Emergency inflation

[Gordonmc]

So far my cruising has not taken me and the family to the point where a canister liferaft has been regarded as a necessity. If I do go further I would hire.
However, standing on the foredeck with right leg pumping for all is worth to get the tender inflated I have wondered what would happen if we needed the wee boat in an emergency, not just a jaunt to the chip shop.
Here then is the question. Has anyone come up with a quick co2 type inflator for standard Zodiac, Suzimar, Achilles etc style inflatables?
I am not suggesting using the ripcord every time you want to use the boat, but even a means of emergency inflation of one compartment would give enough bouyancy to allow an escape. Pump the other compartments manually when there is more time.
Any thoughts?

 

[Eudorajab]

Whilst there is no replacement for a liferaft, a good alternative to your problem is to partially inflate and store your tender where it is readily accessible. This can be somewhat of an eyesore (depending on where it is stored), but certainly provides peace of mind when cruising with the family. Make sure that the pump is handy as well.

One other thing, a grab bag is invaluable, even though it sometimes draws smiles and snickers from the crew. Make sure it includes flares of course as well as a spare pump (just in case).

Hope you never have to use them in anger and keep on pumpin !!

 

[Guest]

Whilst what you ask seems logical, I think you may have a few technical problems, not least of which is that liferafts have gas bottles that can deliver more gas than what is required, the remainder is vented off through a valve. Unfortunately your rubbadub doesn't have such a valve. So the senario is you, wife and dog are in the doo doo and need rubbadub fast,,pull cord,,rubbadub inflates until it blows into bits. Result, upset wife and drowned dog,,or if your lucky upset dog and drowned wife<s>. Your only other alternative is to carry a compressed air bottle and inflate that way.

 

[billmacfarlane]

You can get such a system on a Tinker Tramp. You can either plump for the complete life raft pacckage which I don't like or simply go for a couple of co2 canisters which can be inflated in an emergency.

 

[toad]

Avon used to do a co2 inflator kit. I have often pondered this when doing one legged step aerobics on the foredeck,it should not be hard to rig a 12volt dingy air pump to a small 12volt battary(5 or 10 amp hour from maplin say)in a self contained box which can be recharged between use.I feel a winter project comeing on.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Presumably you don't have the space to carry the tender permanently inflated on deck. I have a lack of space problem on my Centaur - baby stay gets in the way, tender would block access to foredeck. The tender needs to be available at all times since it will also serve as my 'liferaft'.

My solution was to install davits at the stern and suspend the dinghy therefrom. Fabrication was from 25mm AISI 316 tube attaching to the existing pushpit. The boat is lifted by two simple tackles, one at each end, both ropes being pulled together until it is snug up to the davits. The stern light is not obscured because the boat is well above it. I have had the dinghy in this position even in a Force 7 with steep Mediterranean waves and it still stays put.

Launching is as easy as pulling a slipped knot and the boat remains tethered at both ends until you either unclip or, if in a real hurry, you cut the rope.

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. You might wish to consider this as an alternative solution. My sailing is cruising and it has certainly worked for me. The only 'problem' is that you have to go 'bows-to' on the pontoon; but I already did that in any case because of privacy.

Fair Winds!

Wally

 

[Guest]

I had my Avon Redcrest fitted with CO2 bottles and relief valves by the company that makes the Tinker Tramp. Unlike a liferaft, this is all on view, serviceable and testable. The dinghy is stored, deflated and folded up on the stern deck. The oars and grab bag, including portable VHF, flares etc are there too. The boat inflates with one pull on a lanyard. I don't feel the need for a canopy for my coastal cruising. I have a loop of rope, about 3 feet long, fitted to the rubber eyes for the outboard bracket. This hangs down in the water as a foot loop for emergency boarding of the boat. It makes the task a whole lot easier. If I hadn't already owned a Redcrest, I'd have gone for a second hand Tinker Tramp.

 

[Danny]

I have a 4 man cannister liferaft (unused in anger) in the garage in central Scotland we might be able to do a deal. Contact me if interested.

 

[Guest]

How about filling an "old" (out of date) fire extinguisher with air. Some of them have a Schrader valve for topping up which will fit either a small tyre inflator or the local garage compressor system. The extinguisher will have a release control handle so you won't blow up the inflatable too much. All you (we) need is an adaptor to fit the inflatable, shouldn't be difficult.

Now boffins - what air pressure would we need in the extinguisher to inflate a smallish inflatable?

 

[Guest]

I had a Metzler inflatable which a sailmaker friend had adapted for me with CO2 bottles which were held on each side tube in velcro-ed canvas holders and were permanently connected with valved flexible connectors to glued on inflation connectors. This was done professionally I think by an Avon centre.The bottles were size matched to the cubic capacity of the dinghy tubes.Worked very well and was not intrusive..You do have to be sure that the ordinary inflation connections are closed when the dinghy is inflated or the pressure will obviously be lost unless they are of a type that are inlet (one way ) only.
The only problem we found and I know someone else had the same problem,was that we could not resist trying ot out to be sure that it worked-which it did,but then found that I could not get the bottles refilled as the various extinguisher companies I went to did not have the required adaptor to suit the bottle threads.I am sure this could be overcome however and would reccomend this method.