Liferaft Stowage

pelagicasd · Oct 25, 2009

David, We carried a Switlik Lifepod in our port cockpit locker. The only other thing we had in the locker was the grab-bag. We had the raft in a large heavy duty plastic bag and inside an extra sail bag. For access to the raft we just had to lift he bag out of the locker and invert it.

I guess it was a good plan. We just had the raft recertified and it was in excellent condition. I've given a lot of thought to where I'd mount a canister. I'd put it on the back deck just aft of the coaming. It would be easily accesible and out of the way. It would have to be very well secured as the biggest concern would be being pooped. It could be swept away.

According to the folks that recertified the raft the most important thing is to do with a valise raft is to keep it dry and not to let anything abrade it.

Just a couple of other things to mention here. Any body getting a used raft should know that Switlik has a recall on their rafts for a faulty inflation valve. If you get one be sure that it has the new valve. They are free but you are still going to have to pay for the repack.

Last is about EPIRBS. Ours is an ACR 406 that we bought from West Marine in 1998. It has a manufacture date of 9610 which I presume means it was made in October of 1996. I recently inquired at the local chandlery about a new battery for it. Found out that you can't get a new battery if the EPIRB is over 12 years old. It would have been $253.00 for the battery. If any one has other information on this please let me know. I really don't want to buy another EPIRB. Walt To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
From: davidwisdish@...
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:07:06 +0000
Subject: [AlbinVega] Liferaft Stowage

Can anyone help me please? I have been right through the picure gallery and cannot see a Vega with a liferaft mounted. I have just acquired a Zodizc 4 Man Canister Liferaft. It has come with no mountings. Where is the best place to mount the liferaft on a Vega and what are the fittings required?

If you have a valease liferaft where do you keep it so that it is accessable in an emergency?

David Wisdish
V3283 Ponteneur

TJBurkett · Oct 25, 2009

Hi David,

I carried a Viking 4 person valise over the aft cockpit locker. The raft was lashed down with quick releases and the painter secured to the aft stb. cleat. If I had to use it I would just have to release the buckles and throw it overboard. The raft did take up some cockpit space and was out in the weather so this might not be the best place for it.

Tom
V-#398 Pagan Baby

pelagicasd · Oct 29, 2009

Hi again Tom. We carried our dinghy (in it's bag) on the cabin roof. If we had to abandon ship we would have made every attempt to take it with us. It was secured with 4 lash points to the grab rails. We have replaced the grab rails with stainless steel ones. A folding knife was kept secured to the dinghy bag.

A fellow I met once was in an Islander 36 a while back. They were motoring off shore and hit a shipping container. These are occasionally lost off of the container ships. If it is filled with boxes of electronics packed in styrofoam it might be able to just barely at
float at the surface. To make a long story short they were towing their dinghy and were in it in 15 seconds or so. If you are going to stow it on the foredeck consider using a hydrostatic release. You might not be able to get to it in time. WaltTo: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
From: davidwisdish@...
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:07:23 +0000
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: Life raft Stowage

Tom

Thanks for the information. The options for stowing the life raft seem to be - in front of the mast - on the coach roof aft of the kicking strap - or as you suggest on the cop of the aft cockpit locker. As the raft is quite heavy I do not think that I can stow it in a locker as in an emergency I would find it hard to lift it out of the locker to be deployed. I think that what I will do is mount the raft just forward of the mast and stow the inflatable dinghy on the coach roof aft of the kicking strap. Not ideal by everything is a compromise!

David
V3283 Ponteneur

From: TJBurkett
Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 8:30 PM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Liferaft Stowage

Hi David,

I carried a Viking 4 person valise over the aft cockpit locker. The raft was lashed down with quick releases and the painter secured to the aft stb. cleat. If I had to use it I would just have to release the buckles and throw it overboard. The raft did take up some cockpit space and was out in the weather so this might not be the best place for it.

Tom
V-#398 Pagan Baby

capt_sail · Oct 30, 2009

An e-mail list for owners and sailors of To make a long story short they were towing their dinghy and were in it in 15 seconds or so. If you are going to stow it on the foredeck consider using a hydrostatic release. You might not be able to get to it in time.

I would not recommend a hydrostatic release for a dinghy. Part of the reason these work for liferafts is that the rafts float up from the submerged boat to the surface in their compact, smooth-sided cannisters. I would not bet on the chances of an inflated or rigid dinghy making it through the forestay, shrouds, running rigging and sails without getting hung up on something. Even commercial rigid lifeboats and rescue boats are NOT fitted with hydrostatic releases. Best bet is a pelican hook and an adjustable lashing for tool-free quick release.

Bill
ex-Traveler
V-1390

Liferaft Stowage

albinvega3283

.

pelagicasd

.

TJBurkett

.

albinvega3283

.

albinvega3283

.

pelagicasd

.

albinvega3283

.

capt_sail

.

albinvega3283

.