A bit of Rough Video for 18s and over

[Gludy]

This is a video running a bit over 7 minutes and it will require broadband. It will play when 5% is loaded. Sorry for the title - it may be a bit misleading! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
It is amateur footage of a Viking self righting life raft – self righting and also a test of its behaviour at sea in large waves.

I thought it interesting and so made this web version of what is not great quality footage but hopefully interesting to show on the forum …. Hope you find it interesting.

I have no commercial connection whatsoever with Viking just admire them as a business and their products – I would never use any other life raft.

Click here for Video

 

[No1_Moose]

Re: A bit of Rogh Video

"I would never use any other life raft"

I bet you would!

 

[Gludy]

Re: A bit of Rogh Video

Well I have to say you are right if the other was the only one on offer!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Alistairr]

Re: A bit of Rogh Video

Does all that other kit, come as standard already in the liferaft?

Al.

 

[mjf]

So what you going to do? walk around the deck of your sinking cruise ship, ferry or what have you until you find a Viking raft.


Bollox.

 

[Gludy]

Re: A bit of Rogh Video

Yes the kit comes as stanadrad to either RORC or SDolas Spec.

As regards walking arounf ro find a Viking - what I meant was that I would nver fit any other on a boat of mine but a self righting Viking.

 

[Sneds]

Re: A bit of Rogh Video

Interesting post, as ever,thanks Gludy

 

[jfm]

Thanks Gludy. I liked the self-righting ability - not many LRs do that. I thought all LRs were much of a muchness and so bought a couple of Zodiacs last time. Well-known brand I suppose. Will get Viking next time!

 

[Gludy]

Yep - in real life, despite the swimming pool survival bit, its almost impossible to right a life raft in any sort of sea and there is about 50% chance of your life raft inflating upside down - I do not like those odds and so strongly believe in self righting and a decent robust and easy way to get in from the water.... hence the Viking. They make down to 4 man self righting.

 

[Gludy]

Intereting stat

So far - in just a few hours there have been exactly 475 viewings of the video - amazing. The figure was taken from the media server dishing it out.

 

[tcm]

\"i would never use any other liferaft\"

er what about this?

http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20061024133904mbynews.html

you have the viking, i will try brand x...

 

[Gludy]

Re: \"i would never use any other liferaft\"

yes - they contacted me - took the 2 rafts back - changed over the valaves - did a full service for free and issued a new service as well as providing a first aid kit with their compliments - the third part valave may have had a problem so they recalled them all at theitr expense.

So what brand X would you prefer tcm? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[tcm]

Re: \"i would never use any other liferaft\"

I will hold firm to my preference for never *using* a liferaft of any description

 

[Gludy]

Re: \"i would never use any other liferaft\"

As usual TCM you duck and weave /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif ..... so you are faced with a long trip straight across Biscay and you can choose any make of liferaft to take with you ..... which would it be?

 

[tcm]

Re: \"i would never use any other liferaft\"

Well, tell you the truth i would (and have) taken any liferaft, really. If you recommend a particular brand, well, i will have one of those.

But of course, a million(ish) times more important is to choose right other gear and crew and wx etc etc .

On mobo i went across Biscay with two liferafts on board which was comforting - because surely the recall thing highlights the fact that although a liferaft company makes lovely liferafts - they cannot be sure that 100% of their liferafts will work 100% of the times they are needed.

On catamarans of course you have a lighter built boat more likely to stay afloat for longer and with numerous fatal accidents with cats the boat is still found in one piece weeks later. So it wil take a lot of fire etc to get me away from knackered main boat and into a liferaft - any liferaft.

Note: i can't see that video so i reserve the right to change views above when i am using a faster puter or connexion

 

[Gludy]

Re: \"i would never use any other liferaft\"

Ok tcm - you can change your view from the obscure rumbling it is now to an actual life raft choice when you see the video - permission granted /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[AdeOlly]

Interesting stuff - looked at Viking a couple of years ago at SIBS and was impressed with their quality and this has reminded me to do so again now I have room to stow a liferaft. If there's a 50/50 chance of a liferaft inflating upside down the last thing I'd want to be faced with abandoning a sinking mothship is a battle to right the flippin thing.

 

[Gludy]

Yep - the time to find out the saving was not worth it is when your liferaft inflates upside down and you have to jump into the water in an attempt to right it with waves and a boat banging up and down. it is difficult at best and often impossible - far better to step into the life raft at the last minute before the boat disappears.

Imagine trying to do it in rough seas?

 

[wakeup]

But I would have thought that if you are going to inflate the liferaft and step into it you could always right it from the boat before getting in the water if it inverted upon inflation.

 

[Gludy]

In practical conditions at sea that 'righting' ranges from very difficult to impossible.

Imgine any sort of wind blowing and trying to hang over trying to pull it over ....... it really is very, very difficult and in any sort of decent sea very dangerous. If I do nothing more than highlight this fact, the thread would have been worthwhile.