Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_L
There are clearly trade-offs to deck mount vs valise in cabin mount. We usually think of sinking as the reason to board a liferaft, but another big reason is fire. A fire that gets out of control may not sink the boat but it will kill you if you don't get off till it burns out. Getting a valise out from a cabin on fire may not be practical. I would also question your comment about how easy it is to move a 90lb valise from down below. The conditions you will be doing this in are less than ideal. Crew may be injured and are likely at least bruised by this point. Gear may be in the way and water on the sole and steps. The mast may be gone giving the boat a violent roll. Saying never mount a liferaft on deck is silly. Where do all the commercial fisherman mount theirs -- and they use them a lot more than cruisers. A valise in a dedicated cockpit locker would be nice. But most cruising boats don't have this locker. I ended up with a deck mount.
Paul L
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I don't understand. WHere did I say never mount it on the deck? What I did say is that a valise down below has many positives, and depending on where you cruise and how, may have more positives then a deck mount.
As you look back on my picture, notice that I did in fact mount mine on the deck. However, I do not believe that is the right solution for everybody and I squarely stand behind that statement. I agree with your assesment of having difficulty getting the thing up the companionway steps and the circumstances that might make it dufficult. I alluded to those in my thread. However, what I was saying is not to understimate the power of adrenaline when your life depends on it.
- CD