Do Catamarans Need Liferafts ? - Page 4

osirissail · 05-07-2009, 21:52

Generally it is very simple - the more expensive the raft the better it is, but the cost of the best can be awful expensive so depending upon your personal philosophy and laws/regulations in your country some folks opt for the cheaper units.
With a catamaran you have two hulls that can provide flotation versus only one with a monohull. With sufficient warps and stabilizing equipment dragging behind, the survival success of staying with a catamaran is much better than a monohull which can roll in huge beam seas and flood/sink.
The big "*" (asterisk) on having a life raft is the annual or periodic inspections and re-certifying costs. There is no end of crooked or phony raft inspection/repacking business (at least on this side of the ocean) who fill your raft container with old magazines and trash and keep your raft at worst and fail to pack correctly and omit changing the survival equipment accessories so the raft will not function when you need it. It is commonly recommended that you personally watch and oversee the inspection and repacking of the raft with your own eyes. That way you see what you have and how it really works. After all, it is your butt that will be bobbing around in the raft, not the service/inspection company staff.

Strygaldwir · 15-07-2009, 07:00

Seems like the most universal agreement is to get a SOLAS certified raft.

Cheechako · 15-07-2009, 09:16

the "lifedingy"

15-07-2009, 09:16	#48
Cheechako Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Skagit City, WA Boat: Fellippi 32 Posts: 2,205	or there's this option.... the "lifedingy" Attached Thumbnails

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05-07-2009, 21:52	#46
osirissail Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: onboard in the Caribbean - mostly in Grenada Boat: Gulfstar 53 - Osiris Posts: 847	Generally it is very simple - the more expensive the raft the better it is, but the cost of the best can be awful expensive so depending upon your personal philosophy and laws/regulations in your country some folks opt for the cheaper units. With a catamaran you have two hulls that can provide flotation versus only one with a monohull. With sufficient warps and stabilizing equipment dragging behind, the survival success of staying with a catamaran is much better than a monohull which can roll in huge beam seas and flood/sink. The big "*" (asterisk) on having a life raft is the annual or periodic inspections and re-certifying costs. There is no end of crooked or phony raft inspection/repacking business (at least on this side of the ocean) who fill your raft container with old magazines and trash and keep your raft at worst and fail to pack correctly and omit changing the survival equipment accessories so the raft will not function when you need it. It is commonly recommended that you personally watch and oversee the inspection and repacking of the raft with your own eyes. That way you see what you have and how it really works. After all, it is your butt that will be bobbing around in the raft, not the service/inspection company staff.

15-07-2009, 07:00	#47
Strygaldwir Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Deale, Maryland Boat: SeaView - Privilege 37 Posts: 834	Seems like the most universal agreement is to get a SOLAS certified raft.