please reassure me i don't cut the black straps on my cannister liferaft

[Burnham Bob]

I have a cannister on the side of the boat and it has black straps. i've always assumed these snap on inflation but some helpful soul asked why i hadn't cut them which made me wonder........

please tell me i'm right and reassure me that i'm not a complete idiot!

 

[Garold]

I have a cannister on the side of the boat and it has black straps. i've always assumed these snap on inflation but some helpful soul asked why i hadn't cut them which made me wonder........

please tell me i'm right and reassure me that i'm not a complete idiot!

I cut mine off.

So one of us is a danger at sea!

I shall await an expert visiting and instructing us.

Cheers

garold

 

[westernman]

On most canisters, the little black straps are the only thing holding the two halves together. They will snap on inflating.

I would imagine if you cut them off, you are at risk of losing the lid and the contents of the canister overboard if you get a wave washing over the deck.

 

[jimi]

I have a cannister on the side of the boat and it has black straps. i've always assumed these snap on inflation but some helpful soul asked why i hadn't cut them which made me wonder........

please tell me i'm right and reassure me that i'm not a complete idiot!

See this thread

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219038

 

[Hoolie]

I have a cannister on the side of the boat and it has black straps. i've always assumed these snap on inflation but some helpful soul asked why i hadn't cut them which made me wonder........

please tell me i'm right and reassure me that i'm not a complete idiot!

I asked exactly the same question when we had ours serviced. There is a weak link in the straps that breaks when the liferaft inflates. The guy assured me I wasn't an idiot and the question was sensible! Don't cut them off as your canister may fall apart before it can be deployed

 

[Deleted member 36384]

When I collected my Plastimo Liferaft from the service station I asked about the plastic tie wraps (2 x off, black) and queried if they were for transportation purposes. I was advised that they hold the canisters together and will snap when the liferaft inflated.

If you consider the surface area of a canister lid and the pressure in tubes, it is quite a large force being exerted on two small section tapes.

The reason I asked was that I witnessed the inflation when I delivered the raft for service; the service technician cut the straps off before inflating. When I mentioned this it was stated that the straps might damage the GRP container as it inflates so they just cut them off, remove the tape and inflate the life raft.

 

[Garold]

I cut mine off.

So one of us is a danger at sea!

I shall await an expert visiting and instructing us.

Cheers

garold

Ooops. Sorry for the mislead.

I just leant over the back of the boat and the lightweight black straps are still on my cannister liferaft underneath the black webbing straps that are holding it onto the boat. I must have thought about cutting them off, but just never got round to it.

After reading this thread I think I shall leave them well alone.

Cheers

Garold

 

[homa]

leave the straps on

All our rafts have straps
We inflate at least 2 every year for crew training
Our 37 man rafts have up to 10 straps each canister.
The straps definitely break
Manufacturers instructions say leave the straps on

Homa

 

[Burnham Bob]

SEAGO replied too.........

Dear Sir,

You are correct the black straps will break open when you inflate the raft. DO NOT CUT THE WEBBING BEFORE THIS.

Regards


Seago

 

[FishyInverness]

Though apparently some Zodiac/Avon service stations think that Gaffa Tape is an approved alternative

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=290372&highlight=ZODIAC