BlueSkyNick
Active member
Have returned from a frustrating afternoon, albeit in beautiful sunshine, at the boat.
We bought a raft in canister at LIBS which arrived last week, which included the cradle. Spent ages trying to decipher the instructions which seem to have been translated from French to English by a Chinaman. I wanted to mount it on the pushpit so that SWMBO can launch it on her own, if I am incapacitated.
Having lost at least 3 of the nuts over the side, along with my favourite screwdriver which I bought to repair my Ford Anglia at the age of 17, I finally decided I didn't want it on the rail after all. I am concerned that the stanchions will not take the weight, particularly in rough sea. So my next plan is to deck mount it just forward of the mast. Are there any reasons why I shouldn't do this?
During all this I walked along the pontoon to see how other boats have theirs. The only one on the pushpit was a grubby looking Benny 331 - the life raft shows the next service being due in March 2002 - Rather surprising, particularly as the skipper calls himself a yachtmaster!
Finally, I have another raft on board which accompanied a crew member when we went to Cherbourg last May. He loaned it to us as his own boat was having the decks re-teaked at the time. He seems to have disappeared, maybe emigrated, or set off across the channel and hasn't got there yet! What am I offered?
We bought a raft in canister at LIBS which arrived last week, which included the cradle. Spent ages trying to decipher the instructions which seem to have been translated from French to English by a Chinaman. I wanted to mount it on the pushpit so that SWMBO can launch it on her own, if I am incapacitated.
Having lost at least 3 of the nuts over the side, along with my favourite screwdriver which I bought to repair my Ford Anglia at the age of 17, I finally decided I didn't want it on the rail after all. I am concerned that the stanchions will not take the weight, particularly in rough sea. So my next plan is to deck mount it just forward of the mast. Are there any reasons why I shouldn't do this?
During all this I walked along the pontoon to see how other boats have theirs. The only one on the pushpit was a grubby looking Benny 331 - the life raft shows the next service being due in March 2002 - Rather surprising, particularly as the skipper calls himself a yachtmaster!
Finally, I have another raft on board which accompanied a crew member when we went to Cherbourg last May. He loaned it to us as his own boat was having the decks re-teaked at the time. He seems to have disappeared, maybe emigrated, or set off across the channel and hasn't got there yet! What am I offered?
