I don't know why you're replacing tops/canvas twice in 6 years. You should be getting close to 6 years out of either material easily, unless...
It is not much more money to go to a 6 person raft, only a few hundred $ more for the same brand/style. You'd be much wiser to buy the larger one...
No. My post reads that if you have a liferaft then it must be certified even if there is NO USCG requirement that you have one.
Just take a shower on the swim platform in a speedo. You won't have to worry about pumping any gray water overboard, AND I don't think anyone...
Cheaping out on what? If the liferaft manufacturer thought that a stamoid or vinyl cover was such a good idea, don't you think that they'd sell...