Is a hydrostatic release for the liferaft a good thing?

[onesea]

"It is entirely possible that a controlled launch in a sinking situation where the life raft is trailing at the end of the tether could break the weak link"
Not unless HRU has been activated or HRU set up wrong (quite difficult with new design).

"In a controlled launch one would likely launch the liferaft with the weak link still attached and then pull the painter to activate the liferaft."
Which is still securely attached to boat buy unactivated HRU and loop of 12mm? line.

"I doubt I could hold a liferaft alongside in a hoolie and would likely tie it off to say, the cleats, while the crew boarded. Then I would release the painter and float free."
Agree, just make sure you have also released from HRU as well or you will have to cut painter or wait till boat is 4m ish down.

"The above procedure was described in the Safety Manual of a Sailing School's yacht that I worked for."
No Comment.

"I have also read in other safety manuals that the painter is untied from the hammer release unit and fastened to a strong point in a controlled launch."
That might be the case to move liferaft to more convenient place. It has nothing to do with the weak link.

"Having a safety manual that describes various procedures I thought was part of the "coding" exercise. I may be wrong on this matter as I have only ever been a user of these manuals, not an author."
But like writing on these forums people only read what they want to read ...

 

[photodog]

There was a considerable amount of damage done by that pooping... I always feel that liferafts mounted on the pushpit are vulnerable to being lost when pooped... I bet the HRU had nothing to do with it and it was simply wrenched off and lost overboard..

 

[Deleted member 36384]

one sea, I see what you mean now. The white line of the release unit remains intact and is the strong point. The life raft painter is fastened through this loop. Until the loop is cut the weak link can't possible activate but even if it somehow did (the pastil part) the white line retains the painter.

This has never been clear to me until now. I fiddled about with my old unit, which was in excess of 5 years out of date, and witnessed it slicing the white line.

Thanks for the clarity.

 

[westernman]

Not unless HRU has been activated or HRU set up wrong (quite difficult with new design).

You are right. And it is exactly this point I had not appreciated. Thanks for clearing that up.

I will now go and order a new unit to replace the out of date one.

 

[Seajet]

I have no conclusion about hydrostatic release, though have an inkling to avoid auto jobs and have things which go off when I want them to; or ideally both !

Though referring to outdated kit, for an idea of possible conditions I'd commend anyone who hasn't to have a read of 'Left For Dead'.

P.S, don't let SWMBO see that or she'll never go afloat again !

 

[snowleopard]

Back to the original question - no point in having a HRU on your raft unless you sail a sinkable boat