Liferaft launch? I think not!

[cynthia]

Our liferaft (4 man Zodiac in a cannister) sits in the cradle on the outside of the pushpit. Yesterday we tried to remove it in preparation for a long overdue service. The polyprop handle on the top, used for lifting it from the cradle snapped off at both ends leaving the liferaft wedged in the cradle. It took 2 of us a good 20 minutes to free it. OK so we were in the yard a good way above the floor which didn't make it easy, but imagine trying to do it with big seas running and a the cannister wet and slippy. Even with the adrenalin pumping in an emergency situation I suspect we'd never have been able to deploy it.
We'll be checking the new handle on an annual basis from now on!

 

[davids0865]

Bu55er, thats scary, another item for the list, thanks

 

[sarabande]

polypropylene tends to be UV sensitive. I've seen a rope handle wrapped in a bit of fire hose to protect it from the sun.