But have you ever tested a self-packed raft under real conditions (auto inflate), etc? Anyone?

I'm sure most of you were very meticulous and you are confident, but you don't really know until you pull that lanyard...

Of course having said that, you all have me thinking of checking mine - about 13 years old, last inspected in 2004 or so. (Cheap sailor - common story) But I have not been offshore recently so I don't have real motivation.

In the back of my mind I always picture myself floating around in rough seas wondering "Just how big a check would I write to get me out of this mess."