Liferaft position poll

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Norman and Fullcircle are spot on with the life raft being in the right place. I too have mine fixed in a cradle on the stern, with the safety catch unlocked a 4 year old could launch it.

For those who keep their liferaft in a cockpit locker or below deck, could you please do yourself a favour and ask the weakest crew member to get it onto deck for launching, time them, you may be horrified, even the smallest 4 man raft in a valise is heavy.

Even those rafts stored on the coach roof are in a susceptible position, if the mast comes down, can you still get to the raft, in heavy seas can you lift the raft off its cradle to launch? Just think about it, if you are going to carry safety equipment it needs to be accessible and usable, not there just to tick a box.

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Problem with liferaft position, is that for any position you can think of there is a downside. And for every location it's possible to imagine a distress situation which makes the liferaft unusable.
 
You collide with a n other, your mast comes down (possible?) across the LR trapping it, the collision damages your hull you start taking on water.......
 
I actually though about this for a long time, and initially had the raft in a cockpit locker, where I could get at it, and lift it out with a bit of a struggle. Next thought was to make a cradle to hold it over the top of the sliding companionway hatch, just ahead of the mainsheet traveller. The problems there were lifting it off, and obstruction to forward view, so I abandoned the idea. That produced an impasse because I could not see where on the pushpit to mount it, as the 45.2 has a fairly small pushpit with most of the space taken. The eureka moment was realising that it would fit upright above the step in the transom, and I designed a stainless cradle, which was made for me by the man who services my engine.
 
Are you saying you dont agree with my logic? All I am saying is, think about where you keep it and reduce the risk of not being able to launch it.
 
No, I'm just saying that there is no right answer to where to keep a liferaft, as wherever it is there is a chance you won't be able to use it when you need it.

E.g. No good in the cabin if the boat's upside down.
No good on the pushpit if you've been pooped and it's carried away.
No good on the sugar scoop if breaking waves are attacking it, either removing it as above or preventing you from getting to it.
No good on the coachroof if it's pinned by the rigging.

Etc.

For what it's worth I favour the base of the companion way steps.
 
<<For what it's worth I favour the base of the companion way steps. >>

At the top of the steps or the bottom?

I have 35ft boat and could not store it there either at the top or bottom..

Also, I could launch my liferaft with one broken arm, and one broken ankle. No lifting,see?
And if my raft is carried away, wont it just reach the limit of the painter, which is already attached to the boat, inflate, and just bob along behind? Cos if not, then we are all buggered, because no matter where you store the raft, once you lob it overboard and the weather conditions are too violent for it to bob along behind without getting wrecked, it will be carried away regardless.
 
[ QUOTE ]
<<For what it's worth I favour the base of the companion way steps. >>

At the top of the steps or the bottom?

I have 35ft boat and could not store it there either at the top or bottom..

Also, I could launch my liferaft with one broken arm, and one broken ankle. No lifting,see?
And if my raft is carried away, wont it just reach the limit of the painter, which is already attached to the boat, inflate, and just bob along behind? Cos if not, then we are all buggered, because no matter where you store the raft, once you lob it overboard and the weather conditions are too violent for it to bob along behind without getting wrecked, it will be carried away regardless.

[/ QUOTE ]

At the bottom.

But like I said there's negatives to all places.

Regarding the carried away thing. If the boat's still doing high speed and the liferaft is washed over the side it's very unlikely that the painter would hold. Most boats tend to be disabled and stopped before the liferaft is deployed.
 
I used to have chats with odd owners when I surveyed boats, the different positions used for liferafts.

There were two I was never happy about ... a) Under the boom just aft of mast - common place I know ... b) on Sugar scoop bathing platform - gladly rarely seen now.

Why ? On sailboat under the boom - the cats cradle of rigging is not something you want hindering the deployment of the raft when panic is setting in.
Sugar scoop ? Its ok if non-hydrostatic released but then it's the lowest point of the boat to waterline and could be underwater by time you want it. But above it on the vertical transom fine.

My preference has always been via the pushpit so that it has clearest high point of release.

By the way - I don't have one - so I cannot vote. I thought I would pass on my opinion based on boats surveyed and viewed.

I did not include 'in a locker' as that says enough for itself !!

Food for thought : It was found in many of the old Merchant Navy courses when they were done in real seawater - not the swimming pool - and also by manufacturers of the rafts, that too big a raft can be a problem. The raft is designed for a number of people to provide stability and help stop "wind-overs" along with the water-pockets underneath.
Having a raft too big will reduce the stability factors and could 'windover' while you are in it. Fact.

If I had a boat capable of sleeping 8 people as many boats over ~35ft can supposedly do - a 8 - 10 man raft may not be a good idea if you only cruise normally with 4 or 5 people.

Now I wait for the 'clever-dicks' to argue that one. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Cant see waves being such a big risk, but take your point. As for Dutch locks, I'll take your word for it! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Oh I know a bit about Dutch habits!

Whats the difference between Dutch breakfast and a Dutch lunch?






























About 3 hours! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]


If I had a boat capable of sleeping 8 people as many boats over ~35ft can supposedly do - a 8 - 10 man raft may not be a good idea if you only cruise normally with 4 or 5 people.

Now I wait for the 'clever-dicks' to argue that one. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. My boat is certified for 8 people. My raft is 6 man canister. I thought of going to a 4 man, but then we have 4 or 5 on board quite frequently.
 
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