Self Righting Life Raft

[Bouba]

is it really necessary I wonder for the Med?
OK, you do seem to move the boat in the winter (most don't bother) but you also seem to move about and anchor by some nice deserted beaches.
So I recon even in winter it would be a matter of 20mins in the water to get to the beach, no?
Probably pointless at SoF with 25C+ water temp in the summer and all that traffic about.

[runs for cover!]

V

You are correct we only hug the shore, but that’s because my crew will mutiny if I go into deep water. But my plan, to get them used to it is, on long journeys, to go the direct route. This can take you further than six miles from shore.
The first question anyone around here asks when you buy a boat is, ‘are you going to Corsica?’. So the wife made it very clear from the start that we are not going to Corsica!
The other legal requirement is a fixed vhf but that’s another thread

 

[Bouba]

They should make a raft with the roof the same as the base.
Like a biscuit tin.
No righting required. Every way up is the right way up.

And what happens to biscuits when you shake the tin

 

[vas]

And what happens to biscuits when you shake the tin

they'll be alright, as they'll be soggy so wont crumble

 

[Bouba]

they'll be alright, as they'll be soggy so wont crumble

Brilliant

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

So in English it’s a Sea Safe self righting four man in a hard container. But any brand will do as long as it’s recognized. Would shipping be a problem, because of its explosive nature?

This is the cheapest price I can find for what I think is the same model https://norwestmarine.co.uk/index.php/marine-safety-equipment/liferafts-seasafe/seasafe-24hr-pack/4-man-liferaft-seasafe-24hr-pack.html

Price seems to be same whether in container or valise which is slightly odd because normally you pay a bit more for a container

Another price here https://www.suffolkmarinesafety.com/product/4_person_sea-safe_iso_9650_khy_liferaft

Not sure what it would cost to ship it to SoF but I'm guessing £100. You could save yourself a few quid by buying from the UK but IMHO not enough to make a big difference

 

[Bouba]

This is the cheapest price I can find for what I think is the same model https://norwestmarine.co.uk/index.php/marine-safety-equipment/liferafts-seasafe/seasafe-24hr-pack/4-man-liferaft-seasafe-24hr-pack.html

Price seems to be same whether in container or valise which is slightly odd because normally you pay a bit more for a container

Another price here https://www.suffolkmarinesafety.com/product/4_person_sea-safe_iso_9650_khy_liferaft

Not sure what it would cost to ship it to SoF but I'm guessing £100. You could save yourself a few quid by buying from the UK but IMHO not enough to make a big difference

Thanks Mike, both the companies you referenced the cheapest self righting was a tenner short of a thousand quid! So with the exchange rate was roughly the same as here (plus shipping).
Doesn’t appear to be any deals to be had

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thanks Mike, both the companies you referenced the cheapest self righting was a tenner short of a thousand quid! So with the exchange rate was roughly the same as here (plus shipping).
Doesn’t appear to be any deals to be had

Probably wrong time of year to be sniffing out deals just as the season is kicking off

 

[Bouba]

Probably wrong time of year to be sniffing out deals just as the season is kicking off

True, but it’s more important to coincide major purchases with mon anniversaire
United lost, about time

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Back on thread, yes. If the water's coldish you'll be amazed how difficult it is to do anything, especially if heavily clothed. Somehow going in unexpectedly takes about 10°C off the water temp too. The other really important thing is to make sure the life raft is easy to get into though. As a fit young lad I got dunked into the water a few times to give the Air-Sea Rescue choppers some practice and, even when knowing I was going in and wearing an immersion suit, it was amazing difficult to get into both the RAF single man units and a couple of commercial ones.

 

[PilotWolf]

First thing to ask is what do the local French regulations require because doubtless the bureaucrats will have something to say about this? Second why would you not buy a self righting liferaft anyway? You going to feel a bit silly standing on your flybridge with the rest of the boat underwater and your liferaft sitting in the water the wrong way up. Your only option then would be to get into the water yourself and attempt to right it and then try to get in the thing. I've done liferaft training in a swimming pool and getting in the liferaft from the water without help was bloody tough. Now imagine doing it at sea with a big swell running

After doing several sea survival courses when I did the RNLI one with the wave pool I made sure I was the first in the raft. The last one I did out of condition I struggled to get inside in a pool, partially because they'd removed all the ladder in case someone got tangled in it.., I hate to admit it but if I was in the water first I'd struggle to get into the raft - take that to an untrained passenger. The last course wasn't good as the cylinder wasn't there either so the traditional way I was taught to right them wasn't an option.

I was disappointed on so many levels about the realistic sceanerios on that STCW 95 course it was untrue, especially given that it was the first for 99% of the course who were going out into the industry. They would have no idea if the Sh1t hit the fan and I felt sorry for them, especially as most had spent their own money on the course.

W.

 

[PilotWolf]

They should make a raft with the roof the same as the base.
Like a biscuit tin.
No righting required. Every way up is the right way up.

A lot of rafts used in areas where a prompt rescue will be forthcoming are 'double sided', especially on passenger vessels.

I think that Red Funnel are one that uses the, from watching an exercise a few years ago. I haven't worked in 6 months but from memory our rafts are the same to avoid the need to flip them. I do know ours are very simple to use so we can instruct a passenger what to do if needed.

W.

 

[MapisM]

is it really necessary I wonder for the Med?

Imho not really, in most cases. Space is always at a premium in any boat, better use it for more enjoyable toys!

Btw, what are the rules in GR, Vas?
In IT, no life raft is mandatory up to 12Nm from the coast, and up to 50Nm a coastal life raft (open and lighter than the offshore ones) is sufficient, though in practice anyone I know who do have a life raft go for the offshore one, since the cost difference isn't a lot.

 

[Bouba]

Just ordered a Sea Safe four man self righting life raft in a container with a 24 hour pack with a 10% discount from USHIP

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Just ordered a Sea Safe four man self righting life raft in a container with a 24 hour pack with a 10% discount from USHIP

Here's hoping you never use it

 

[Bouba]

Here's hoping you never use it

:encouragement:

 

[vas]

Imho not really, in most cases. Space is always at a premium in any boat, better use it for more enjoyable toys!

Btw, what are the rules in GR, Vas?
In IT, no life raft is mandatory up to 12Nm from the coast, and up to 50Nm a coastal life raft (open and lighter than the offshore ones) is sufficient, though in practice anyone I know who do have a life raft go for the offshore one, since the cost difference isn't a lot.

doh, just noticed this sorry P.

tbh not too sure:

• I have to have 2 ring lifethings hung on the sides of the f/b railings. These have to be connected with a piece of rope to self operating lanterns (pretty sure that's not the right term for these foot long red torches). Mind in a MOB situation if the poor MOB is hit by the ring thrown at him on his/her head is probably dead on the spot
• I also need 10 or so lifejackets (boat had normal orangy things, quite bulky) just stuffed them in a locker
• I need a "floating device" aka a heavy squary red thing just under a meter in X and Y and around 20cm high with a hole in the middle and a thick rope around it. Apparently that's good for 8pax, go figure
• I also (and that's debatable) need a tender (in parallel or instead of the red big thing)

Well I have the lot
In theory that's good enough for either 20 or 30nm offshore but not too sure on these values.

Further I need to get a certificate every 4yrs with inspection on the hard, and midterm inspection floating at 2yrs.
I also need a bag full of fireworks (2smoke things and 3 of the other kind) plus don't remember how many kilos of fireextinguisers iirc 2 smaller ones 5kg? and one larger one which need to be tested every 12m.
Ah, I also need a valid VHF licence MMSI et al that nobody bothers to check. Doubt coastguard ribs even have a plotter on board, they probably do have a vhf

phew, I think I've listed the lot.
BTW, that's for a private boat 13m long, not coded or anything.

cheers

V.

 

[Bouba]

doh, just noticed this sorry P.

tbh not too sure:

• I have to have 2 ring lifethings hung on the sides of the f/b railings. These have to be connected with a piece of rope to self operating lanterns (pretty sure that's not the right term for these foot long red torches). Mind in a MOB situation if the poor MOB is hit by the ring thrown at him on his/her head is probably dead on the spot
• I also need 10 or so lifejackets (boat had normal orangy things, quite bulky) just stuffed them in a locker
• I need a "floating device" aka a heavy squary red thing just under a meter in X and Y and around 20cm high with a hole in the middle and a thick rope around it. Apparently that's good for 8pax, go figure
• I also (and that's debatable) need a tender (in parallel or instead of the red big thing)

Well I have the lot
In theory that's good enough for either 20 or 30nm offshore but not too sure on these values.

Further I need to get a certificate every 4yrs with inspection on the hard, and midterm inspection floating at 2yrs.
I also need a bag full of fireworks (2smoke things and 3 of the other kind) plus don't remember how many kilos of fireextinguisers iirc 2 smaller ones 5kg? and one larger one which need to be tested every 12m.
Ah, I also need a valid VHF licence MMSI et al that nobody bothers to check. Doubt coastguard ribs even have a plotter on board, they probably do have a vhf

phew, I think I've listed the lot.
BTW, that's for a private boat 13m long, not coded or anything.

cheers

V.

It sounds like the authorities are more interested in your ability to rescue large groups of people from the sea

 

[vas]

It sounds like the authorities are more interested in your ability to rescue large groups of people from the sea

could be, but these regulations are now maybe 20-30yrs old, nothing new relating to the relatively recent refugees' issue.
I think authorities are pr!cks and half of that legislation has been imposed by the contractors importing, dealing or even fabricating some of that stuff...
Of course now, none in their right mind can dare touch such "security" related laws.

V.