Does A Liferaft Still Make Sense? (or Cents?)

[Kings Gambit]

Vice rowing the liferaft to shore to save anyone the trouble of having to come get me? Because when you trip that EPIRB, they're going to scramble the SAR team regardless of whether you're in a raft or you are the raft (e.g. wearing a good offshore life jacket). So I'm not really seeing where it makes any difference at their end. Unless you're saying I should forego tripping the emergency radio because I'd have a raft?

Yeah-- the whole industry is based around rescue. Even the life rafts themselves are rated offshore or coastal based on the amount of time you're likely to have to spend in one b/f your eventual rescue. Of course, in the life raft or in the water with jacket only, you're going to "pull the cord" for the rescue. So, I guess it's just the decision of where, or how, one waits and for how long.

 

[sunman]

Grab the anchor and go with it, I cant stop laff'n
Dang it man, thats too good

 

[Gunni]

Yeah-- the whole industry is based around rescue. Even the life rafts themselves are rated offshore or coastal based on the amount of time you're likely to have to spend in one b/f your eventual rescue. Of course, in the life raft or in the water with jacket only, you're going to "pull the cord" for the rescue. So, I guess it's just the decision of where, or how, one waits and for how long.

The entire point is rescue options, and there are no clear solutions. Every survival tool you add to your kit gives you options. I have a ton of boat rescue stuff aboard, but if I had to step off the boat into a raft with my crew I would do it without remorse, or shame, and I would kiss the Coastie that came for me. But in many parts of the world, including some shockingly close to the USA, you are pretty much on your own. So the rescue game resets once you raft up. Which is pretty much what the Mexican skipper was talking about.

 

[Picflight]

On a fishing trip to the warmer waters of Mexico, I noticed a lack of life jackets on our boat. ANY life jacket. When I asked the captain he grabbed the binoculars and said, "Look". See the fins. You do not want the sharks to get you, if the boat sinks grab the anchor and go with it.

This is really funny, this captain has all his eggs in the boat, it WILL not sink.

 

[Tim R.]

For anyone interested, I do have a Winslow 6 man valise for sale but needs recert.

 

[JohnShannon]

Well from my safety at sea course, it was stated you can expect rescue anywhere in the world in 3 days. Assuming Eprib. US coastal should be much faster. It was also stated that you shouldn't use laser flares, the coasties will turn right around and get their eyes examined while you flounder in your life raft. There seems to be at least one anecdote backing that up.

 

[centerline]

The entire point is rescue options,

in many parts of the world, including some shockingly close to the USA, you are pretty much on your own. So the rescue game resets once you raft up. Which is pretty much what the Mexican skipper was talking about.

"So the rescue game resets once you raft up"....


Options. I agree options are always good.. but i would change the sentence to, "so the self rescue game resets once you raft up".... in the raft you still have options and get another chance or two to survive until all the options run out.
once you are in the water you are out of options and there is not much chance of getting out of the situation by yourself.


and to the OP,
if traveling offshore, acquiring good offshore life vests with an integrated harness should be one of the first choices made of all the options there may be to choose from... if you are spending a lot of time out there, a good life vest should not be considered "optional"...

as to the need for a life raft, the previous comments listed here is about the same as will be found elsewhere, of which there is a LOT written about the subject in opinions and actual accounts.

its really not very likely that you would ever have a use for the life raft, but if an actual need arises and you dont have it, then what do you do?... this question as posted here may seem a bit rhetorical, but it really isnt.... and it isnt for any one of us to answer for you.

there are many ways to minimize the risk of sinking the mothership, even after holing it... and no matter if you have a life raft or not, these options need to be explored and every effort put forth to save the boat before trying your luck in a life raft.
as long as you have properly prepared for open ocean cruising and you are a quick thinker you have a lot of options as long as you are still on the boat, and you have a good chance of saving the boat even though it may be sinking at the moment.

once you leave the boat for the life raft, you have few options left, but a couple more than if you were in the water.

and life rafts dont come with a guarantee that they will save your life... neither do life jackets, or the boat itself.. the environment doesnt allow for that.

 

[topcat0399]

A bunch of us discussed this [life raft issue] at length in a thread from Nov. 2104 entitled "Plan to Save or to Abandon the Ship." You might find it relevant to your question/issue regarding life rafts.

http://forums.beneteau.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=165801&styleid=1

Pretty sure none of us here will care by then....

 

[rgranger]

A second time reading this is kind of disheartening. This fellow is asking whether he should invest in equipment that can be immediately applied to life saving on one's own volition, or in different equipment that depends on a swift rescue by others [at public expense]. Is this where we are now? "My wife and I can survive 4 hr in the water until you come fetch me. I'm planning my cruising agenda based on that premise?"

My head went there too but I thought I was being snarky.

I would be grateful for a rescue but I don't want to depend on someone else either.

 

[mz4wheeler]

Husband: "Here honey, here is your state of the art life jacket "
Wife: "Thanks. Are you going to inflate the life raft?"
Husband: "No... we don't have a life raft."
Wife: "What do you mean, we don't have a life raft! "
Husband: "Don't worry, I did a risk cost analysis, we'll be fine "
Wife: "!&^!)&#()&!#&_$&#!_!...... etc... "

There's a story she'll NEVER let go of, and rather be the hero, you'll be the center of amusement to her and your friends for the rest of your life!!!

 

[markwbird]

To liferaft or not

I wouldn't do it. I agree that the 270 minutes time is probably heavily weighted towards coastal cruisers and day trippers. You will not survive long in the water even in relatively warm water. I'll bet if you look around you can find a less expensive one.

 

[woodster]

you can view the life raft as a belt and suspenders type of thing or you can view it as a safety precaution/device sorta of thing or an unneeded expense but i can assure if you have the need for one and don't have it you will have a very empty feeling in the bottom of your stomach

 

[woodster]

just sitting here wondering what robinson crusoe did when the need arose

 

[Kermit]

It only makes sense to have one if you need it. It makes no sense to have one if you don't. Sorta like the emergency tiller. Or the spare gas can. Or the paddle when you're up the creek.

 

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

I would keep all options open if going off shore. Relative to all other expenses over your sailing lifetime, investing in a life raft and related gear, is inexpensive. I would also do a lot of methodical practice with the crew on what our next steps are in the case of an emergency. (I do this now even close to shore).
We would be talking about how our life raft and dinghy are both survival tools in our quiver. We would be planning their deployment and how we might ensure they were linked together after coming off the boat.

 

[Kermit]

Robert, I suggest you read "Lunar Dance." You could learn a lot from their mistakes. (It's amazing what a drop or two of water in the wrong place can do to "sink a ship.") I think your wife knows the author personally.

 

[Skipper]

The dinghy is your life raft. As long as it's inflated when you need it. Or you have time to get ready. For coastal cruising with good weather, including Caribbean, and fabulous if you have the motor and fuel. Seems that in good weather the only disasters when sailing here would be water intrusion due to a failure, running aground, fire etc. Dinghy to the rescue.

Just hope for good weather and a fast rescue if you can't make it to shore. Otherwise, a dinghy in a blow would be hideous.

Offshore: Life raft. Dinghy won't be a good platform in high seas for long periods. If you venture "and beyond", Don't depend your life on the Epirb. You may have to ride the sea for some time.

 

[jibes138]

A few thoughts on survival. When the Indianapolis sank hundreds of sailors were in the water for many days, lots of them eaten by sharks, hypothermia didn't seem to kill them quickly in warm water.

When the Essex sank (Moby Dick fame) the survivors used a small whaleboat to sail thousands of miles. It is a pretty gruesome story including cannabilism but having a means of propulsion seems like a good option.

The guy that the recent movie about his plane going down in WW2, POW camp etc. survived for weeks in a small liferaft that was probably more like todays inflatable dinghies. What is really critical is fresh water.

A friend that cruises extensively in bluewater and around the Carib. had a pretty good idea, it combines a dinghy and a liferaft function and includes a sail for propulsion. It is called a Portland Pudgy. Here's the link to the manufacturer. Basic cost 2700 plus more for options like sails and canopies etc. Probably $5K fully outfitted. But you get a fully functioning sailing dinghy as well as a life raft. Plus no recert cost.
http://portlandpudgy.com/Portland Pudgy Safety boat_ordering.htm

 

[Chief RA]

Its relatively easy to rig an inflatable dinghy for sailing. Buy a cheap styrofoam sailboat and use the sail/mast and rudder for your dinghy or, just steer it with one of your paddles. Chief

 

[Captn Scotty]

I like the those Portland Pudgies, they seem like a very practical option. A life raft you can use and provision the way you want! I will definitely be looking into one in the future. It would even be awesome for trout fishing in the off season!