MapisM
regular
Reged: 11/03/2002
Posts: 2722
Loc: Italy
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Is that really what you've been told by manufacturers?
That's a bit scaring, considering that you might have just one liferaft onboard.
Besides, shouldn't underwater bags be much more effective at stabilizing the raft, than adding weight above the waterline?!?
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DougH
regular
Reged: 03/01/2007
Posts: 114
Loc: Essex
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You are correct that the underwater stabalizing pockets/bags play a very important part in the safety of the liferaft.
Against this the larger liferaft presents a much bigger surface for windage and hence makes the whole thing possibly unstable.
From what I have read on the subject, the advice I received has been bourn out in practice.
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Wiggo
regular
Reged: 10/09/2003
Posts: 3299
Loc: (State, Country, etc.)
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Certainly the advice on the sea survival course is that it's better to overload a raft than underload one from the stability perspective. Another issue is that trwo people in an 8 man raft will get thrown around all over the place in a sea and likely injure each other.
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The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, and is not preceded by a period of worry and doubt.
Nereid Charter
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Magnum
regular
Reged: 14/01/2004
Posts: 1803
Loc: Switzerland
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Avon valise rafts are now subject to a 3 year service interval as per canister rafts.
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DavidJ
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 2368
Loc: home Brum, boat Costa Brava
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We too had restrictive space and found that the Arimar 4 man valise fitted perfectly. Arimar has a 5 year service recommendation which was attractive.
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www.jensenworld.co.uk
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Magnum
regular
Reged: 14/01/2004
Posts: 1803
Loc: Switzerland
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I like your solution DougH. I too think that the Avon Ocean range are very well specified and if I'm every unfortunate enough to need to deploy a liferaft I want it to be a good one.
So this is what I'm minded to buy - 2 x Avon Ocean Valise liferafts - 1 x 4 man + 1 x 6 man.
Most of the time there will just be me and SWMBO onboard so would use 4 man which is still good with 2 guests.
When 6 onboard then 6 man raft ideal.
On occasions when 10 people might be onboard I'll have enough capacity in 2 rafts.
Also quite nice having the redundancy of an extra raft just in case one doesn't inflate.
The problem with valise rafts is they have to be out of the locker, launched and then the painter cut. Out of the locker is easy - just place in cockpit whilst under way. Fix weak link to painter which is secured to a cleat or other solid fixture giving the option of manually cutting painter or having weak link break in event of rapid sinking.
Sound like a plan?
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houghn
regular
Reged: 20/04/2004
Posts: 2716
Loc: Birmingham-sur-Mer
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Why not just take it out the locker if the boat starts to sink? I keep my canister raft in a locker, behind a toolbox and some other stuff. If I ever need the raft, then it takes seconds to move the tools out of the way.
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Magnum
regular
Reged: 14/01/2004
Posts: 1803
Loc: Switzerland
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Quote:
Why not just take it out the locker if the boat starts to sink? I keep my canister raft in a locker, behind a toolbox and some other stuff. If I ever need the raft, then it takes seconds to move the tools out of the way.
I suppose because it's another thing to do when in the situation where the boat is sinking fast there may be other priorities. It seems no hardship at all to just leave it out in the cockpit, painter attached, on longer passages. Of course for loafing close to shore I agree, leave it in the hatch.
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DougH
regular
Reged: 03/01/2007
Posts: 114
Loc: Essex
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Mark,
Sounds a good workable plan to me and you have obviously given the matter some thought.
Currently I am compiling set procedures for Mob / Damage Control / Evacuation etc based on 2 - 10 people being on the boat and intend to put them on the forum for constructive comments before finalisation.
I would certainly welcome your future comments on the subject.
Doug
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Wiggo
regular
Reged: 10/09/2003
Posts: 3299
Loc: (State, Country, etc.)
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I'm puzzled about the tying it on and using a weak link. Canisters permanently lashed down should have a hydrostatic release to release them, but AFAIK that doesn't guarantee they will inflate. The painter on our new 8 man is 11m long so the boat would have to have sunk 35+ feet before the raft automatically inflated. If the boat goes down in 10m of water after catching fire, you'll be waiting a long time for it to deploy itself.
The standard procedure is printed on the tin. Tie the painter to a secure point on the boat, lob it over the side and tug on the painter till it goes pop, climb in then cut the painter with the crappy floating knife provided. It matters not whether it is a valise or canister, as long as you can hoof it overboard sharpish if you need to. Which makes me wonder about a couple of biggish Sunseekers (not that they';re only ones guilty, I'm sure) where the raft is on top of the hard top. Fine if she sinks gracefully, a la Titanic, but probably not so helpful if the bugger goes up in flames and you want to get at it quickly...
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The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, and is not preceded by a period of worry and doubt.
Nereid Charter
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