another opportunity for expert comments/

[Robin]

another yacht capsized, no skinny heavy fin on this one mind.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1550078#post1550078

After the Fastnet '79 the Wolfson (Sp?) unit proved that ANY boat could be rolled by meeting up with the 'right' sea, the one with it's name on it, which was not necessarily the biggest one but one which matched it's form to the length/size of the vessel it encountered. A 360 rollover would explain a lot of unresolved CR questions raised like the smashed windows etc, could it perhaps be the cause of the lost keel not the result of it?

 

[Seven Spades]

Interestingly, they deployed the life raft but the line snapped. A few years ago I have a life raft I bought from Ocean Safety and it fell off the back of my boat outside cowes and deployed and the line attaching it to the boat also snapped. I declined to have the raft re-packed and bought a different brand with a more substantial line. Ocean Safety said the lines were designed to snap so that the life raft is not damaged, but if you can't get into it, it is a waste of time. I would rather risk having to make a repair than watch my life raft float away in tact.

 

[PilotWolf]

A raft should be mounted with a weak link. It should be strong enough that the painter is 'pulled' and inflates the raft but not so strong that the sinking vessel overcomes the buoyancy of the raft and takes it down with the sinking vessel.

If you use something like the Hammar hydrostatic release the weak link is actually part of the unit.

W.

 

[snooks]

The raft should only be inflated and attached long enough to get whatever kit you have and get in it. Any longer and you pulled the cord too soon.

Get your crew together, get your kit together, pull the the cord, load up and leave.

A liferaft is a last ditch attempt at surviving. It's only to be used when your game of life is already in the 90th minute and you want to go into extra time. It's not a rematch or a golden goal, but it might just buy you enough time to be found.

It's not some magical safety device, it's a beefed up paddling pool with a bright orange tent on top. It's small, cold, wet and vomit inducing. Things will be at their very worst before I set foot in one again.