Switlik Raft Owners Alerted Of Defect

Life raft manufacture Switlik of TRENTON N.J., announced a safety alert for some units due to to potentially defective valve O-rings on the valves (p/N s-2630)found on certain models manufactured since 1996 may allow gas to escape from the cylinder "under very limited circumstances". The company stresses that the problem "is not obvious" and the rafts could fail to inflate. Switlik states that the affected units (located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic, New England and great Lakes regions)were exposed first to unusually high tempertures during the summer of 2003, then abnormally cold temperatures that winter. For more information, visit www.switlik.com or call (609) 587-3300. Printed this month in OffShore Mag. Notice to mariners. Crusher