Whats the best offshore liferaft?

G

Gerry

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www.gerryantics.blogspot.com
I have heard two stories recently, both from the horses mouth so to speak, about serious issues with Plastimo offshore liferafts.
The first was from a boat that went down last summer in the San Blas islands in Panama, A Nicholson 35. In the middle of the night, in high winds with his boat going down he launched his liferaft. It was almost brand new, purchased 4 months previously. It took 3 hours to inflate and was deflated again within 12 hours. Scary!
The other was when some friends opened their Plastimo offshore for the first time last week to have it serviced. They were horrified to find that its equipment pack contained.....a knife. Thats it!
We carry an Ocean Safety Forties offshore raft. I wondered what other forumites carry and why they chose the one they did.

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com
 
Don't know... I am delighted to say I have never used one.

(Well not apart from within Portsmouth Harbour in a controlled environment anyway)
 
I have a winslow I bought on ebay. I know it works, at least it did when we fired it just before it was serviced, and it stayed up for 48hrs too.. The question is of course - will it fire up when it is needed.
 
We have a Viking, by no means cheap at around £1500 for a 4 man, but from memory won the 'best in class' award in YM or YW. Designed, with inflatable floor, etc to keep you alive in extreme conditions. Probably well OTT for x-channel but essential in my view if you're going to fool around off the beaten track.

An example of yet another expensive piece of kit that I hope I never have to use but never have had a moment's doubt about buying.
 
To be honest when I read the inventory of average yottie raft ... I am dismayed at lack of gear ... I just hope anyone gets picked up quick !

Have been spending a few days going through web-sites looking at rafts .. basically as I am now serious about doing many Baltic sea crossings .. it might be an idea to have one instead of relying on a Avon dinghy.
Price wise ... found Plastimar ..... not a spelling mistake ... which IMHO looks remarkably similar and has similar spec to Plastimo ... maybe made by same factory ? with different label....

But then Seago ... just slightly more crinkle.

After that prices seem to just go ballistic ... but are they really any better ?

I think it depends on how long you expect to be adrift before located ... where in the world you are ... climate ... etc.

One point I will make - based on Merch Navy survival course and experience ... do not go bigger than really needed ... as a life-raft with insufficient bodies in is terribly unstable and prone to flip ... regardless of underwater ballast pockets...

I would rather crowd a smaller raft with more people than have a 1/2 empty one ..
 
SBC

As to price, two things crossed our minds.

One - when you're out there bobbing about and waiting for the AA to turn up, you don't want to be thinking "I wish on spent a bit more and got a proper liferaft, and not this bath toy."

Two - the expected life of a life raft is 12 or more years (unused!). DIvide the purchase price by 12 and it really isn't expensive as last chance life insurance.
 
[ QUOTE ]
SBC

As to price, two things crossed our minds.

One - when you're out there bobbing about and waiting for the AA to turn up, you don't want to be thinking "I wish on spent a bit more and got a proper liferaft, and not this bath toy."

Two - the expected life of a life raft is 12 or more years (unused!). DIvide the purchase price by 12 and it really isn't expensive as last chance life insurance.

[/ QUOTE ]

Never argue on that .... my post illustrated what I found on surfing net ... NOT what I considered to buy - as that would be my decision and not -promulgated here prior to act ... why ? Because after all these years I have learnt one thing ... if you want to hear so many variations of bias ... anchors, boats, and now probably L/Rafts .. just ask which is best to buy !! I reckon as many people are confused after asking as before !!

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Back to bobbing about on the water waiting for another to rescue you ...

Fact - the inventory of average yottie raft is basic to a level that I am concerned about.
Second - main factor you would be interested in with average yotties location / cruising area and where raft would be used if accident happens is visibility and ability to keep you out of the weather ...
Third - is size and weight to carry / deploy.

Most rafts carry long g'tees even the cheap ones ... most have similar inventories unless you go full blown commercial deep-sea jobs and then they are far too big ! Most are highly visible ... most have canopy and insulated or double floors ... most have closeable doorways ...

So please educate me as to which is really best ? You abandon yacht in English channel say ... or lets be more adventurous ... Bay of Biscay or North Sea ... as long as you get a VHf call out ... or even a DSC alert ... is it really going to be that long before friendly comes to pluck you from gates of Hell ? Heaven ....

I look for approval stamp first actually ... then consider price / suitability etc.

No offence but I think there's more to it ..... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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Have been told by Suffolk Sailing that the Autoflug wot came with the boat is the mutt's nuts

[/ QUOTE ]Yes, I thought Autoflug was one of the best, and was impressed when I first saw mine inflated for servicing. But do they still make them? They don't seem to feature on the Autoflug website.
 
Stuff on the Avon Ocean that impressed.

Air inflation, not CO2. Less likely to freeze itself on inflation - apparently - and faster inflation at low temps
Inflated boarding ramp with exterior/interior haul aboard webbing 'ladder'
Auto interior and exterior lights
Rainwater collection
Towing point
Double entrance - both sides can be open
Twin buoyancy tubes all round - will float on either one
Butyl - light, good puncture/damage resistance
4 x 60 litre stability pockets - close to a quarter tonne of water
Good big sea anchor on 100 feet of line
Self bailing system
Avon reputation
 
PBO did a comparative test of some of the cheaper liferafts earlier this year. On that basis I bought a Seago 4 man raft which came out very creditably. I think reliability of the inflation system is the single most important factor; I'd trade deficiencies in the survival pack for foolproof inflation any day. Unfortunately it's difficult to get good data on reliability since by their nature failures are unlikely to be adequately reported on in many cases /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
I also bought the Viking 4 person self righting, marine superstore did a great deal £1300, with 4 seago life jackets thrown in, + 10% off all other stuff bought on the day. We went for a valise type.
I researched the recent YM or PBO article the Viking came out well (although the early ones had an issue with some valves freezing on inflation) SOLAS approaved FWIW. when you think of the difference in price between a good one and (I Hope) very good its worth it. Also look for insulated floor or inflatable floor, also mitred corners not folded (although the Viking is folded!)
Good luck
 
We have a Forties too - had it inflated at Oceansafety last winter as due for 3 year service (after we bought it second hand 2 years ago). Nice surprise when they told us it is a Forties 'A' ocean version - we will be keeping it inspected yearly for racing use for a few years yet. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Anything that is ISO 9650-1 approved is a good ocean going raft. As far as I know the Autoflug is no longer in production but your right it was a good raft in its day. Spare parts are the problem now. ISO are the new regs so if you're going to buy something buy an ISO raft. <span style="color:red"> </span>
 
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