Heckler
Well-Known Member
just a thought with the other thread going on, just how many people have used one in anger in our waters?, what was it like to get in/on? etc etc.
stu
stu
lemain and his question who has used a liferaft in anger?
- Thread starter Heckler
- Start date
flaming
Well-Known Member
Never used one in anger, but done the sea survival training in a swimming pool.
It did rather change my attitude on liferafts, I will never get in one unless the boat I'm on is underwater and heading down, or on fire. Being in a liferaft in a swimming pool was thoroughly unpleasant, and actually made me feel sick. Getting in was difficult and pulling the "injured" person onboard was very hard indeed.
It did rather change my attitude on liferafts, I will never get in one unless the boat I'm on is underwater and heading down, or on fire. Being in a liferaft in a swimming pool was thoroughly unpleasant, and actually made me feel sick. Getting in was difficult and pulling the "injured" person onboard was very hard indeed.
tyce
Well-Known Member
"I will never get in one unless the boat I'm on is underwater and heading down, or on fire"
ehmm i thought that is what they are for.
ehmm i thought that is what they are for.
michael_w
Well-Known Member
Me too. Due to do the sea survival/ISAF offshore safety course again this year.
Initially I thought, liferafts ok, it's 5 years since I fooled about in Andark Diving's pool and could do with the practice; but training about the deployment of storm sails? Jeez, I've used a storm jib in anger at least 5 times and a trysail 3 times.... I don't need a course. Bollox, I know what to do....
After a bit of reflection, I remembered that time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted and the views of other people could be helpful. So, I'll gladly spend two days in the pool and classroom.
Initially I thought, liferafts ok, it's 5 years since I fooled about in Andark Diving's pool and could do with the practice; but training about the deployment of storm sails? Jeez, I've used a storm jib in anger at least 5 times and a trysail 3 times.... I don't need a course. Bollox, I know what to do....
After a bit of reflection, I remembered that time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted and the views of other people could be helpful. So, I'll gladly spend two days in the pool and classroom.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
History tells us that this is not so. In several well-documented tragedies the crew abandoned a yacht, which survived, whereas the crew in the liferaft did not.
Can't answer the question but I have done several offshore survival courses. A liferaft, or even an enclosed ship's lifeboat, is a most unpleasant place to be. When I did my first course, about 1983 I think, we filled a lifeboat with 55 men. As it was only 24 ft long this was a considerable achievement. We sat in tiers all up the sides. Anybody suffering mal de mer was instructed to do it down the neck of their survival suit, both to help others not to upchuck and to preserve the thermal content. On my next update this had been abandoned and we were told to do it in our safety helmets.
The liferaft was appalling. At least half of us couldn't get in unaided. The motion inside was bad, although the sea was not too rough. It was very cold, despite an inflatable floor. Don't go there.
Can't answer the question but I have done several offshore survival courses. A liferaft, or even an enclosed ship's lifeboat, is a most unpleasant place to be. When I did my first course, about 1983 I think, we filled a lifeboat with 55 men. As it was only 24 ft long this was a considerable achievement. We sat in tiers all up the sides. Anybody suffering mal de mer was instructed to do it down the neck of their survival suit, both to help others not to upchuck and to preserve the thermal content. On my next update this had been abandoned and we were told to do it in our safety helmets.
The liferaft was appalling. At least half of us couldn't get in unaided. The motion inside was bad, although the sea was not too rough. It was very cold, despite an inflatable floor. Don't go there.
tyce
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
History tells us that this is not so. In several well-documented tragedies the crew abandoned a yacht, which survived, whereas the crew in the liferaft did not.
and to quote again "I will never get in one unless the boat I'm on is underwater and heading down, or on fire"
like i said liferaft time me thinks.
i know all the guff about staying with the boat as long as poss.
done more types of survival courses through work than i care to recall.
History tells us that this is not so. In several well-documented tragedies the crew abandoned a yacht, which survived, whereas the crew in the liferaft did not.
and to quote again "I will never get in one unless the boat I'm on is underwater and heading down, or on fire"
like i said liferaft time me thinks.
i know all the guff about staying with the boat as long as poss.
done more types of survival courses through work than i care to recall.
Heckler
Well-Known Member
i did the one at the robert gordon institute in aberdeen, agree it was unpleasant and yes i felt ickie, this was in the swimming pool with the wind machine on and the twat with the fire hose that i wanted to punch! BUT in the real world is it life threatening actually getting in to the thing?
boatmike
Well-Known Member
As I said on the other thread, I was unfortunate enough to have to use one a long time ago. It was only 5 miles off Rame Head in no more than a F6, it was a little Hurley belonging to a friend and we hit something in the water when going very fast which resulted in the boat sinking in about 5 minutes. The liferaft saved our lives. We had a frantic time getting it out of the locker it was in (first lesson, always carry it on deck) and eventually managed to scramble in it as the boat went under. It was in fact bloody difficult to get into even though we were both young and fit then. I jumped head first for the entrance, missed, and managed to scramble in, my mate nearly got swept away and it was only the fact that I could heave him on board that saved him because he was pretty exhausted and in shock. We did not have a "grab bag" with dry flares etc although they were on board they went down with the boat and the ones in the raft were wet mouldy and useless (second lesson, don't rely on what is packed in the raft. Have it serviced regularly, Always have essentials in a grab bag which you can snatch on the way off the boat.) It was getting dark at the time and we spent a horrible night nearly getting run down twice by coasters while the offshore wind drove us further out to sea. In the morning we were sighted and picked up by a trawler.
If we had had a little "lifeboat" like the 12ft rib I now carry I think we would have been better off. The sea conditions would have allowed us to motor to somewhere like Cawsand easily. On a little boat like the Hurley though you could never carry one (its more than half the length of the boat.)
So..... I would not go to sea without a liferaft of sorts in a little boat. BUT in a bigger boat like I now have, that being a cat is unsinkable anyway, going offshore or crossing the channel with a ready to go RIB with enough fuel to get you ashore has advantages in that you are still in command of the situation. Even if you don't make it ashore, in the summer months in anything up to F8 I think you would be as OK as a liferaft and would ride the waves better and not die of hypothermia.
Sitting in that little raft not being able to see out for 8 hours was the only time I have ever been physically sick. It was simply terrible. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
If we had had a little "lifeboat" like the 12ft rib I now carry I think we would have been better off. The sea conditions would have allowed us to motor to somewhere like Cawsand easily. On a little boat like the Hurley though you could never carry one (its more than half the length of the boat.)
So..... I would not go to sea without a liferaft of sorts in a little boat. BUT in a bigger boat like I now have, that being a cat is unsinkable anyway, going offshore or crossing the channel with a ready to go RIB with enough fuel to get you ashore has advantages in that you are still in command of the situation. Even if you don't make it ashore, in the summer months in anything up to F8 I think you would be as OK as a liferaft and would ride the waves better and not die of hypothermia.
Sitting in that little raft not being able to see out for 8 hours was the only time I have ever been physically sick. It was simply terrible. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
CraigB
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
second lesson, don't rely on what is packed in the raft. Have it serviced regularly, Always have essentials in a grab bag which you can snatch on the way off the boat.)
[/ QUOTE ]
Very wise words. Unpacked my liferaft the other day before getting it serviced. Found that the battery which powers the light had corroded and leaked inside. Perhaps it came in contact with water, since it's only packed in a valise.
second lesson, don't rely on what is packed in the raft. Have it serviced regularly, Always have essentials in a grab bag which you can snatch on the way off the boat.)
[/ QUOTE ]
Very wise words. Unpacked my liferaft the other day before getting it serviced. Found that the battery which powers the light had corroded and leaked inside. Perhaps it came in contact with water, since it's only packed in a valise.
boatmike
Well-Known Member
Ever tried leaving an ordinary battery in a torch for 3 years in just slightly damp conditions? IMHO any battery should be packed in a seperate hermetically sealed bag and only put in when you need it.
Also depends who services it. Unpacked a liferaft once off a small ferry at MCA insistence before recertification of the vessel after refit. This was a full SOLAS with a certificate from a service agent in the BVI in a proper autolaunch cradle with a gert big canister. Dead rat inside, scoffed all the choccie bars and then started on the rubber.... could not determine the nationality of the rat but we reckoned he was packed in there... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Also depends who services it. Unpacked a liferaft once off a small ferry at MCA insistence before recertification of the vessel after refit. This was a full SOLAS with a certificate from a service agent in the BVI in a proper autolaunch cradle with a gert big canister. Dead rat inside, scoffed all the choccie bars and then started on the rubber.... could not determine the nationality of the rat but we reckoned he was packed in there... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Superflid
Well-Known Member
Well, with over 400 views so far, we have 1 incidence of anyone using a liferaft, and that was quite a while ago with the chap involved saying he'd rather have had a RIB.... (Very glad you didn't come to serious harm Mike)
This does make statements like "If you can't-won't fork out the readdies for a liferaft you should seriously consider if you should be out on the water at all" seem a little strange.
With all the experience of that particular poster, I'd have thought they would have been used every weekend......
Aint got one and aint likely to need one.......
This does make statements like "If you can't-won't fork out the readdies for a liferaft you should seriously consider if you should be out on the water at all" seem a little strange.
With all the experience of that particular poster, I'd have thought they would have been used every weekend......
Aint got one and aint likely to need one.......
Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
Hey, thats not fair Ken.... in your sailing waters, you can climb out of the boat and walk home..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
This does make statements like "If you can't-won't fork out the readdies for a liferaft you should seriously consider if you should be out on the water at all" seem a little strange.
With all the experience of that particular poster, I'd have thought they would have been used every weekend......
Aint got one and aint likely to need one.......
[/ QUOTE ]
Do you drive your car without a spare tire?
Have you ever needed it?
Would you drive without one?
I have a liferaft - I have never needed it.
I'd rather have one and not need it than need one and not have it.
In a car you can call the AA, RAC,... and come to no harm while you wait for them. While you wait for the SAR party...
And in situations where you likely to need one, an inflatable dinghy is - IMHO - not a viable alternative.
We have an inflatable dinghy which we used to tootle over to our mooring. Last August the Orwell was very choppy: wind (F5) against tide (springs).
We set out in an inflatable dinghy - 0.5NM later we arrived in a floating swimming pool.
This does make statements like "If you can't-won't fork out the readdies for a liferaft you should seriously consider if you should be out on the water at all" seem a little strange.
With all the experience of that particular poster, I'd have thought they would have been used every weekend......
Aint got one and aint likely to need one.......
[/ QUOTE ]
Do you drive your car without a spare tire?
Have you ever needed it?
Would you drive without one?
I have a liferaft - I have never needed it.
I'd rather have one and not need it than need one and not have it.
In a car you can call the AA, RAC,... and come to no harm while you wait for them. While you wait for the SAR party...
And in situations where you likely to need one, an inflatable dinghy is - IMHO - not a viable alternative.
We have an inflatable dinghy which we used to tootle over to our mooring. Last August the Orwell was very choppy: wind (F5) against tide (springs).
We set out in an inflatable dinghy - 0.5NM later we arrived in a floating swimming pool.
Superflid
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Hey, thats not fair Ken.... in your sailing waters, you can climb out of the boat and walk home..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Shhhh.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Hey, thats not fair Ken.... in your sailing waters, you can climb out of the boat and walk home..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Shhhh.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Superflid
Well-Known Member
Do you drive your car without a spare tire?
Have you ever needed it?
Would you drive without one?
-----------------------------
Sometimes have, yes....
Have needed spare and not had a spare wheel, other methods got me home.
I'm a resourceful guy.
--------------------------
I have a liferaft - I have never needed it.
I'd rather have one and not need it than need one and not have it.
-------------------------
Your choice.
-------------------------
In a car you can call the AA, RAC,... and come to no harm while you wait for them. While you wait for the SAR party...
------------------------
Would be ashamed to have to call out the AA/RAC/Mountain rescue/RNLI. There are other alternatives.
------------------------
And in situations where you likely to need one, an inflatable dinghy is - IMHO - not a viable alternative.
----------------------
The fact that you'd need a liferaft makes that obvious.
----------------------
We have an inflatable dinghy which we used to tootle over to our mooring. Last August the Orwell was very choppy: wind (F5) against tide (springs).
We set out in an inflatable dinghy - 0.5NM later we arrived in a floating swimming pool.
----------------------
I've done the same in a 12ft RIB, coincidentally on the Orwell!
----------------------
Still have the same opinion of my need for a liferaft, and of the comment that nobody should be on the water without one............
Have you ever needed it?
Would you drive without one?
-----------------------------
Sometimes have, yes....
Have needed spare and not had a spare wheel, other methods got me home.
I'm a resourceful guy.
--------------------------
I have a liferaft - I have never needed it.
I'd rather have one and not need it than need one and not have it.
-------------------------
Your choice.
-------------------------
In a car you can call the AA, RAC,... and come to no harm while you wait for them. While you wait for the SAR party...
------------------------
Would be ashamed to have to call out the AA/RAC/Mountain rescue/RNLI. There are other alternatives.
------------------------
And in situations where you likely to need one, an inflatable dinghy is - IMHO - not a viable alternative.
----------------------
The fact that you'd need a liferaft makes that obvious.
----------------------
We have an inflatable dinghy which we used to tootle over to our mooring. Last August the Orwell was very choppy: wind (F5) against tide (springs).
We set out in an inflatable dinghy - 0.5NM later we arrived in a floating swimming pool.
----------------------
I've done the same in a 12ft RIB, coincidentally on the Orwell!
----------------------
Still have the same opinion of my need for a liferaft, and of the comment that nobody should be on the water without one............
