Click for Westport Click for Delta Click for Furuno Click for Burger Click for Mulder

Liferaft configuration - big vs. small

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by balboa, Feb 23, 2008.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. balboa, Feb 23, 2008
    #1
    balboa

    balboa Guest

    We need to install life raft capacity for 34 persons on each side of our vessel.

    Our plan was to put one 35-person raft on each side and saving space and yearly inspection fees and have a 10-person raft available for crew-only trips.

    But one could also make a combination with smaller rafts like a 35-p on one side and a 20-p and 16-p. on the other. Or even use a 20-p and 16-p raft on both sides.

    I've heard the argument that big rafts with fewer people are not very comfortable but how many times to you have the maximum number of people on board? If the average number of people on board is 25, it seems that a 35-p raft with 25 people on board will be more comfortable than 2 smaller rafts each with 50% capacity.

    Anybody any thoughts on this subject and/or real experience with boarding rafts in emergency situations?

    Thorwald Westmaas
  2. KCook, Mar 4, 2008
    #2
    KCook

    KCook Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2005
    Messages:
    1,160
    Location:
    Phoenix
    Unusual topic. Are the big rafts as reliable regarding launching and rigging as the more modest sized ones? Just thinking out loud here, absolutely zero experience.

    To be sure everyone sees this topic, I would also post it on the General Yachting Discussion forum. Much more traffic there, and so far as I know Carl won't spank you for posting a topic on a second forum ...

    Kelly
  3. balboa, Mar 4, 2008
    #3
    balboa

    balboa Guest

    I'll refer to this encouragement if Carl kicks my butt :)
  4. YES!, Mar 4, 2008
    #4
    YES!

    YES! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2005
    Messages:
    183
    Location:
    Sarasota, FL
    For requirements up to 25 per, I opt for one life raft, after that we go to 2 equals per side.

    Although you have 2 more rafts to havecertified each yer, smaller rafts are cheaper to buy and cheaper to have service (although not by half).

    The overriding rationale is that crew members can physically handle the smaller rafts, whereas you certainly will need a commercial dockside crane to load/unload the larger units - an expense usually greater than having the life rafts serviced.

    Finally, if you actually need to deploy a life raft, the smaller size makes them much easier to launch and you can give people more space, separate emergency packs and higher visibility with more numbers. Guests can be divided among the rafts to be assisted by crew in what will be a very difficult time no matter how fast the rescuers appear.
  5. balboa, Mar 4, 2008
    #5
    balboa

    balboa Guest

    Great feedback Stan. Indeed, the 35-pax raft are about 300 kg; the 20-pax under 200.

    So moving a 35-pax raft from port to starboard in bad weather will require 4 very strong guys!

    Thorwald
  6. Ken Bracewell, Mar 4, 2008
    #6
    Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2006
    Messages:
    1,758
    Location:
    Somewhere Sunny
    I would endorse a greater number of smaller rafts. When my feet are wet, I'd prefer as many floating objects around as possible. You'll also have that many more knives, repair kits, etc.
    Another benfit is it is much easier to blend a smaller raft with the surroundings when you are storing them on deck.