I have a valiase Avon Liferaft - Ocean 4 man.
Have sent a few emails to various companies asking about servicing costs and details.
To date no-one has taken the time to answer. Could it be that they want the liferaft to start work before a quote ? Of course one is then obliged to have the work done. Surely it is possible to calculate a min. charge with a list of approx costs for replacement items etc.
1 Can the servicing be done at home - CO2 cylinders can fairly easily be refilled and refurbished - see fire extinguisher companys.
2 Does anyone know a service centre that will give aa approx cost ?

I think the servicing can be done at home, but it is a job probably best left to the experts. I wouldn't want to risk a liferaft not opening properly because it had been repacked incorrectly. I am surprised nobody has got back to you with a quote. We have a six-man valise liferaft, now 12 years old, and it has cost about £100 a year to service since new (a little more the years when flares have to be replaced). Hope that gives you some idea. We have always had excellent service from Suffolk Sailing www.suffolk-sailing.co.uk

We had a series of article on the MainSail a while back which may be of some use if you are thinking of servicing your own liferaft.

‘An opening idea on Liferafts’ - http://www.themainsail.com/news/article.asp?SP=&v=1&UAN=291

‘Liferaft servicing part 2’ - http://www.themainsail.com/news/article/mps/UAN/177/V/4

‘How well do you know your liferaft?’ - http://www.themainsail.com/news/article/mps/UAN/168/V/4

‘Remember to put safety first in the busy season’ - http://www.themainsail.com/news/article/mps/UAN/31/V/4

These should give you a good idea of what is entailed servicing your own liferaft and should aid you in making the decision in weather it is a task you wish to undertake yourself.

You may also wish to read a forum thread concerning some of the points bought up in one of the article to give you a complete view on people opinions - http://www.themainsail.com/forum/forummessages/mps/dt/4/utn/87/V/7