liferaft: in a bag or in a container??

[lw395]

Are there any statistics about the number of lives saved by liferafts per year and relating to leisure boats ?
I am wondering if a liferaft is in fact necessary for most people who perhaps do not go far from the sight of land?

I think the cases of liferafts being used from yachts in the English Channel are between 'about zero' and 'zero'.
Very few yachts come to grief, of those many either don't need a liferaft or never get to use it, and most others are either racing in heavy weather, being delivered in winter, or some other mode of use which most of us would have stayed in port for.
But these days they are cheap enough and we like to do the odd race where they are mandatory. Plus it came with the boat, and it's a bigger step to get rid of it than to not buy one in the first instance.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

As long as you can deploy it within 10 seconds in an emergency, it doesn't really matter whether it is in a valise or in a canister. Ideally it should be in a dedicated compartment that can be reached through the transom, that way it will always be accessible, even if the boat is inverted.

 

[ghostlymoron]

My pal has a canister type one of unknown manufacture and age that came with this boat. How many others have similar rafts? Fortunately, he doesn't go far and hopefully he will upgrade before fulfilling his dream of Atlantic crossing.

 

[Luffe44]

Many mount the canister on deck, under the boom. In heavy weather, this is not a place I want to go. Valise in a cockpit locker for me.

 

[Praxinoscope]

Many mount the canister on deck, under the boom. In heavy weather, this is not a place I want to go. Valise in a cockpit locker for me.

Unde the boom is a far better place than the other popular mounting on the foredeck, even worse in an emergency.
Ideally a canister packed l/r on the pushpit, but a lot of boats can’t do this.
I have somewhat reluctantlr decided to go for a valise l/r which will be in the cabin, but easily accessible. Not ideal I agree but the most practical option for my present boat.

 

[dgadee]

My reasoning for using pushpit was unlikely to be needed quickly except in case of fire.

 

[neil1967]

I think the cases of liferafts being used from yachts in the English Channel are between 'about zero' and 'zero'.
QUOTE]

Friend of mine was very glad of the liferaft when he was involved in a collision in the channel and the yacht he was on sank - from memory they spent about 4 hours in the liferaft. Yes, very rare event, fortunately, but they do happen.