|
|
29-10-2009, 10:49
|
#1
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nyack, NY
Boat: Westsail 32
Posts: 1,690
|
Liferaft Inside or Out?
After having read many accounts of life raft deployment under adverse conditions I was wondering what the members think about the placement of the liferaft, i.e. outside in a mount or inside the vessel, as well as your reasons why. I am opting for the inside the vessel theory thinking that rafts have been ripped from mountings by severe waves, difficulty deploying raft from deck in darkness and severe weather, etc.
|
|
|
29-10-2009, 11:04
|
#2
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Boat: Research vessel for a university, retired now.
Posts: 10,406
|
If a raft can be ripped from its mountings then there is something wrong with the mountings. Rafts should be able to deploy by themselves which means no or minimal human intervention. If a raft is inside this definitely means human intervention. It will not always be the case that a raft can be lifted from inside to outside. Sometimes there will not be the time for this or you might be injured or the person expected to do this does not have the strength or the weather or boats motion may make it difficult or impossible. It could also be disastrous if the liferaft accidentally inflated below decks. I have never seen an in service liferaft stowed inside a commercial vessel. They are always on deck. Also, a hydrostatic release would be a worthless piece of hardware if the raft is stowed inside
I think it is much safer to have it outside.
__________________
David
Life begins where land ends.
|
|
|
29-10-2009, 11:45
|
#3
|
Marine Service Provider
Join Date: May 2007
Location: St. Simons Island, Ga.
Boat: Hunter Legend 37.5 1993
Posts: 240
|
We keep our life raft inside. No room on deck.
|
|
|
29-10-2009, 11:53
|
#4
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: '76 Allied Seawind II, 32'
Posts: 9,626
|
Mines in a soft case in the boat,
|
|
|
29-10-2009, 12:07
|
#5
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Boat: M&M 52, Kiapa
Posts: 59
|
premature inflation is a problem... inside or out (but i haven't heard that this is very common).
liferafts are a BIG investment, and they're useless unless maintained in top shape with prescribed service. keeping the raft inside does allow longer life and cheaper service. with good discipline on location & access during voyages, this doesn't take much away from the safety program, does it?
|
|
|
29-10-2009, 12:49
|
#6
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: currently, La Paz, BCS, Mexico
Boat: Westsail 28
Posts: 53
|
Adrenaline or not, those freakin' things are HEAVY! That's one of the main reasons why we opted for outside mounting. That and the fact that there's no room below.
-Steve
|
|
|
29-10-2009, 13:21
|
#7
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lorient, Brittany, France
Boat: Gib'Sea 302, 30' - Hydra
Posts: 1,245
|
My liferaft is stored in a shallow cockpit locker. IMHO, it's better protected (from sun, wave impact, theft, etc.) there than in a transom or deck cradle and still relatively easy to deploy.
Alain
|
|
|
29-10-2009, 14:09
|
#8
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX/Bocas del Toro, Panama
Boat: 1990 Macintosh 47, "Merlin"
Posts: 2,844
|
The designer of our boat had this in mind when he designed it. Ours is in a dedicated locker behind the wheel. Makes a good backrest for the "beach" and a good step up to the rear of the boom:
|
|
|
29-10-2009, 14:23
|
#9
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Whangaparaoa,NZ
Boat: 63 ft John Spencer Schooner
Posts: 956
|
First choice - a dedicated locker in the cockpit
second choice, soft case below near the companionway (yes I've had one ripped off the deck, the fastenings didn't fail the deck did, left a nice hole)
third choice - a boat that won't sink (multihull or lots of foam) then don't bother with a raft. Have a solid , sailable, maneoverable dinghy ready for deployment if you need to get off.
|
|
|
29-10-2009, 14:32
|
#10
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lorient, Brittany, France
Boat: Gib'Sea 302, 30' - Hydra
Posts: 1,245
|
dana,
If your boat can't sink, it might burn.
A few months ago, I saw a story in a magazine about a trimaran whose center hull burned completely. The crew had to cling to the floats for some time before being rescued. They would have liked to have a liferaft.
Alain
|
|
|
29-10-2009, 14:34
|
#11
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Texas
Boat: Shamrock 246 Open
Posts: 54
|
My concern with deck mounted hydrostatic release rafts is the possibility of it getting caught in the rigging or lines, especially since they don't release until a few meters below the surface. Thoughts?
|
|
|
29-10-2009, 14:51
|
#12
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Boat: Research vessel for a university, retired now.
Posts: 10,406
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by scubasteve
My concern with deck mounted hydrostatic release rafts is the possibility of it getting caught in the rigging or lines, especially since they don't release until a few meters below the surface. Thoughts?
|
That is always a possibility but I dont see a perfect solution with life rafts. The choice comes down to what is most likely to work.
__________________
David
Life begins where land ends.
|
|
|
29-10-2009, 15:29
|
#13
|
cat herder, extreme blacksheep
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
|
if you have to step UP to your liferaft, how are you gonna get it out of your lazarette to use it?????????
is best on deck where it belongs.........
|
|
|
29-10-2009, 18:18
|
#14
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bellingham
Boat: Outbound 44
Posts: 9,319
|
A lazzerette designed specifically for the life raft is probably best. It accessible from on deck, yet protected from seas and a roll. Most boats don't have them. While below decks might be a good second, they are heavy. It is likely that you will be at least bruised, if not injured before you need to bring the thing on deck. Secondly, while it is nice to say always step up to the liferaft, one big reason to take to a raft is an uncontrollable fire. In a fire situation, going below to get the raft is probably not practical.
Paul L
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Advertise Here
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|
|