For Sale: Switlik-USCG-approved-6-person-MK-II-SOLAS-LIFE-RAFT

[KDH]

We just replaced our Switlik, also a 6 man Solas as it had reached the 30 year point. When we had it serviced in 2011 by Vane brothers they commented on the great condition it was in. It was stored in a hard valise, on deck. We decided to donate it to the RNLI in Falmouth, (UK) for training rather than ship it to the south of France for repacking. The older Switliks are supposed to be serviced yearly. When ours was repacked no repairs to the raft were required. In the course of it's serviceable life it had been serviced around a dozen times. We purchased a new smaller raft with a 3 year repack timeline. Switlik has limited service centers for repacking which was a consideration for us as well as the $9000 price to replace it that was quoted direct by Switlik. Our new raft, a Ocean Safety, was 1400 pounds (just under 2800$) and by comparison to the Switlik, looks to me like an overgrown pool toy. I would much rather have had a used Switlik!

[gonnatryatri]

hi kdh

wow 30 years, thats pretty good

i talked to the repacker at vane brothers and he said it was probably at least worth 1200

thanks to all the contributors for the great posts

mike

[hellosailor]

mike,
that's "worth $1200" plus the cost of a repack, yes?
Or, worth $1200, after being repacked?


Spunds like Switlik makes rafts with the kind of extra care that you'd expect from a parachute company.

[gonnatryatri]

hi hello

yes worth at least 1200 before the repack

he had nothing but positive things to say about the quality of the switlik usa made rafts

thanks
mike

[Rive]

[QUOTE=gonnatryatr

anyone out there know how much this raft is worth

its ten years old, never deployed and switlik says the raft is good for 20 years but should be repacked

Edited by moderator . Asking price $2000 obo.

thanks
mike[/QUOTE]

I had a 6 man offshore Switlik,they wanted $2.500 to repack it.
I will never buy another one.

[gonnatryatri]

hi rive

switlik said a little more than 1000 to have it done at a servicer and i verified that with a repacker in nj

around 1000 of course if there is nothing wrong with the components inside

do you remember what they needed to replace to make that repack so high

thanks
mike

[Rive]

Yes they said the inflation cylinder was rusted,I found out later that they had a recall
Because of the defective cylinders that may not inflate the raft.
I was so pissed that I went to the Miami,boat show and protested in front of their booth
For hours.
They never returned my raft,I just got tired of fighting with them,and bought a Viking,
The raft cost over $6000 dollars at the time and was less then 6 yrs old.
Sorry but they were a very bad experience for me.Good luck Greg

[gonnatryatri]

hi rive

i found some info on the recall you mentioned here

Switlik Recall

luckily my raft was manufactured after the recall dates so the extreme temp swing problem had already been addressed

from the link:

The following Switlik life raft models are covered by the safety alert:
MRP-10 - manufactured between 9/96 and 4/1/04
MD series (md-1, md-2) - manufactured between 4/97 and 4/1/04
coastal series (clr mk-ii) - manufactured between 1/00 and 4/1/04
USCG (cgr mk-ii) - manufactured between 1/00 and 4/1/04
SAR-6/8 mk-i - manufactured between 9/96 and 4/1/04
SAR-6 mk-ii - manufactured between 9/98 and 4/1/04
POD-4 - manufactured between 8/96 and 4/1/04
POD-8 marine - manufactured between 08/01 and 4/1/04

just made it, mine was manufactured in 10/04

thanks
mike