liferaft quality

[roger]

Apologies I cant find the thread where I made a point about liferaft quality which another correspondent has queried.
When I was looking at liferafts years ago I found a lot of cheap rafts which lacked kit I thought was essential or at least highly desirable.
examples
no lights or no inside light or lights not controllable
no reflective tape
no double floor
very flimsy ballast pockets (noted in one of the reviews)
no boarding pillow
I feel that there are a lot of poor quality rafts out there that are fine for sitting on the foredeck but which are less likely to save your life than a "real" (and expensive) one.
As always the devil is in the details.

 

[Mirelle]

Since I am looking for one

....forgive me for asking - what did you buy?

 

[Peter_the_Grate]

I took part in a PBO test of liferafts a couple of years ago and I agree with much of what you say. I have come to the conclusion that what I want is a basic self-inflating liferaft, two double skin tubes, cover, lifelines all round, water pockets for stability and a space in the canister for my own kit of other parts. Most of the stuff that's provided is rubbish. One of the liferafts we tested had a torch that cost 50p - the supplier addmitted it. It was there to satisfy the relevant SOLAS standard and that was all. I want to choose my own stuff to go into the box; stuff I've tried and can trust. No supplier included a handheld VHF in the liferafts we tested, but I would want one.

 

[iangrant]

Er - I bought a plastimo 4 man valise and safely in the locker it resides (on deck locker that is on it own, not burried in the other deep locker) I read what is purportedly inside the beast and it does weigh heavy - as to the quality of the contents I have no idea and hope that I never have to find out! The question is, has anyone else seen the contents of a plastimo?

Ian

 

[tome]

We inherited an Avon liferaft with our boat, and had it serviced last year. My wife had never seen one inflated so we went along to look (good excercise in familiarisation). The basic equipment is there, but no drinking water, VHF etc so I bought a grab bag which I now keep read with additional equipment.

The only thing I didn't like was the single floor - I'd want a double for insulation in our climate. That said, I'd buy a basic model and rely on my own choice of flares, seasick pills, torch etc. You can have these packed within the raft or keep them in a grab-bag.

 

[billmacfarlane]

Re: Since I am looking for one

The last liferaft test I read was a couple of years ago in Sailing Today abd the liferaft that stood head and shoulders above the rest was the Lifeguard Forties . If I remember rightly the Plastimo range was regarded as the worse. I hope never to see the inside of mine.

 

[roger]

ML Forties

We bought an ML forties Lifeguard A raft. six man in a container. Hang on I cannot remember which is the one with the better spec (A or B) its on the boat and I dont have the details to hand. The one we bought had the higher spec:- boarding pillow and inflatable floor.
We saw it inflated for the 3 year main service last winter and it looked fine. I think the vacuum packing is a good idea. Water leaks into the container (deck mounted). This is not effectively sealed presumably as it would hinder inflation.
If I get my act together I'll add to the survival kit.
One point did worry me. You are supposed to put rubber bungs into the blow off valve outlets to stop waves bashing gas out of the tubes. They are supplied in the kit. To get at the valves is extremely difficult when the canopy is up. You would have to lie on the canopy - probably on other raft inhabitants and in danger of being washed away yourself.
Its a point to look at if examining rafts at the Boat Show.

 

[Mirelle]

Thanks, Roger and Bill.

I shall invest in an ML Forties, six man, canister.