Hydrostatic Release

[Graham376]

What happens to out of date hydrostatic life raft releases, do they fail to release or, release prematurely? Mine is due for replacement this year but can't read the month.

 

[Neeves]

My immediate response is - if a month here or there is so critical - I'd worry. They surely have a safety factor for these devices and a delay of a couple of months should not make a whit of difference.

Sorry but I cannot answer your question.

Jonathan

 

[Graham376]

Not really worried, am going to leave it until next winter re-fit. More curiosity about what happens to them as we're told "must be replaced by", same as life jackets with Hammar but, couldn't find any info about how they fail if we don't.

 

[Ruffles]

If it helps the date is 'from date of fitting' not date of manufacture. You set the date on the unit when you fit it. Which implies it's an issue of weathering rather than something that degrades internally.

 

[Bitterend]

I am not a fan of hydrostatic releases. On a trip from Guernsey to Cascais we ran into a storm sailing down the N Spanish and Portugese coasts. Wind was 64 kts, we were doing 8 kts on engine, so apparent wind was 56 over the stern.
We heard a strange ringing tone, it was the satnav and Falmouth asking if were ok, Yes yes,! He said your Epirb has actvated. We looked, no Epirb it had floated off after a larger than normal, ie normal for 56 knots of wind up our chuff wave broached the stern. Ok you say, daft place to put an Epirb, i agree, I was just crew for the delivery trip. Our experience wasn't a good one, it could have been the liferaft on the aft deck or foredeck or or or. Better to have equipment released when the crew need it rather than when a dowsing with seawater decides. Of course others' views may differ.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I am not a fan of hydrostatic releases. On a trip from Guernsey to Cascais we ran into a storm sailing down the N Spanish and Portugese coasts. Wind was 64 kts, we were doing 8 kts on engine, so apparent wind was 56 over the stern.
We heard a strange ringing tone, it was the satnav and Falmouth asking if were ok, Yes yes,! He said your Epirb has actvated. We looked, no Epirb it had floated off after a larger than normal, ie normal for 56 knots of wind up our chuff wave broached the stern. Ok you say, daft place to put an Epirb, i agree, I was just crew for the delivery trip. Our experience wasn't a good one, it could have been the liferaft on the aft deck or foredeck or or or. Better to have equipment released when the crew need it rather than when a dowsing with seawater decides. Of course others' views may differ.

+1. IMHO the best place for mounting an EPIRB is down below, close to the companionway.

 

[FlyingGoose]

+1. IMHO the best place for mounting an EPIRB is down below, close to the companionway.

+2 tis were mine is

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I am not a fan of hydrostatic releases. On a trip from Guernsey to Cascais we ran into a storm sailing down the N Spanish and Portugese coasts. Wind was 64 kts, we were doing 8 kts on engine, so apparent wind was 56 over the stern.
We heard a strange ringing tone, it was the satnav and Falmouth asking if were ok, Yes yes,! He said your Epirb has actvated. We looked, no Epirb it had floated off after a larger than normal, ie normal for 56 knots of wind up our chuff wave broached the stern. Ok you say, daft place to put an Epirb, i agree, I was just crew for the delivery trip. Our experience wasn't a good one, it could have been the liferaft on the aft deck or foredeck or or or. Better to have equipment released when the crew need it rather than when a dowsing with seawater decides. Of course others' views may differ.

As an addendum to my post#6 I would also say that having the EPIRB mounted below allows it to be added to the grab bag, so that it stays with the liferaft/survivors in the water, rather than floating off independently, so no, definitely no hydrostatic release.