It is easy to buy the cheapest liferaft and then forget about it, but do you know how to use it and what's inside?
Spending hard-earned cash on something you hope to goodness you’re never going to use, then paying to service or replace it every few years, without even seeing what’s inside the case, is a bitter pill to swallow.
It's easy to feel like it’s a waste of money, but if you need to use a liferaft in an emergency, sure as anything you’ll be glad of every penny you spent on it.
If the worst were to happen, having a liferaft to step into will dramatically increase your chances of surviving, sheltering you and keeping you out of the water, as well as making you and your crew far easier to find.
An inflated six-man liferaft
Depending on the standard your liferaft is built to, it will have different features and equipment.
Some of the more highly specified liferafts will also contain perishable items, meaning that they are not only more expensive to buy, but need to be serviced more often too.
Picking the right liferaft, knowing how to use it, what’s inside it – and what isn’t so you can pack your grab bag – is of critical importance.
Liferaft construction
The safety standards are designed to govern both how a liferaft is equipped and how it is built.
Buying an ISO-approved liferaft guarantees several things.
The raft itself will be made of at least two separate compartments and with enough buoyancy that, with a four-man liferaft, it will keep four crew of 75kg afloat even if one compartment is punctured.
A canopy gutter on an orange six-man liferaft with reflective tape
ISO liferafts will include a means of collecting rainwater, such as a canopy gutter.
All inflatable compartments will have inflation top-up valves.
The floor will provide insulation either with an inflatable floor or thermal matting; the former will keep the crew out of pooling water but will need to be inflated.
Inflation hoses will be certified for high-pressure inflation (with a defined service life) and installed away from any possible sharp edges.
Ropes and lifelines will be at least 8mm thick (rope) or 25mm wide (webbing), and non-slip.
Seasickness tablets being put into an orange liferaft
Seasickness is likely. If your liferaft doesn’t include tablets, pack your own.
At the very least, you should choose a liferaft from a well-known make that includes a canopy, water ballast pockets, self-righting straps, an entry ladder, and of sufficient size for your maximum expected crew, which not all non-ISO liferafts would meet.
If you are sailing more than 150 miles offshore, a SOLAS-standard liferaft is recommended.
Getting to know your liferaft
The more experience you have of your liferaft and how to use it in the water, the easier you will find it should you need it for real.
To do this, you need to see it in the flesh.
You might be able to see an inflated example at a boat show or chandlery, but it’s better to ask your manufacturer or servicing agent if you can watch when they unpack and inflate it when your next service is due.
Seeing your liferaft inflated is an informative experience.
Even better, go on a sea survival course; some cost as little as £90.
While not a replacement for a liferaft service, it will give you hands-on experience in the water.
If you can’t do any of these, then as a minimum you should read your raft’s manual and equipment list so you know the specifics of your liferaft.
Your manufacturer may also have written instructions as well as videos and photos on their website, so you know what to expect once inflated and what you need to do.
Most importantly, this will also help you identify anything that is missing that you need to add to your grab bag.
Equipment
You will be able to go through the equipment list for your liferaft from the manufacturer to see what is included in the liferaft, but seeing it first hand and having a go at using it in the raft is even more valuable.
Peace of mind
During a service, your liferaft will be removed from its canister and given a full visual inspection, particularly along the seams.
The air inflation hoses, which have a life span of five years, are checked for condition and that they will remain in date until the next service and replaced.
The raft is then inflated to full pressure and left for 30 minutes to stabilize.
An inflated liferaft
A manufacturer or service agent will usually let you see the liferaft inflated during its service.
A pressure reading is taken and repeated an hour later to check for any leaks.
Other perishable equipment is also checked, including flares, food, water, batteries, first aid kits, and medication and replaced as necessary.
You should then be given a certificate of service to guarantee the work and ensure your raft continues to meet the standard for which it was made, giving you peace of mind until the next time it needs to be serviced, hopefully never having been used in an emergency.
If there are things you need to add at the last minute, such as an EPIRB, these should be kept to a minimum.
Ideally, you should have a VHF Radio, a handheld GPS, and flares that are solely for the grab bag.
Roughly, items in the grab bag should help you call for help and signal your location, provide warmth or protection, food and water, and medical supplies including seasickness tablets, as even the most hardened sailor is likely to succumb in a liferaft.
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