Life Raft Rental?

[Ted]

I'm going to be flying to Cozumel in early March. It'll just be a quick trip, but I'll be taking the long way over the water and want to make sure I have a raft on board should the airplane decide it's had enough at an inopportune time.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a place to rent from? I'll be departing from Houston if that matters.

 

[Art VanDelay]

All the places I know of are in Florida. You might be able to get one of the FL places to mail you one. You guys still got pony express up there in Jayhawk land ?

 

[SkyDog58]

Wouldn't flying over the water be the short way and not the long way?

Funny though how this thread popped up today as last night I was talking to the wife about doing a trip to Cozumel and Belize via Havana sometime in the future. Thought that would be a cool trip.

 

[Plano Pilot]

I have rented them from C&M Marine in Dallas. Don't let the Marine part of their name they are an aviation company. There is a link on http://www.cmaviationservices.com/aircraft-life-rafts/ to download the "Rental Equipment Form". I did notice that their prices have gone up a lot since the last time we rented one.

If you pick it up from them in Dallas you could save the hazardous cargo shipping charge.

 

[Ted]

You guys still got pony express up there in Jayhawk land ?

Last week they got these new fangled "horseless carriages." I don't think the things will ever get popular. Who'd want to give up having horse?

 

[Ted]

Wouldn't flying over the water be the short way and not the long way?

Funny though how this thread popped up today as last night I was talking to the wife about doing a trip to Cozumel and Belize via Havana sometime in the future. Thought that would be a cool trip.

You're right, bad wording. It's going over a lot of water.

I am debating whether I'll go direct from Houston or hop over to Louisiana to refuel then go over. That cuts the over water leg time by about 200 nm. Not that I have any issues with over water flight, it's more a range question and will depend on winds. The plane can do the 700 nm range just fine in no-wind conditions, but I like lots of margin for trips where I have no fuel fuel stops.

Cozumel and Belize are both pretty simple. If you go to Belize, I can give you the name of the handler I used. Reasonable prices and he was great to work with. I got in and out of Belize City in no time. Cozumel is not quick to get in and out of, but the people are friendly enough. I far prefer Cozumel to Cancun myself.

 

[bradg33]

I have rented them from C&M Marine in Dallas. Don't let the Marine part of their name they are an aviation company. There is a link on http://www.cmaviationservices.com/aircraft-life-rafts/ to download the "Rental Equipment Form". I did notice that their prices have gone up a lot since the last time we rented one.

If you pick it up from them in Dallas you could save the hazardous cargo shipping charge.

Wow, those prices are quite high, at least relative to the places in Florida.

 

[Katamarino]

Wow, those prices are quite high, at least relative to the places in Florida.

Of course! They're "Pilot prices" after all

 

[Ted]

I have rented them from C&M Marine in Dallas. Don't let the Marine part of their name they are an aviation company. There is a link on http://www.cmaviationservices.com/aircraft-life-rafts/ to download the "Rental Equipment Form". I did notice that their prices have gone up a lot since the last time we rented one.

If you pick it up from them in Dallas you could save the hazardous cargo shipping charge.

Thanks, good info. I'd rather avoid the extra stop, but Dallas is more or less on the way.

 

[dell30rb]

PM sent

 

[Jim K]

I was going to ask @Ted what he was flying. I got excited that maybe he got another plane.

Then I realized this is a 5 year old thread resurrected by a first time poster.

Again.

 

[SkyDog58]

I was going to ask @Ted what he was flying. I got excited that maybe he got another plane.

Then I realized this is a 5 year old thread resurrected by a first time poster.

Again.

Give the guy a break, it was only 4 years and 11 months. No need to exaggerate.

 

[Plano Pilot]

I have rented them from C&M Marine in Dallas. Don't let the Marine part of their name they are an aviation company. There is a link on http://www.cmaviationservices.com/aircraft-life-rafts/ to download the "Rental Equipment Form". I did notice that their prices have gone up a lot since the last time we rented one.

If you pick it up from them in Dallas you could save the hazardous cargo shipping charge.

Update.
C&M no longer rents rafts.

 

[Sac Arrow]

I was going to ask @Ted what he was flying. I got excited that maybe he got another plane.

Then I realized this is a 5 year old thread resurrected by a first time poster.

Again.

Pretty sure that would have been the Moo.

 

[Ted]

Pretty sure that would have been the Moo.

Nah, that was the 414. The trip ended up getting scrubbed when the turbo on the left engine failed and the engine beam needed replacement because it was beginning to let the engine fall off.

 

[NealRomeoGolf]

Nah, that was the 414. The trip ended up getting scrubbed when the turbo on the left engine failed and the engine beam needed replacement because it was beginning to let the engine fall off.

I hate it when that happens.

 

[Jim K]

Nah, that was the 414. The trip ended up getting scrubbed when the turbo on the left engine failed and the engine beam needed replacement because it was beginning to let the engine fall off.

Pfft. You had two engines. It's not like you needed both of them.

 

[Ted]

Pfft. You had two engines. It's not like you needed both of them.

You’re right - in a 414 you actually need three engines to have decent OEI performance.