Hello, some thoughts:
-- the SH4 model of the Carley floats coming with the original lifeboat mod isn't that bad besides of not having the grid bottom (oh well, there were several types of that ...
); adding that would be a great improvement and may not add too many faces
-- netting can be done with little faces, just with texture (I guess that is what are thinking of anyway)
-- the wooden lifeboats look great; is it possible to give them a rudder (not a working one, just a 3D model)?
-- here are images of Chipchase rafts I found in the net:
http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collect...cts/67729.html
http://www.google.com/patents/US2289826