Do we need to carry liferafts

[clyst]

No I'm not saying that there is no need for a liferaft when crossing the channel , it up to the individual,to take what ever safety equipment they feel necessary, I just dont think its a neccessity . Cant remember hearing many rescues from liferafts from pleasure crafts . Where do you draw the line ?? Accidents , especially fire can happen coastal or on a couple hour trip of an afternoon . should all craft carry liferafts all of the time ?

[Gludy]

Thats not logical.

15 miles offshore you hit a container and are sinking fast - you either get into the cold water and wait for say 20 to 60 minutes or get into a liferaft.

Do you remove the liferaft when crssing the channel with friends - or do you always sail in convoy?

Even in compamy you are safrer in a liferaft than without one - friends cannot always get to you to rescue you in fog.heavy seas etc. There are many situations where a liferaft could save lives even when in Convoy - the fastnet race was ijn effect in convoy.

[duncan]

personally this is my 'solution'.

at 3m, 10 seconds to launch and bearing in mind that I am only going to be doing a Xchannel in good conditions, plus grab bag with flares, waterproof HH and life jackets..........I am happy that it meets my (and crews) needs.

[Gludy]

I have never earned, nor intend to earn a penny from selling liferafts. :-)

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
cos its already been said that the auto life jackets won't work.

[/ QUOTE ]
and you trust your liferaft to inflate correctly implicitly?

the "safety crew" are doing a flippin good job... I take it some ppl here don't leave the house without:
Total Sun Block
Dark Sun Glasses
Bright Dayglow clothing
Mobile phone
Spare Mobile phone
Cash stashed in different pockets
Change of underwear

The safety of a boat and it's crew is the skippers responsibility. I would hope the skipper would make a good judgement on the nessecity of kit required for a passage. IMO it does NOT follow that a liferaft is automatically required for a X Channel trip. Sailing in company is one instant of a lesser requirement.

Consider the Law of averages - how many times do you go X Channel and how many times have you needed the liferaft (and not as a seat!). If I was always off over the channel then I'd probably have one.

According to Paul - we should not go X Channel without a Liferaft - ok what about EPIRB? Should we not ALL have one of these too?

Quit telling us what equipment we MUST have ...

[Gludy]

We agree it is up to the individual - I do not want imnposed rules.

If possible - yes, craft should carry liferafts all the time.

[totopalm]

OY VAY!! such a price already, my life, i've been rumbled
do you good discount boy!!

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
Thats not logical.

15 miles offshore you hit a container and are sinking fast - you either get into the cold water and wait for say 20 to 60 minutes or get into a liferaft.


[/ QUOTE ]

So whats the difference between going X Channel and going coastal ??

I don't disagree that a liferaft is a reasonable precaution ...

[Gludy]

Fireball
[ QUOTE ]

According to Paul - we should not go X Channel without a Liferaft - ok what about EPIRB? Should we not ALL have one of these too?

Quit telling us what equipment we MUST have ...



[/ QUOTE ]
Could you please try reading what I write.

I have cleary stated that it up to the skipper and that no rules should be imposed ... so tell me where I am telling you anything that you MUST have!!

Please tell me where I have stated that you must not go across the channel without a liferaft? I have not stated that anywhere.

So you can carry on not understanding, not reading or you can maybe try to be sensible and understand the balance of points being made.

[carlton]

Shouldn't that have been;

OY VAY!! such a price already, my life (raft) [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]