One Person Liferaft?

[Habebty]

I singlehand a lot, would one person be considered suitable ballast for a four person liferaft or would I end up zorbing across the swell in a gale? Or do the water ballast pockets do enough to prevent rolling on their own? Just wondered? I hope!!

 

[William_H]

It is an interesting question as to what you should carry if you want to carry a LR. You can get one person LR the kind of thing airmen might carry/wear. But they are really tiny in a big ocean. In rough water you would tend to slide around in a 4 man plus it would be susceptible to capsize and very hard to right again. But it would be bigger so easier to spot. The ballast pockets should slow drift down. I wonder if a 4 man might be better with a lot of air let out to lower it so less buoyancy. Anyway I think I would go for a 4 man or just not have an LR if it is just for yourself. If there is no requirement. good luck olewill

 

[john_morris_uk]

An easy solution would be to have some Jerry cans (or plastic containers) of water ready to take in the LR with you. You are only mitigating against the possibility of being rolled in the LR and I suspect if the situation went to rats to the degree that your boat had sunk beneath you, you would be delighted to have any life raft to step into.

 

[TonyS]

You could also consider an inflated dinghy attached across the stern as you see on many yachts today. It depends how long you expect to be in it which in turn depends on where you cruise. A survival suit would also be a good choice with sea temperatures as they are this year!

 

[KellysEye]

>You could also consider an inflated dinghy attached across the stern as you see on many yachts today.

I remember a ketch in the Med who had a dinghy on davits in the Med, a big wave broke into it and tore the stern off. Moral of the story a dinghy is fine in an anchorage but keep it on deck at sea, or avoid bad weather by not sailing long distances.

 

[Slipperman]

I have the same boat as you and also single hand most of the time. For the first 5 years of ownership I had no life-raft and just relied on an inflated dinghy held across the stern. I also considered a one-person liferaft but found them impossible to come by, so in the end opted for the cheapest 4 man life-raft (in a valise) that I could find (a Seago). I think the point about lack of ballast with only one person in a 4 man raft is a good one, but since I am sometimes accompanied for longer trips (eg channel crossings) I thought overall a 4 man raft was sensible. For information, I find the Seago life-raft in a valise stows neatly under the forward end of the saloon table, half under the L shaped settee. It will also fit behind the tiller on deck, which I think is a good place to deploy it from, but I prefer not to keep it there permanently.

 

[cryan]

You will be perfectly safe in a four man raft. You will have the water pockets and gas bottle to keep you upright as well as yourself. Even in the unlikely event of a raft capsizing a four man raft is very easy to right on your own. It will be harder to climb in than right. Inside there is also a survival canister to add weight and you can stream a drogue to help with drift and stability. I doubt very much you will be singlehanding in weather where liferaft stability is an issue. Get yourself to one of the marine colleges and do the STCW'95 Basic Sea Survival courses where you will get to practice everything in a pool( allbeit with a man attacking you with a fire hose).

 

[Seajet]

I have a 1 man liferaft from an ejection seat ( was given it officially before anyone asks ! ) - it's surprisingly heavy in stowed mode and probably not much smaller than a 4 man in a valise.

As Olewill says, these things are tiny if out on a big sea; if buying a raft I'd go for a 4 man ( not much choice ) and a survival course to learn capsize recovery.

 

[Slipstream 34]

I have a 1 man liferaft from an ejection seat ( was given it officially before anyone asks ! ) - it's surprisingly heavy in stowed mode and probably not much smaller than a 4 man in a valise.

Is it still in the yellow seat pack? If so pop the catch at the front, the dinghy should be in a green valise. It will be a fraction of the size and weight.

 

[Seajet]

Is it still in the yellow seat pack? If so pop the catch at the front, the dinghy should be in a green valise. It will be a fraction of the size and weight.

Slipstream,

no I did that long ago; it does reduce weight and size, but I still find it a surprising lump, considering what it's like when inflated !