Liferaft in France really mandatory?

[Franziska]

Hi,

I'm currently planning a cruise through the English channel.
Currently I do not have a liferaft onboard.
Now I read that French authorities see it as mandatory when venturing further than 5nm from shore.

Is this correct? Do I have to have one?
What are the fines?

My boat is 10.60m long.

Kind regards,

Franziska

Sent from my C6603 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[boatman61]

Only applies to French registered boats

[Ribbit]

I can't find any information on it after a search. Maybe it is if you are racing?

In case it does turn out to be true, I personally want to have a valise liferaft (so I can access it easy in the cockpit, canister ones fixed on deck have backfired on a few people) on board anyway, but am going to pick one up when I get back to the UK. I was hoping to get a competitive one in USA while there, but no such thing exists.

I have always liked the Seago liferafts, they are very well made and either come top of the list or 2nd in comparative tests, they are good value, and, servicing costs are cheap.

I can get a Seago 4 man offshore valise for £589.00 (less than half the servicing costs of an American liferaft!), and servicing is usually between £100 and £150.

Seago Liferafts - Discount Marine Chandlery and Sailing Equipment. Bargain Boat Spares and Clothing

Might be even cheaper elsewhere.

Sorry I can't help on the requirement issue, but I will be following this with interest.

[Ribbit]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Only applies to French registered boats

Ahhhhh! Thanks Boaty.

I still want my Seago though.

[Hydra]

For French yachts, a liferaft is mandatory when venturing more than 6 NM from shelter. Shelter is now defined in the regulations as a place on shore where any craft and its crew can be safe in anchoring, landing or berthing and leave without assistance. See http://www.developpement-durable.gou...ec_SIGNETS.pdf

This means that a liferaft is mandatory for French yachts when sailing along a shore if the distance between shelters is more than 12 NM.

Alain

[rodgoult]

From other, more knowledgeable replies, looks as though only if you are French Registered. That said, if you are going to cross the Channel, it seems to me it makes sense anyway.

Last time I did that trip, I rented one for the week. I forget wat it cost, but it was a lot cheaper than buying one!!

[Franziska]

Thanks.

Probably will not get one now in a hurry.
Not 100% set on this for now.

Renting might be a solution.
Alternatively beeing very conservativ regarding weather for a one time crossing might help too.

Thanks again.

Btw. Does anyone know if France is on average a good place for buying marine equipment?
Better prices than UK or Germany?

www.ladyrover.jimdo.com

[boatman61]

Examples from Piplers of Poole..

Liferaft Seago offshore.. from £600 x 1.28 = euros
Dinghy Seago Eco.. from £250 x 1.28 = euros

[Franziska]

Seago ISO 9650-1, 4Persons, Valise, Equipment 24hr 1299.95€ at SVB in Germany.

Which is the precise model you quote for?

So your price in Poole looks good.Still there will be shipping on top.

www.ladyrover.jimdo.com

[Franziska]

Seatec (also made by Seago) Offshore 4Pers, Valise, Equipment 24hours, 849.95€ also at SVB Germany.

www.ladyrover.jimdo.com

[Roky]

re prices of equipment here in France.

I live on my boat in Gruissan in the med. Local prices tend to be high at the boatyards.
Decathlon sell some nautical stuff at competitive prices. My German neighbour says he can get most stuff a lot cheaper in Germany!

Otherwise, there's always ebay! (not french ebay..that's pretty poor). 'Leboncoin.fr' is worth a look for many things over here..

[barnakiel]

French rules apply only to French flagged boats. Should a French officer try to tell you otherwise: be very nice, smile and pretend to not speak French. Then call your lawyer and ask them to talk to that officer ;-)

Your emergency (a.k.a safety) gear is ruled by your flag.

b.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

French rules apply only to French flagged boats. Should a French officer try to tell you otherwise: be very nice, smile and pretend to not speak French. Then call your lawyer and ask them to talk to that officer ;-)

Your emergency (a.k.a safety) gear is ruled by your flag.

b.

Getting lawyer's to speak to authority figures just pisses them off don't do that. I speak from experience both current and past. The only time I'll speak to someone's lawyer is if it's going to assist me. With traffic matters lawyers were rarely experts on traffic law and frequently got things wrong.

The rest of your advice is spot on.

[petter5]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

Getting lawyer's to speak to authority figures just pisses them off don't do that. I speak from experience both current and past. The only time I'll speak to someone's lawyer is if it's going to assist me. With traffic matters lawyers were rarely experts on traffic law and frequently got things wrong.

The rest of your advice is spot on.

Normally, requirements follow the law where the vessel has it's Flag even if abroad in a foreign country. This means that if a sort of equipment is not required for a such voyage at the vessels homeport/ country, it is not required to be present while sailing in another country either.

On the other hand, Life saving equipment is made to save your life in case of disaster and some areas is more dangerous than other. I assume that the French rules discussed here is related to an effort to increase your and your crew's safety and possible survival rate in case of a disaster and it would for your own safety be smart to bring a life-raft anyhow.

[boatman61]

Forget Layers...
They can talk to you.. and they can bitch but.. they can't do anything.. been there done that.