Liferafts

Just a thought - if you had some nice big inflatable bags, you could inflate them inside various cabins to provide bouyancy. I know one argument is that they'll float too high - up against the deck - but it should stop you sinking. Out of curiosity, has anyone ever tried manufacturing/marketing something like this?
 
That's a bit like saying 'My car's got an airbag. Where do I sit?'

You inflate them AFTER you get the hole.
 
I spent a few hours wandering around LIBS looking at all the rafts.

I ended up with a Viking self righting for £1600...it just seemed a lot better put together, much, much easier access from the sea (my sea survival course taught me that) and, if memory serves, had a longer service life and service interval than the others (though I might be wrong about interval).

At the end of the day this was the difference between spending about a grand and up to £1600...and from my point of view the extra 600 over the next ten years of useful life just isn't enough cash to make me buy what was, IMHO, second best from the likes of Zodiac, Avon, Plastimo, Ocean Safety and, erm, Seago.

All own opinion (and bank balance), of course!!
 
Oh I hadn't thought of that /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

When I get a hole in my unsinkable catamaran then what I will do is blow up my airbags (still be a bit difficult to get in my bunk for a kip though)
What do I do if I catch fire?
 
I agree Viking are very good. What we are starting from here though is a boat that will be unlikely to sink, could still of course catch fire, or be run down (also unlikely as I don't often sail at night or in fog single handed) so it's added insurance not an absolute necessity. Trouble is you start with a budget range from £450 then jump to a self righing at £1000 then to a SOLAS at £1600-£2500. What I am struggling with is what is justified in my case. Would buy budget but worried primarily about righting it. Has anyone any real experience or righting a liferaft that inflates upside down?
 
If your catamaran is unsinkable, you won't need bags.

If your boat is in danger of sinking, where to kip is the least of your problems.

If you are on fire, jump into the sea. That'll stop you burning up.

How many yachts do you know of that have caught fire at sea?
 
I did during my sea survival course and it was a pain. the thought of doing it shorthanded and in a heavy sea is sobering...especially when if you try and right it from the wrong end you will fracture your skull when the CO2 bottles hit you on the head.

for me it is also about a self righter probably has had more investment elsewhere on kit, build etc etc...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top