Vertical liferaft cradle

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KAM

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I was thinking of moving my container liferaft from a cockpit locker to a vertical cradle on the stern. I'm slightly worried about water ingress in this orientation. It's not a vacuum packed raft. Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this.
 
Normally there is quite a robust bit of plastic tape, like wide electrical tape, around the canister edges that mate together. If so, and it’s mounted painter hole down, likely it will be weather proof.
 
We had a vertical cradle attached to the transom, hinged, that when the gate was opened the canister fell straight into the sea. I had the same fears as the OP as the lid of the canister is a poor seal (its not a seal at all). I wrapped the gap with tape, don't recall what - but amalgamating tape would work.

The cover of the canister is 'blown' off when the raft inflates - so don't get too aggressive with the tape.

Jonathan
 
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While boat is moored and not in use .. a simple cover would suffice - open at bottom to allow it to 'ventilate' ? Remove cover when using boat ?

IMHo - its not much different to having an outboard sitting on rail mount ?

The advantage of course is that with LR now in a cradle - its much better sited for real use than in a l;ocker.
 
Refueler said:
While boat is moored and not in use .. a simple cover would suffice - open at bottom to allow it to 'ventilate' ? Remove cover when using boat ?

IMHo - its not much different to having an outboard sitting on rail mount ?

The advantage of course is that with LR now in a cradle - its much better sited for real use than in a l;ocker.
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Exactly what we do, except the LR is mounted on the coachroof. Taking off the cover is simply just part of the leaving the berth checklist.
 
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A thought for you:

Liferafts can be heavy, very. Moving the existing raft to the transom, from a cockpit locker, will not negatively impact the balance of your yacht much but,

Take the raft out of the cockpit locker and place it on the transom and see how it impacts trim.

Keeping the LR under the boom near the mast might be a better move, in terms of yacht performance.

Our LR was on the transom - but was planned into the build

Jonathan
 
KAM said:
Cover it is then. Fortuitously I'm in winter sewing mode just now anyway.
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Mine is deck mounted and I cover it when not in use. I think if you left the cover on, a style where the cover fits over and is secured with an elastic skirt around the permitter, not the end, it would still pop off if activated. If fitted like a sock, it may not. When the life raft starts to inflate, modern life rafts rip apart not only the plastic tape but also plastic bands used to clamp the two halves together i.e. it is a powerful force. You could also make a light plastic cover for weather proofing that would easily pull apart.

All the best with your solution.
 
Neeves said:
We had a vertical cradle attached to the transom, hinged, that when the gate was opened the canister fell straight into the sea. I had the same fears as the OP as the lid of the canister is a poor seal (its not a seal at all). I wrapped the gap with tape, don't recall what - but amalgamating tape would work.

The cover of the canister is 'blown' off when the raft inflates - so don't get too aggressive with the tape.

Jonathan
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Mine is mounted in exactly the same way as Jonathan's

It been like that since 2009 and serviced 3 times will no ill effect.

I initially dis have a cover but pigeons nested on the cover, so I took it off again with no ill effect
 
Trim will be fine the boat was re engined with a much lighter engine. We mostly sail with just 2. The placard says 9. Really don't want the clutter near the mast. If I stitch a cover myself I'm sure it will rip apart no problem. Everything else does. 😂
 
Cradle worked out ok in the end but I noticed the container has a drain hole in the bottom. Just wondering whether to put another hole in the low point. What have others done. Presumably it's best with the painter hole down.
 
KAM said:
I was thinking of moving my container liferaft from a cockpit locker to a vertical cradle on the stern. I'm slightly worried about water ingress in this orientation. It's not a vacuum packed raft. Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this.
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If it is a container as opposed to a Valise, then surely it is designed to be stored externally. No?
 
Yes but no such thing as waterproof. The container has a drain hole in the base for when it's flat mounted. Just wondering about orientation and whether another drain hole might be appropriate.
 
KAM said:
Yes but no such thing as waterproof. The container has a drain hole in the base for when it's flat mounted. Just wondering about orientation and whether another drain hole might be appropriate.
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I usually look at it this way .... how many LR's are mounted on boats ... how many think of creating another drain hole ?

I think it would be fine as is ...

and

How are you going to make the drain hole ? Consider how tightly packed the container is ... are you ready to risk 'puncturing' the raft ?
 
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