Liferaft Question

[BudRICKETT]

Has anyone noticed that all the models have a big ENTER HERE sign?

Your boat has just sunk in shark infested waters, far from land, do you really need a big sign telling you to get aboard?

[sck5]

I checked the SSCA survey and Winslow was the most common brand used by the people in the survey

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by bjung

John,
I checked, and I can fit a 6 person valise in the aft cockpit locker, or as you said a 4 person in the port locker (only the winslow fits into the low profile). I have looked at the Winslow rafts and like their features, light weight and small valise size, but wanted a self righting raft after viewing of videos showing sailors righting rafts in calm water. Not something I would expect my son to do in rough weather, and certainly not something you can practice a few times.
Am I overvalueing this feature?
Bernd

I would be more concerned about how well the raft resisted capsize in the first instance. That is largely a function of the size and design of the ballast bags. My understanding was that Winslows rated highly in this respect.

Also, I may be unconventional in my thinking in this respect, but I tend to view a heavy weather situation as one of the least likely scenarios that I'd use a liferaft. I usually think of fire, uncontrolled flooding, or collision as the most likely causes for it to be used.

Sck5, that's interesting. Any chance you could get us a link to the data? Thanks.

[sck5]

Hi

I would have linked but they limit access to members and make you take the survey before giving access even then. But there is lots of interesting info in there on what the members have in terms of equipment, rigging, etc.

[Waltthesalt]

Practical Sailor ran a series of articles on rafts and raft materials back in '07 that may be of value to you. I recall they liked Winslow. Often you can get a used raft at a good price. They're bought for a specfic race or cruise and sold afterwards. Keep in mind that getting them tested can cost about $500 and more if gear in the raft like flares are over-age. You want to check that out with a servicing agent. Some newer rafts have extended thier servicing periods. If you get a raft serviced I've found it worthwhile it to be there and get some instruction provided by the shop. It's likely that's the only time you'll see it inflated.

[bjung]

Just wanted to thank everybody for their input in making this decision. I ended up buying a Givens Buoy 6 person valise, to be stowed in the aft cockpit locker. It had some features I liked (selfrighting, 2000 lbs ballast and an emergency beer maker). The raft arrived by Roadway and was 20 min. late of the promised time, and shipping ($322) ended up free, imagine that. Which left enough for a couple of inflatable mattresses as backup, and a new (hopefully not leaking) raw water pump.
Thanks for the help,
Bernd
Asylum, PSC 31

[braidmike]

I really appreciate the information on this thread, but I have a question I'm not sure there is an answer for... Someone somewhere probably tabulated how many times liferafts have been used. As a percentage of sailors, calculating days sailing, etc: What are the chances? I eat right, exercise regularly, and my doctor says statistically I'll live to a hundred. If someone watches the weather, sails conservatively, etc, does the chance of needing the liferaft approach that of being hit by a meteor? I know there are the unforseen random chances: Jworld sunk on the BajaHaHa a couple weeks ago after a collision with a whale. Does anyone know of any statistical analysis of these types of incidences? I fully respect anyones decision to carry a liferaft; we all have our personal margins of comfortability. My margins are pretty grey in this area due to the lack of 'hard' data.

[bjung]

Originally Posted by braidmike

I really appreciate the information on this thread, but I have a question I'm not sure there is an answer for... Someone somewhere probably tabulated how many times liferafts have been used. As a percentage of sailors, calculating days sailing, etc: What are the chances? I eat right, exercise regularly, and my doctor says statistically I'll live to a hundred. If someone watches the weather, sails conservatively, etc, does the chance of needing the liferaft approach that of being hit by a meteor? I know there are the unforseen random chances: Jworld sunk on the BajaHaHa a couple weeks ago after a collision with a whale. Does anyone know of any statistical analysis of these types of incidences? I fully respect anyones decision to carry a liferaft; we all have our personal margins of comfortability. My margins are pretty grey in this area due to the lack of 'hard' data.

Mike, good point, the chances of needing a liferaft are propably pretty slim. If I was singlehanding 100% of the time, I propably wouldn't bother either ($5000 is a high price to pay for one's own life ) but the responsibility of a crew weighs in heavily... , especially if they are your own wife and kids
Statistically speaking though, I think winning the lottery has better odds than needing a liferaft.
Bernd

[JohnRPollard]

The Coast Guard retrieves a lot of folks from life rafts. You might ask them for hard data.

Just anecdotally, we hear about plenty of rescues each year. There aren't really all that many people out sailing the open seas, so statistically I would suppose that the chance of needing one are MUCH better than winning the lottery.

Do you buy insurance? Maybe think of it that way.

And again, I think weather is probably the least likely reason you'll be getting into a liferaft. Fire, flooding, collision. Watching the weather won't help you with those.

[hellosailor]

"Does anyone know of any statistical analysis of these types of incidences?"
That depends on how you want to make the figures lie or the liars figure, as they say.
I figure the odds of needing a life raft are 50-50. Either I will, or I won't. Whether 10 in a thousand boats use them, or ten in a million boats use them, I'm only concerned with whether *I* will need to use one, or not.

Having a life raft is like practicing safe sex. Do you feel lucky today?