Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 28-12-2019, 17:37   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2016
Boat: Beneteau OCEANIS 46.1
Posts: 107
Liferaft Size

Will be sailing on a 46’ yacht in the Mediterranean in April, with intentions to do the ARC and possibly across the Pacific after that. Mostly sailing with 2 to 4 people and occasionally 6 on longer sectors.
My question is what size raft should I be looking at. Is an 8 man raft unstable with only 2 onboard in serious weather or should I go for a 6 man raft.
CAVOK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-12-2019, 18:20   #2
Registered User
 
Dennis.G's Avatar

Join Date: May 2011
Location: Sea of Cortez and the U.P. of Michigan
Boat: Celestial 48
Posts: 904
Re: Liferaft Size

I would not be surprised if even a 6 man raft is unstable with only 2 people. Also not sure if 2 people can move an 8 man raft. But I am just guessing as we only have a 4 man raft.
Dennis.G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-12-2019, 17:15   #3
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 81
Re: Liferaft Size

Mines a 4 too, in a softbag just inside the Pilothouse. I wouldn't want to move anything bigger. All hard external mounting on monohulls obscures vision. Maybe if you have 6 aboard, decide which 3 you like the mist? :-) You could send a life raft rental company website link to them explaining they will need to bring one with and they can split the cost?
OneHullPaul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-12-2019, 19:04   #4
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: New Zealand
Boat: 50’ Bavaria
Posts: 1,809
Re: Liferaft Size

I'd certainly not go for any bigger than you absolutely need. If six is your biggest crew then six, but perhaps consider renting one for those legs then buying a 4-man for the boat permanently?
Tillsbury is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-12-2019, 22:43   #5
Registered User
 
thomm225's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Lower Chesapeake Bay Area
Boat: Bristol 27
Posts: 10,460
Re: Liferaft Size

Steven Callahan drifted 1,800 miles (across the Atlantic from a few hundred miles West of the Canary Islands where is boat sank) in his Avon six man life raft. (It took 76 days)

He had a four man but after testing it realized that it was way to small to spend any length of time in.

Running in the Rain: Steven Callahan - Adrift 76 Days Alone at Sea
thomm225 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-12-2019, 23:35   #6
Registered User
 
Discovery 15797's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean
Boat: Catalina Morgan 45
Posts: 596
Re: Liferaft Size

We've been down this path last month.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post3046518

The Winslow ultra-light 6-man offshore raft is 72 lbs.

The major stability factors for an offshore life raft are the ballast bags and the drogue.

The weight of bodies in the boat is not a factor when designing life raft stability. This is not to say it is not a factor, but whether you have 1 man or 4 men in a 6 man life raft will have little impact on it's overall stability.

(When USAF SAR C-130's deploy a raft to downed pilots they throw out a 20 man life raft. They don't force additional airmen to parachute out to help the 1 or 2 pilots in the water 'stabilize' the raft.)
__________________
-----------------------------------------------
Quests Of Discovery
Discovery 15797 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
liferaft, size

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Engine size for boat size Astro2 Monohull Sailboats 55 05-02-2023 14:09
Lucia 40: liferaft size in hull fitting mark.a Fountaine Pajot 5 31-10-2017 16:33
Liferaft Size tms General Sailing Forum 1 04-11-2016 23:36
Liferaft Size deluxe68 Health, Safety & Related Gear 30 27-02-2016 20:14
Boat Size vs Slip Size Tscott8201 General Sailing Forum 25 23-08-2013 06:32

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 00:35.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.