Get 2 hours offshore and we spring a leak. The water in early June is real cold...like we are dead in 15 minutes cold. Looking for some realistic suggestions for a compact liferaft. 99% chance that it will never get use, but we all need some level of security when on the water. We don't plan to do the Atlantic or anything like but we want to have a backup plan. Comments?
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Survival Suits
Hi Nick, Survivial suits plus EPERB might be adequate for 25 miles off shore. Life rafts require inspection every 5 years I think + restock of supplies = more protection and more cost. Good Luck, Bob
Hi Nick, Survivial suits plus EPERB might be adequate for 25 miles off shore. Life rafts require inspection every 5 years I think + restock of supplies = more protection and more cost. Good Luck, Bob
Not really than expensive and worth it
I found on my trip to the Bahamas that I could purchase a life raft used but recertified and not spend a lot. I had cruised for many years without one but it is nice to have if you venture far from home. Local Marine supplier may have an idea on a commercial supplier. These are best because they are what commercial fishermen use. They replace them fairly quickly and a re-certified one is a good deal. They have to inflate and check for any problems and repack.
I found on my trip to the Bahamas that I could purchase a life raft used but recertified and not spend a lot. I had cruised for many years without one but it is nice to have if you venture far from home. Local Marine supplier may have an idea on a commercial supplier. These are best because they are what commercial fishermen use. They replace them fairly quickly and a re-certified one is a good deal. They have to inflate and check for any problems and repack.
Motivation
I once read that "there was no man better motivated that one with a hand pump on a sinking boat". Ditching in the water is a last resort, take your precautions on land by checking and servicing thru the hull valves, hoses and clamps. You can check the back of the clamps with a mirror. 2 clamps per fitting. Check packing gland. Always carry wood plugs for the corresponding size of the through the hull and tie one to each valve with fishing line. Pieces of canvas can be used to patch holes. The installation of a cockpit manual pump is also advisable. If you know your boat and have materials and tools on hand it would be very hard to loose it. Even if you are dead in the water the best chances of rescue are staying with the boat. For coastal cruising an inflatable can double as a dingui and a raft, but only as a last ditch effort.
I once read that "there was no man better motivated that one with a hand pump on a sinking boat". Ditching in the water is a last resort, take your precautions on land by checking and servicing thru the hull valves, hoses and clamps. You can check the back of the clamps with a mirror. 2 clamps per fitting. Check packing gland. Always carry wood plugs for the corresponding size of the through the hull and tie one to each valve with fishing line. Pieces of canvas can be used to patch holes. The installation of a cockpit manual pump is also advisable. If you know your boat and have materials and tools on hand it would be very hard to loose it. Even if you are dead in the water the best chances of rescue are staying with the boat. For coastal cruising an inflatable can double as a dingui and a raft, but only as a last ditch effort.
Redundancy is the key to success
Benny is right on, don't even go to sea if your boat is not in tip top shape and bring along repair parts and tools. The life raft is for those "the whale just kept ramming us", or "it was pilot (your brother-in-law) error, plan and simple" or "the storm just stalled out on top of us" situations that cannot be predicted. If you are only going 25 nm offshore then I'd opt for a rigid (unsinkable) sailing dingy where you can "save yourself". At 3 kts that is only 8-9 hours to shore and a long walk once you get there.
Benny is right on, don't even go to sea if your boat is not in tip top shape and bring along repair parts and tools. The life raft is for those "the whale just kept ramming us", or "it was pilot (your brother-in-law) error, plan and simple" or "the storm just stalled out on top of us" situations that cannot be predicted. If you are only going 25 nm offshore then I'd opt for a rigid (unsinkable) sailing dingy where you can "save yourself". At 3 kts that is only 8-9 hours to shore and a long walk once you get there.
Whatever you do,
practice. A survival suit takes a while to put on. If you are in a rocky boat, it is even harder. An inflatable dinghy (or any dinghy) is a good option if the weather is ok. If you go down in rough weather, it will be all you can do to keep it upright and yourself inside. A day or two in those conditions and you will wish you were dead if you are not. Life rafts are designed for the purpose so it will help to study them a little - maybe at the boat show.
practice. A survival suit takes a while to put on. If you are in a rocky boat, it is even harder. An inflatable dinghy (or any dinghy) is a good option if the weather is ok. If you go down in rough weather, it will be all you can do to keep it upright and yourself inside. A day or two in those conditions and you will wish you were dead if you are not. Life rafts are designed for the purpose so it will help to study them a little - maybe at the boat show.
A dinghy Sounds reasonable
You can use it for other things and it will keep you out of the water. Wet suits are cheaper than survival suits and will extend your survival time. Nut loading up a small boat with a ton of survival gear is probably impractical. Only so much room, only so much money.... If we spent time worring about driving and boating in proportion to the risks for every hour of driving worry there would be maybe a second of boating worry. Sailing is one of the safest things that you can do. relax be happy!!
You can use it for other things and it will keep you out of the water. Wet suits are cheaper than survival suits and will extend your survival time. Nut loading up a small boat with a ton of survival gear is probably impractical. Only so much room, only so much money.... If we spent time worring about driving and boating in proportion to the risks for every hour of driving worry there would be maybe a second of boating worry. Sailing is one of the safest things that you can do. relax be happy!!
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