process has been completed, a certificate of passage will be given to the boat along with the raft. This certificate may be required by the Coast Guard in the event that the vessel is pulled over, so it is important to keep it aboard the boat. Additionally, after a life raft has been in use for five years, a special inspection is required in addition to the annual procedure. Fortunately, Liferaft Services is able and eager to assist you in this process!

What happens during a typical Coast Guard approved life raft inspection at Liferaft Services?

• The raft is brought into our climate-controlled inspection facility where it is carefully unpacked from its valise or hard container by our manufacturer-trained technicians.

• The raft is then inflated either using an air compressor or with its own inflation cylinder. The method of inflation depends on the age of the raft and if the raft is due for a GI check (Gas Inflation). Commercial rafts will be due for GI examinations at 5-year intervals (5, 10, 15 years, etc). Recreational rafts typically need GI checks every six years.

• After the raft has been inflated, it is left to stabilize for a period of time before any further tests are performed. When the life raft performs adequately, the inspection will proceed in the following manner:

• PRV (Pressure Relief Valves) test - Inspection is done in this area to ensure correct opening and closing pressures.

• NAP (Necessary Additional Pressure) test - If the raft is 10 or more years old, it will need to have a NAP test. The pressure relief valves are plugged and the raft is inflated to twice its normal working pressure to make sure all of the seams are structurally sound.

• FS (Floor Seam) test - If the raft is 10 or more years old, it will need to have a FS test. The raft is propped up off the floor in a specific way supporting the bottom buoyancy that meets Coast Guard standards. A technician then enters the suspended raft and inspects the seam where the floor fabric meets the bottom buoyancy tube. This inspection ensures that the floor is securely attached to the bottom of the raft, and will remain so in the event that the raft needs to be used.

• WP (Working Pressure) test - A one-hour working pressure test is then performed on the raft to ensure the air-holding compartments hold air securely. Room temperature and barometric pressure are also monitored. Any necessary repairs are then made to the raft. 

• Once all of the pressure testing has been performed and the raft has passed this portion of the examination, a complete visual inspection of the raft takes place. Every square inch of the raft is scrutinized to make sure it will function properly.

• Most rafts will come with some type of equipment pack assembled inside of the raft. The equipment pack can include a variety of survival items depending on the type and model of raft. For more information about specific equipment pack types click here. The equipment is thoroughly examined and replaced as necessary.

• Finally, the container or valise is inspected, cleaned, and repaired if needed. 

At Liferaft Services, we pride ourselves in giving customers professional and reliable service. Come into our shop, call, or email us if we can be of any further assistance. We look forward to working with you in the future!

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