featherhead said...

I think the subject has arisen previously, but can't locate the thread. So here goes. I have an inflatable tender which always remains inflated on deck. It is more than capable of carrying myself and grab bag, including water and rations. Is there a necessity, or legal requirement, to carry a liferaft as well. Any thoughts/info?

As a commercial fisherman in NSW I have to carry either an inflatable liferaft or a hard dinghy with positive buoyancy. In my previous career [20 years navy, navy aircrew] I had to have annual liferaft drill, 4 man and single man rafts and have decided the very last place you want to be is in a liferaft. I use a hard dinghy as do most fishermen.

The most important thing to remember is you always step up into a raft.

Many years ago I was involved in the search of a steel 40 foot yacht in Bass Straight. When we found him he was experiencing a fresh SW but otherwise fine. We communicated with him and explained the weather was soon to ease, he had sea room just hove to/lie a hull and wait. We had to return to Nowra because of fuel. Later that day he inflated his raft and had it tethered to his stern. His wife and teenage daughter were lost as they tried to get in to the raft. He and his teenage son managed to get in. Late that night he was being interviewed on TV! The following day another Tracker s2 from Nowra found the yacht in perfect condition off Point Hicks.

Hi featherhead,

Having done the Sea Safety Survival course, I'd recommend it to anyone going offshore and especially anyone equipped with a liferaft. The last place you want to be learning about one of those is out at sea in a howling gale when your boat is sinking.

What the course taught me most is that almost the last place you want to be is in the liferaft, as Ramona says. No way I would step into one unless the boat is sinking - but you definitely don't want to try climbing into one if you can avoid it either. Still, it's a damn sight better than bobbing about in the water.

In their defence though, remember that a liferaft is built to help you survive against the worst the sea can throw at you, not to be pleasant. While no doubt an inflatable or dinghy can be a Good Thing, you need to think about some of the situations you could potentially face. Will an inflatable protect you against windchill? Will you be able to protect yourself from exposure to sun, rain and spray? Does it have inbuilt features to help prevent capsize? If capsized, will you and all the contents remain in the inflatable or will your entire food and water supply simply float away? If you manage to right it, can you get back in? If your motor won't start (or you're too buggered to row) do you have a sea anchor to help stop you being blown away?

A liferaft won't guarantee survival but at least it has features that'll help in all of the above scenarios. Of course, in the end, it's up to you to weigh up the situation and make the decision you think best in your case. These are just some points for you to consider along the way.

The best backup would be a second boat on standby... but what are the chances of any of us actually being able to pull that one off!!?

If you manage to find any hard information about the legalities, let us know. And maybe keep us posted on what you do end up deciding to go with, featherhead.

Thanks cisco, Ramona & maxm, really apprieciate your time taken to answer the good question.
I'd also recommend the Safety At Sea Course(the practical one where you actually get in the liferaft in the pool), even if you dont own a liferaft, as you never know, you may end up doing a passage on a yacht that does have one, & you will be at a great advantage having done the course, also many survival tips are picked up eg:keep some seasick medication in the grab-bag or liferaft & make it compulsory for all to take it if you end up in the liferaft, even the saltiest seadog may succumb under the stress, & its very contagious & dangerous(dehydration,lethargy,pessimisum) in those circumstances.

Ramona, in your 2nd last paragraph, you say "Bucket to fill dinghy with water" is that right? or a typo?

cheers

NightCap said...

Ramona, in your 2nd last paragraph, you say "Bucket to fill dinghy with water" is that right? or a typo?

cheers

No that is exactly what I meant. Inflatable life-rafts are very unstable and you can be tossed out of them easily, single, 4 man or 20 man. Often when you are about to be winched by helo just the wash from the rotors is enough to capsize them. Adding water aids in stability. The water soon warms up with body heat. Same goes for a hard dinghy with positive buoyancy.

There is no similarity between liferaft drill in a pool to doing it at sea, even in moderate conditions.

The boat is fairly well prepped to date. Oversize rigging, sails in good nick, safety lines and tethers, once battened down she is fairly water tight, all new thru hulls and cocks, with bungs tied to each, 3 pump systems, new 406, Iridium sat phone, HF and VHF, new inflatable, sea anchor and drogue, flare kit to light up the Tasman and grab bag. My system so far has grab bag secured to the tender, all I have to do is attach myself and cut one line to float free. Grab bag contains epirb, flares and sat phone along with water and food. Still to decide on liferaft, unless authorities make decision for me. Have absolutely no intention of leaving boat until she's under, and then with reluctance.
Liferafts also sail downwind quite fast. Thanks again.

Whiteout or wipped out?