Inflatable Buoyancy vice Lift Raft

[zstine]

I'm guessing most times people abandon a ship for a life raft is due to sinking. I would assert that staying with the ship, provided it floats, is generally safer than bobbing around in a rubber raft, though I understand there's times you'd rather be in a life raft (fire for example). It's come to my attention that there are inflatable buoyancy bags available that can displace enough water to float a 30 - 40 ft boat at approximately the same cost as a life raft ($5k give or take).

Has anyone equipped their boat with inflatable buoyancy bags? What pros and cons are there? What inflation method is preferred, compress air (ex. SCUBA cylinders), blowers, or other? How did you go about mounting them?

Thanks!
Zach

[FamilyVan]

Z, as far as I understand it, the buoyancy bags are used primarily for marine salvage and inflated by heavy duty air compressors, unless there is a product I'm unfamiliar with.

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[UNCIVILIZED]

There are "air bags" for boats, & they're based on the same premise which you're describing. However, they've never really caught on.
Some of the reasoning is due to the fire issue as you describe. And then there's the "where to stow them" bit. As even deflated, they're not small. Plus, you need to place them somewhere where they can be well anchored, relatively low inside of the vessel.
Both of which, are sticking points which can/will put them in locations where they'd be vulnerable to damage if the vessel is holed, say due to collision). AND... take up a lot of the most premium storage space onboard.

Plus, if the vessel is holed, & or suffers other major damage, then there's definitely a risk of puncturing them, even if they do do their job. IE; aren't punctured at the same moment/from the same source which holes the vessel. So how much redundancy in terms of air bags does one then buy? And to what "safe" spot do you anchor them.

Not to mention you need a LOT of bouyancy to float a boat which doesn't already have a fair bit built in. And or is designed with self rescue in mind from drawing #1 when it's initally designed.
For instance, a boat with extra thick hull cores, a light keel, WT doors, & water ballast - who's tanks can also act as bouyancy tanks in emergencies.

Keep in mind too, that "float" is a relative term, as if with them deployed, things are awash up to the level of the cabin house, a vessel wont be very liveable, nor seaworthy. Particularly in heavy weather... which is when folks are forced to take to rafts a fair bit of the time. That, or have to live through before rescue, due to no propulsion. And thus, are unable to avoid storm tracks. As would also be the case on a 1/2-2/3 awash vessel.

Also, think on how much space down below, several tons in bouyancy bags (inflated) will take up under the best of circumstances. Where then, does one "live" onboard.

And the "kicker". Trying to sell such things, you're having to overcome a few thousand years of nautical practice; Of taking to the smaller boats, when the big one goes down. Even if all of your testing, & studies prove that the new toys work.
People think raft out of cultural programming, & as a last ditch tool to keep the family safe... or to get the wife to go along on the trip.

PS: Then there would be the upkeep & certification issues. You have to protect them from chafe & such somehow. Think of all of those little things which can fall/land/be placed atop them, or worse, get in between them & the hull.
Along with the re-cert's. Which are done how? Given that they're bolted into the vessel.
And people complain about the cost of raft inspections! Good luck!