life rafts on sailboats

Yachting Monthly

Digital edition

Best Liferaft for sailboats – offshore ISO9650-1 models

July 31, 2023

Tech Editor and safety gear specialist Fox Morgan picks out some of the best liferafts for sailboats in the offshore ISO9650-1 category

We hope to never use some of the safety gear we have onboard, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make some informed choices. I’ve picked out some of the best ISO9650-1 liferafts for sailboats and especially those who go further offshore or crossing oceans, racing or rallying long distances.

All of the rafts in my guide have options for canister or valise and come in sizes from 4 person to 12 person capacity. Given the size and weight of 12 man rafts, boats with full crews onboard often opt for two smaller rafts, such as 2 x 6 man to make them easier to handle and easier to stow. You can buy one and rent one too, so if most of the time there’s no more than six of you onboard but sometimes you go fully crewed, then supplementing with an additional rental raft can be a good solution. I’ve clambered aboard many liferafts in my time as a professional and corinthian sailor, getting in up that ladder has never got easier no matter how many times I practice. If you have the choice I highly recommend a raft with either a semi rigid or inflatable entrance ramp.

Ocean Safety Ocean ISO9650-1 Liferaft

Reason to buy

trusted name in the industry, variety of packs to meet all current sailing event requirements, 20 year warranty

Reasons to avoid

a premium liferaft with a premium price tag.

Specifications:

4 man liferaft

Container Dimensions (cm) 71 x 49 x 28

Container Weight (kg) 30

Valise Dimensions (cm) 67 x 42 x 24

Valise Weight (kg) 28

6 Man liferaft

Container Weight (kg) 37

Valise Dimensions (cm) 74 x 43 x 24

Valise Weight (kg) 36

4 Person Ocean Safety Ocean ISO9650-1 Liferaft <24

The Ocean Safety Ocean liferaft is made with PU Nylon Laminate. It has an insulated floor and is suitable for use in temperatures down to minus 15 degrees C. It has a less than 24 hour equipment pack as standard, but it can be upgraded to either a greater than 24 hour pack or SOLAS B.

We’ll be testing this liferaft along with others in the buyers guide in a hands on real world test this summer.

Key Features of the Ocean Safety Ocean ISO Liferaft

The less than 24 hSOLAS approved internal and external lighting system

Strong boarding ladder with knee scoop & grab handles for quick boarding Highly visible in yellow and orange Rain water collection 4/5 x 75ltr ballast pockets for increased stability (300 litres ballast for the 4 man) 3 year service interval, 20 year warranty

equipment pack contains: 1 x Buoyant Knife, 1 x Bailer, 2 x Sponge, 1 x Paddle (pair) 1 x Whistle, 1 x Torch & Spares, 1 x Heliograph, Anti Seasickness Tablets (6pp), Seasickness bag (1pp), 3 x Red Handheld Flare, 2 x Parachute Rocket Flare, 2 x Repair Kit (Clam Seal), 1 x Bellows, 1 x Throwing Line (30m), 1 x Signal Card, 1 x Sea Survival Instructions, 1 x Repair Plugs (set), 1 x Immediate Action Cards.

Waypoint ISO 9650-1 Ocean Elite Liferaft

SOLAS approved external and internal LED lights with lithium battery and manual control, Pictograms are used for instructions,

at the top end of the price scale

Cannister 4, 6 or 8 man

Weighs 28kg

Fully tested to the ISO 9650-1 Group A specs, the Waypoint ISO 9650-1 Ocean Elite liferaft is extremely well built and designed for the toughest sea conditions. This is one of the best liferafts in the market today for the ocean sailor. It complies and exceeds the ISO 9650-1 Group A regulations for < 24 hrs and also > 24 hrs (with additional extra equipment).

It meets the MCA code of practice and complies with the ISAF regulations for Ocean Racing worldwide.

Made with PU laminate. Constructed with 4 independent chambers. Two tubes, an inflatable boarding ramp and an arch that deploy automatically. The waypoint has a large inflatable boarding ramp which makes boarding easier than the more simplistic models with a ladder only. If you’ve tried climbing into a liferaft during a sea survival pool drill, you’ll know how hard gettinginto a liferaft can be so the inflatable ramp is worth the extra you’ll pay for this higher specified model of raft.

It has a double floor with triple thermal insulatation. 4 large, (75 litres each) water ballast pockets underneath. Bright nylon Flo orange self erecting canopy, with a large zip operated entrance, which also has a large overlapping flap to stop water entering in extreme weather conditions.

Strips of Solas reflective tape on all the sides of the canopy and on the floor make the liferaft visible in the dark from any angle, including if capsized.

Safety Contents: 1 x Rescue Quoit & 30 m. Line, 1 x Sea Anchor & 30 m. Line, 1 x Flo Orange Floating Safety Knife, 2 x Paddles, 1 x Bailer, 2 x Sponges, 1 x Pump (bellows), 1 x Repair Kit, 1 x Whistle, 1 x Table of rescue signals, 1 x Heliograph (Signalling mirror), 1 x Fishing Kit, 2 x Waterproof Solas Floating LED Torch, spare battery and bulb., 3 x Red Hand Flares, 2 x Parachute Flares, 1 x Liferaft Manual with survival instructions, 6 x Anti Sea Sickness Tablets per Person, 2 litre water collection graduated bag with tap, Graduated cup, 1 x Sea sickness bag per person

Seago Sea Master ISO 9650-1 Liferaft

more affordable than some other iso 9560-1 liferafts, inflatable door ramp

black tubes may be less visible than others with brighter tubes.

Specifications: Valise Container

Sizes – 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 person

Valise | Container 4 man : L650 x W300 x H420 | L730 x W490 x H310 6 man : L720 x W340 x H460 | L730 x W490 x H310 8 man : L720 x W340 x H460 | L780 x W530 x H365

Colour – High viz orange canopy & ballast pockets. Black lower tubes

The SeaMaster ISO 9650-1 life raft is a great option from this well known brand in the marine leisure world. It’s one of the few liferafts on the market in this category that still have the black tubes/inflatable sections. This part is made from butyl rubber which is well known, tried and tested for many years.

Fitted with high visibility SOLAS approved retro reflective tape on canopy and underside of raft floor.

Ballast Pockets – 4 x 55 Litre lead weighted, (total 220 litres ballast)

SOLAS Approved automatic high visibility flashing external light to enable quick recovery. Also has an Internal light.

This liferaft is intended for use in extended offshore, racing yachts and coded boats.

Service & Warranty – 3 Year service interval, 12 year warranty

Emergency Pack – 1 x Bailer, 1 x Drogue (sea anchor), 1 x Floating knife, 1 x Hand pump, 1 x Life saving signal card, 1 x Pair of oars, 1 x Repair kit, 1 x Rescue quoit with 30m of line, 1 x Signal mirror, 1 x Waterproof torch & batteries, 1 x Wet notes, 1 x Whistle, 2 x Parachute rockets, 2 x Sponges, 3 x Red hand flares, 6 x Anti sea sickness tablets

Lalizas ISO Racing Liferaft

lightweight, brightly coloured, reasonably priced

might be a little too lightweight for some

Lalizas 6 Person Racing Liferaft ISO 9650 Type-1 Group A < 24HR

Weight 29kg : dimensions L680mm W480mm D240mm

The Lalizas ISO Racing Liferaft is an ultra-light and compact liferaft. The modest size provides easy storage, making this liferaft a good choice for boats tight on space.

Available in sizes for 4 – 12 people, packed either in a canister or in a waterproof valise.

This liferaft, despite its compact and lightweight design has a thermally insulated floor and twin buoyancy tubes with safety valves. There’s a rainwater collection gutter built into the canopy.

The self erecting canopy is International orange with retro-reflective tapes.

External and internal lifelines and righting device suitable for handling by one person Operating temperature -15° C to + 65° C

Equipment pack includes, 1 x Portable Buoyant Bailer, 2 x Sponge, 1 x Pair of Paddles, 1 x Whistle, 2 x Water Proof Torch and Spare Bulb, 1 x Signalling Mirror, 1 x Sea Sick Bags (1 per person), 1 x Repair Kit, 1 x Bellow (pump), 1 x Operating Manual, 1 x Table of Lifesaving signals, 1 x Logbook, 1 x Immediate Actions Card, 1 x Throwline with Quoit, 1 x Knife, 1 x Drogue with 30m of line, Distress Flares, 3 x Red Hand Flares, 2 x Red Parachute Flares

VIKING RescYou Pro liferaft

semi rigid ramp, self righting,

black tubes might be less visible than brighter coloured options, the most expensive raft in our guide

Sizes: 4-8 persons, available in a container or valise. 4 person, container dimensions 80 x 57 x 32 cm | weight 40 kg 4 person, valise dimensions 84 x 43 x 34 cm | weight 38 kg

The Viking RescYou Pro is their top of the range leisure liferaft. Apparently this raft is self righting. I’ve heard that before and yes, in flat calm conditions they do, but I’d like to see it perform in some real world conditions… (we’re planning to do just that very soon)

The inflatable double floor gives thermal insulation from cold water. Four x 55L ballast bags for stability. Bright yellow canopy is the brightest of the bunch but the black rubber tubes might be a bit of a throw back to the rafts of 10 years ago. A lot of the manufacturers are moving away from black rubber tubes in their top of the range models. There’s nothing wrong with rubber tubes structurally, but they do lack visibility at sea.

This raft has a blue liner, which is supposed to be calming. I’m not sure how much you’d be taking in of your raft details and colours if you were using it for real, those boffins must know what they’re doing to insist on that level of detail. There’s an external strobe light and an internal light. Internal and external lifelines and a rain water collector.

Curtained windows and openings give a 360 degree view of the horizon. Externally the canopy and raft chambers have SOLAS reflective tape for maximum visibility under flashlight.

Plastimo Transocean+ Liferaft

The Golden Globe round world yachts were all equipped with these, brightly coloured,

inflation canister positioned right by the entrance/boarding ramp

4 Person Plastimo Transocean ISO/ ISAF <24h Liferaft

The Plastimo brand from France is well known for a wide range of leisure marine equipment. Wander around any chandlery and you’ll see something made by plastimo. My handbearing compass for example is a plastimo.

Double insulated floor with fluorescent orange canopy with automatically erecting arch tube. 4.3 candela outside light, with radar and retro reflecting stripes.

The Transocean ISAF also has a boarding ramp with an inside grab handle to help haul yourself in and roll over the top tube.

The Golden Globe boats were all equipped with top spec plastimo liferafts, so that’s a fairly good endorsement. Tapio, the competitor whos boat sank suddenly spent a day and a night in his and commented on how comfortable he was while he awaited rescue. I’m not sure they were built for comfort, but more for survival. Anyway, there’s some great pics of this liferaft in his rescue story.

I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

<24h Equipment Pack (sold as standard) , 1 x floating anchor with 30m line, 1 x Pump, 2 x Thermal Protective Overalls SOLAS, 2 x Paddles, 1 x Floating Knife, 1 x Rescue Quoit with 30m Line, 1 x Bailer, 2 x Sponge, 1 x Repair Kit, 1 x Check book and Liferaft Instructions Manual, 1 x Survival Instructions and Signal Card, Personal Survival, Rain catching gutter on canopy, Rainwater collecting pouch, Water 1.5L (Qty per person), 500g Food Rations (Qty per person), 1 x First Aid Kit, Seasickness Pills (6/person), Seasickness Pouch (1/person), Signalling Equipment, 3 x Handflares SOLAS, 2 x Parachute Rockets SOLAS, 1 x Signalling Mirror, 1 x Outside Light on Canopy, 1 x Inside Light on arch tube, 2 x Waterproof Torch with spare batteries and Torch, 1 x Whistle

Crewsaver ISO Ocean Liferaft ISO 9650-1

trusted brand with good reputation for safety gear,

lower freeboard than others in this category

4 man canister <24hISO OCEAN LIFERAFT 4 MAN | dimensions L800mm W570mm D220mm | weight 36.1 kg

The Crewsaver ISO Ocean life raft has a semi-rigid boarding ramp which is easier than a basic ladder but not quite a luxurious as the floating ramp seen on other models in this guide. This raft is make with polyurethane as per others with brightly coloured tubes.

The water ballast pockets on the 4 man liferaft give 150l litres of ballast. Crew saver have just large capacity pockets on this 4 man raft. (4 Man – 2 x 84 litre water pockets. 6, 8 and 10 Man – 3 x 84 litre water pockets. 12 Man – 5 x 60 litre water pockets) How this makes the raft handle in tough conditions will be interesting to find out in our hands on test coming soon. Tough polyurethane coated nylon canopy with a simple zip closed canopy door. Thie raft has Interior and exterior lifelines, an external strobe light to aid night location by search and rescue teams and an internal LED light.

At the rear of the canopy is a rainwater collection scoop.

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9 Life Rafts Reviewed

By Mark Pillsbury
Updated: March 9, 2009

After a full day of climbing into, out of, over, and under a string of new life rafts, I couldn’t decide if it was my jump off the boat or the jump that followed mine that gave me the most pause for thought. The first came about as I stood amidships on Little Wing, the Passport 40 we’d borrowed for the day. It was August in Rhode Island, and I wore my foul-weather jacket and had a life jacket zipped tightly around me. Three feet below and a couple of feet from the deck, the gaping mouth of a Winslow ISO Global Star six-person life raft awaited me and my three colleagues lined up along the rail.

Streaming out behind us were seven more life rafts (a ninth was tested on another day), representative of the latest generation of safety equipment being built to standards now mandated by some offshore-racing and rally organizers. While we weren’t conducting a formal test, the CW editorial team had decided to review the features of each raft, spend some time using them, then pass along our findings to readers to help you consider the many options available.

No time being like the present, I stepped to the lifelines and made the leap. As I landed and slipped quickly to my knees, I felt cold water rush around my legs and up my coat as I scurried out of the entranceway. I’d always wondered how it would feel to abandon ship, and though this was but a drill, that first step from a solid deck to a watery, bouncy raft had been, well, different.

Then came the second jump. With a dull thud, heavy boat shoes hit the life raft’s floor. They came in fast and threatening. The floor pitched, and Doug Ritter, executive director of Equipped to Survive, tumbled into me as he slid out of the doorway and off to the side to make way for the others. Quickly, our consultant on this project, Steve Callahan, the author of Adrift, the chronicle of his 76 days in a raft crossing the Atlantic, and CW managing editor Elaine Lembo followed, with knees and elbows flying. And then there were four of us under the fabric canopy, sizing up the space and imagining what it would be like if we were really calling this home until rescuers arrived, what boarding might have been like if it were taking place at night and in heaving seas, and, most important, how easy, even in these controlled conditions, it would be for someone to be injured-when jumping or when being jumped upon-and for serious complications to quickly set in. Elaine, in fact, was about to get a too-real taste of trouble as we went through our planned assessment drill.

By day’s end, once we’d finished going through the inventory of safety equipment stored aboard each raft, Steve would conclude that, as with most things relating to boats, a lot of compromises had to be made on how each raft was designed, built, and equipped. As a group, we found notable variations in comfort, kit, and construction, but we also agreed that should we find ourselves on a sinking boat far from shore, we’d be pretty relieved to step aboard any of the rafts that we’d looked at.

First though, we had to put these puppies through their paces. As those aboard Little Wing let out our painter, we were pushed backward by the current that in a minute would make it hard for us to swim about in our foul-weather gear, life jackets, and other clothing. One by one we jumped into the water, then used the Winslow’s inflatable ramp and ladderlike webbing that runs across the raft’s interior to pull ourselves back aboard-a maneuver that took a surprising amount of upper-body strength and defied a graceful execution. Then we crowded to one side of the raft, used the strings hanging from the bottom to empty its ballast bags, and flipped it over, taking to the water again. We decided that Elaine, the smallest and lightest, would use the strap across the bottom of the raft to climb up its side and right it. It was hard work and took her a few tries, but soon the raft slowly rose and rolled back onto its bottom-landing on top of a disoriented Elaine. Though she was at the edge of the circular raft, her life jacket and wetsuit pushed her upward and into the floor. Quickly, Steve Callahan sized up the problem and pulled her, sputtering, free. Yes, these rafts are a serious business.

Gretchen Thor | | With 4 square feet per person, even a six-person raft is “cozy” when Sue Pillsbury (left), Mike Lovett, Steve Callahan, and a photographer are aboard. |

A Comparison of Features After consulting on the latest industry trends with Jim and Dan O’Connor, who run Life Raft & Survival Equipment, based in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Cruising World editors decided to take a look at some of the new life rafts being built to standards drafted by the International Organization for Standardization and the International Sailing Federation, commonly referred to respectively as ISO and ISAF. (See “A Discussion of Life-Raft Standards,” page 64.) These rafts are required aboard sailboats participating in certain offshore-racing events, and often such requirements trickle down to cruiser-based rallies, such as the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, which now mandates a life raft meeting International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), ISAF, or ISO 9650 guidelines. It’s likely, we felt, that this new generation of rafts could create a buzz at boat shows when customers inquire about new products.

The manufacturers that participated in our review included DSB, Revere Survival Products (the sole raft in our study that isn’t built to a particular set of standards but is intended for offshore work), Switlik Parachute Company, Viking Life-Saving Equipment, Winslow Life Raft Company, and Zodiac. In a separate session, we also took a look at a raft that Zodiac builds to specifications developed by West Marine.

Both manufacturers and safety experts on hand for our session were quick to point out that while there are valuable features in these standards-based rafts, there are some tradeoffs, too, primarily because these rafts tend to be heavier and more expensive. Unless one is planning to sail in an offshore race or rally, there may be no need to upgrade from your old raft or pay a premium for one of the models we looked at.

What was clear as the rafts were inflated, one after the other, is that there are a lot of variations to consider. Such factors as raft shape, tube construction, canopy height, floor insulation, door size, and ventilation can have a pronounced effect on comfort and performance offshore. Round rafts are thought perhaps to be more stable, rectangular ones more comfortable for stretching out, and high canopies may make it easier for tall people to sit up for long periods. But stability also depends to a large degree on the form and function of the raft’s ballast bags, while a high canopy that allows for headroom will increase windage, meaning you may drift farther afield from where your EPIRB initially signaled. Of course, if the emergency signal stopped broadcasting, that increased windage might help you drift to shore faster, too.

On the Water To get a look at the rafts, we launched most from a dock, but we saved one packed in a valise and one in a canister to deploy from the deck of Little Wing. Our learning curve began as we carried each raft down the dock to be thrown off. Those packed in hard-shell canisters, which outweigh valises by about 10 pounds, were heavy, and almost all were hard to grip. On a pitching deck, it would be tough work for a shorthanded crew to move one of these about. That said, most canisters sit in a deck-mounted bracket and wouldn’t need to be moved far to reach the rail. Still, some straps or handholds are needed; one offered only a fingertip grip where the two halves of the canister came together. The valises, with their hand straps, were much easier to handle, thought it was tough to imagine lugging one up from below in less than 15 seconds, which is one of the safety criteria cited by U.S. Sailing.

Once each raft was launched, the painter was tugged to fire off the inflating mechanism. Because rafts may be deployed in a wide range of temperatures, there’s extra gas in the inflation canister. We soon got used to the loud hiss of excess gas venting from the expansion valves. Callahan said that in the fury of an emergency, that hissing is often mistaken for a leak. But expansion valves are needed since pressure within the rafts’ tubes changes with temperature and must be allowed to vent.

With the launch of each raft, we witnessed many variations in features: inflatable boarding ramps, ladders made from webbing, fold-down fabric ramps, small doors, large doors, windows, observation hoods, and several different locations where painters might be attached. In the drills that would follow, we’d find that each variation had its pros and cons. Small doors make for good protection from the elements, but landing in such a hole when jumping aboard is harder. Webbing rungs designed for easy boarding can tangle legs. And a painter that keeps the door of the raft facing the opening in the lifelines can make boarding from the water all the more difficult. To me, the biggest takeaway from this preliminary assessment was this: Whatever raft you buy, you’ll be well served to find an opportunity to become familiar with it before you need to use it on some dark night. Dealers and manufacturers either run training sessions or can point you to a third party so you can at least experiment with a similar model. Or better yet, when your raft is due for servicing, your repack station can open it with you in a controlled manner that won’t add wear and tear to the raft.

A Look at the Rafts

Gretchen Thor | | DSB ISAF Standard |

DSB ISAF Standard: DSB provided a pair of four-person rafts built to ISAF requirements, its ISAF Standard and its ISAF Ocean XR Self-Righting. The Standard, roughly rectangular in shape, comes packed in a valise. At 55 pounds, it’s the lightest we looked at. Inflated, the canopy has a generously sized opening on one side that uses a zipper and hook-and-loop fasteners to seal out the elements; there’s an observation hood, or inspection port, across from it. Outside the entrance, a fabric ramp folds down on webbing, with a web ladder underneath it so you can get a knee up when climbing in from the water. In general, we found it more difficult to climb aboard rafts with fabric rather than inflatable ramps.

The inner floors of both DSB rafts are made from insulated material (think cellular foam) with a surface that reflects heat back into the raft. On these rafts, the floors were attached to buttons in the corners, and both liners came loose as we moved about. We also found that the emergency equipment wasn’t adequately secured and tended to clutter the entranceway as we climbed aboard. Both rafts had conical sea drogues, some of the better we saw, made from a mesh material that would let water pass through.

Gretchen Thor | | DSB ISAF Ocean XR Self-Righting |

DSB ISAF Ocean XR Self-Righting: Similar in shape to the Standard but with double arches, the self-righting ISAF Life Raft has an entrance on its longer side, which can be closed with a zipper and hook-and-loop fasteners, and a fold-down fabric entry ramp with webbing below. As in the Standard, there was a good ladderlike mesh of handholds running across the interior of the raft from the entryway, but unlike some rafts, this couldn’t be disconnected when everyone was aboard to get it out of the way. Once capsized, the raft needed only a little push to self-right; in waves it probably wouldn’t have needed help. While four could easily fit in either of the DSB rafts, quarters were tight, and all aboard concluded that if planning for a crew of four, a six-person raft would be worth the added expense. (DSB also manufactures 6-person rafts.) The extra space would also allow each crew to carry his or her own ditch bag, a practice recommended by safety experts. (Go to www.cruisingworld.com/1108ditch for more on ditch bags.)

Gretchen Thor | | Revere Offshore Elite |

Revere Offshore Elite: The six-person raft from Revere is built for offshore sailing but not to ISO or ISAF standards. Packed in a valise, it weighs just 63 pounds, making it relatively easy to lift. Inflated, the raft is square, with an ample doorway and a large entrance ramp that inflates with the raft. The raft’s canopy is relatively low and brightly colored for visibility. There’s a quilted inner floor that can be inflated to aid in the prevention of hypothermia in colder water, and a zippered window across from the opening serves as an observation window and provides cross ventilation. The exterior of the raft is well marked with reflective tape, but we found that when launching the raft, it was difficult to find on the valise the black patch secured by hook-and-loop fasteners that peeled off to expose the painter. We also found that the features of the raft itself weren’t as well marked as on some of the other models. Although the raft comes with an older, parachute-style sea anchor, a bonus feature is that it automatically deploys when the raft inflates. On the raft we looked at, safety gear wasn’t tied down well and, as on several of the rafts we capsized, tended to get strewn about.

Gretchen Thor | | Switlik MD-3 International Offshore |

Switlik MD-3 International Offshore: The Switlik six-person raft is built to both ISO and ISAF standards and came packed in a valise with lots of handholds that made moving the 97-pound package more manageable. When inflated, the octagonal-shaped Switlik has ample entrances on two sides and clear observation windows on two other sides. There’s a fold-down fabric ramp, with web steps below, in front of one entrance and a web ladder at the other entrance. When boarding from the boat, the Switlik’s main opening can be easily held in front of the lifeline gate because the painter attaches to a triangular bridle anchored to either side of the boarding ramp. However, when a swimmer enters the raft from the water while the raft is still tethered to the boat, this bridle gets in the way and makes it difficult for the person in the water to get a knee in place on the ramp. We found that good handholds made the second entrance an effective alternative for a swimmer. Inside, we found the canopy was well supported and had good headroom, and both entrances featured zippers to seal out the elements.

Gretchen Thor | | Viking RescYou |

Viking RescYou: Viking supplied two six-person rafts for our comparison, a standard model and a self-righting model; both are built to ISO and ISAF standards. The square-shaped RescYou standard raft was packed in a valise and weighs 77 pounds. Inflated, the tent-shaped canopy has one large opening whose flap can be sealed with a heavy-duty zipper; there’s an observation port/hood opposite for watchkeeping. At the entrance, there’s a rubber inflatable step with a webbing step that hangs beneath it. We found that this arrangement worked well when boarding from the water. The painter attaches to one corner of the raft, however, so we couldn’t hold the entrance square-on to the opening in the lifelines. The buoyancy tubes on both Vikings are made of two layers of natural rubber with a nylon core, which produces a tough, abrasion-resistant material. Inside both the rafts, the ladderlike handholds, made of webbing, can be untied and moved out of the way. We found well-secured gear bags in these rafts, with sea anchors lashed to them so the drogues could be found and deployed quickly after boarding, if needed. Moreover, Viking uses improved Icelandic-style drogues that have lines on their bridles so they can’t become tangled if they spin in the waves.

Gretchen Thor | | Viking RescYou Pro |

Viking RescYou Pro: The six-person self-righting raft we inflated came packed in a canister, which helped to make it one of the heavier we launched. The self-righting Pro model, rectangular in shape, has pointed ends that help increase buoyancy, and a well-supported arched canopy. Inflated, it has two large openings that can be sealed tight by flaps with heavy zippers. Like the standard RescYou, the Pro has an inflatable inner floor. All of the rafts we looked at rely on ballast bags that hang below the raft for stability. On several of them, it took two or three people leaning on one side to tip them over, but neither Viking could be tipped without a swimmer in the water to manually empty the ballast bags. Once up-ended, the Pro righted itself unassisted immediately, thanks to the large tubes that support the canopy.

Gretchen Thor | | West Marine ISAF Bluewater |

West Marine ISAF Bluewater: The six-person Bluewater raft is built by Zodiac to West Marine’s specifications with a nylon and butyl rubber sandwich. The raft is hexagonal in shape, which combines with double arches to provide better headroom. The arched, bright-orange canopy has two openings, one with a large self-inflating boarding ramp, the other with a web ladder that extends well below the surface. Both worked well when boarding from the water. A valve in one of the canopy arches on the raft we tested was apparently not seated properly and leaked as we boarded the raft. Our attempt to reinflate the tube was at first successful, but subsequently the hose on the emergency pump broke, a good reminder of Callahan’s advice always to carry a spare pump in your personal ditch bag. Callahan also noted as a plus that the valve used also allows one to reinflate the tube by mouth, if need be. Safety equipment was well secured in the raft, and the gear bag contained a good array of items, including clamps of several sizes to repair the raft in an emergency. The raft has a black inflatable floor that can be pumped up to provide insulation in cold water.

Gretchen Thor | | Winslow ISO Global Star |

Winslow ISO Global Star: The six-person Winslow raft, built to ISO standards, comes packed in a valise and weighs 99 pounds. Of all the rafts, this was the easiest to get into from the boat. Round in shape, it inflates with half of its canopy folded back, creating a large target to jump toward. The canopy can be fully removed for the tropics or zippered front and back to seal out the elements. Zippered windows can be opened for ventilation and for keeping a lookout. An inflatable ramp is found on one side of the raft and a web ladder on the other. We found that features and equipment are well marked; there’s no confusion about where to board, where to grip to right the raft, or what the function of a particular valve is. While the buoyancy bags on some of the rafts took some time to fill, Winslow has come up with a spring system that forces the bags to open and draw in water, so stability is quickly achieved after launching. The idea of internal ladderlike handholds made of webbing, which we saw in several of the rafts, was pioneered by Winslow, and in this raft, the ladder was easily removed with a clip. The Global Star comes packed with well-secured safety equipment, including a spare sea anchor. The primary sea anchor is self-deployed during inflation.

Gretchen Thor | | Zodiac Offshore ISAF |

Zodiac Offshore ISAF: At 95 pounds and packed in a canister, the Zodiac was one of the heavier rafts we launched, though moving it about was made somewhat easier thanks to carrying straps. We did find, though, that the canister, when lying flat and lifted, tended to quickly tip on its side. Inflated, the raft has a tent-shaped canopy and a fold-down fabric boarding ramp and good-sized entrances facing each other across the square-shaped craft. Inside, an aluminum-lined composite cellular foam floor acts as in insulator and reflects body heat back into the raft. The raft we looked at is used by Life Raft & Survival Equipment as a demonstrator and had seen multiple inflations, so we didn’t get a chance to inspect the ditch gear as supplied by the manufacturer. Company literature, however, indicates that it meets offshore ISAF requirements and is secured in a bag.

Mark Pillsbury is CW’s senior editor.

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How to Choose a Life Raft for Your Boat

Who needs a life raft? Chances are, you do if you’re planning to do coastal or blue water passage making. It’s an insurance item that you hope you don’t need and don’t want to spend much money on but don’t get tempted to go cheap, or worse, without.

A life raft serves as a floating platform to keep you out of the water in case your primary vessel sinks or catches fire. Some people choose to forgo a life raft and opt instead to use their dinghy or inflatable as a secondary source of buoyancy in case of disaster. These may work on lakes, rivers and in near-coastal areas where rescue may be imminent. They will allow you to stay out of the water to avoid hypothermia and possible shark attack, and they’re bigger targets in the water than your head, so they increase your chances of being seen and rescued. However, your tender isn’t likely to do the job on the open ocean in large waves and high winds and that’s where a life raft comes in.

Life raft basics

Recreational life rafts generally have a four, six or eight-person capacity. They come packed in either a fiberglass canister that is mounted on a cradle on deck or in a soft-sided valise so it can be stored in a locker or below. Rafts are automatically deployed with a compressed gas cylinder. Cost depends on size and type but usually ranges $2,000-$6,000. Weight (typically 30-80 pounds for a valise and upwards of 170 pounds for canister versions) is a key issue especially for rafts that will have to be moved and thrown off the boat manually.

Life rafts can be divided into two categories: inshore or coastal and offshore or ocean-crossing . ISO 9650 Type-2 rafts are designed for navigating in coastal and inshore waters where rescue is likely within 24 hours. These generally have a single buoyancy tube, they may or may not have a canopy, they come basically equipped and are they’re lighter and less expensive.

Transoceanic life rafts are designed for more serious conditions and are more ruggedly built with additional and larger ballast bags and self-righting inflating canopies. They have an extensive equipment list including a drogue (sea anchor) to help with stability and to minimize drift away from your originally reported position. These rafts usually come with insulated inflatable floors for thermal protection and more comprehensive inspection ports so you can spot a rescue vessel on the horizon.

Choosing a life raft

Your choice of life raft will depend on several factors:

Assess your cruising area and your overall needs. If you normally boat on small bodies of water in an open boat, a dinghy or inflatable may suffice. If you’re cruising or racing within a few miles of shore, consider a coastal life raft. They’re smaller and less expensive but also designed for more benign conditions and shorter stays. If you’re passage making, you’ll need an offshore raft.
Your size and type of boat will come into play but not as much as you think. A small sailboat or day cruiser may not have much space for a canister life raft but again, it’s about where you boat more than what you boat on. If deck space is limited, choose a valise life raft that can be stored below deck.

Don’t oversize . If you normally boat as a couple with occasional guests, get a four-person raft. USCG-approved rafts should have a minimum of four square feet per person, which isn’t much. Although it’s true that tempers flare when you can’t stretch out and get rest, bigger isn’t always better. You want to have a good weight/square foot ratio to keep the raft from capsizing in high winds and waves. Also, a tight fit ensures the preservation of body heat.
Consider your budget . If money is tight, think about purchasing a pre-owned life raft that has been recertified professionally by the raft manufacturer or specialized raft service station. Purchasing a used name-brand life raft will be better than going cheap for new. For intermittent use, consider renting. Depending on size, trip duration and rating, the cost to rent a life raft is about $500-$1000 and there are several reputable service organizations that will provide you a well-packed, certified raft for a crossing or an offshore race.

A relatively small segment of the boating population truly needs a life raft. The rest can rely on their dinghy or inflatable but there’s no substitute for offshore safety so consider your needs, do your research, make a budget and make the purchase because if things go wrong, the reason to spend money on this piece of insurance is right in the name – life raft.

Read Next: Boat Safety Checklist & Safety Equipment

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Boat Safety Equipment
Everything you need to know about life rafts

Everything you need to know about life rafts

Liferafts for sport boats and sailing yachts

Everything you need to know about your on-board life raft. Imagine the worst-case scenario: you are shipwrecked, your boat catches fire or is about to sink. If the unthinkable happens, your life raft will be a lifesaver for you and your crew. In the following guide, we give an overview of the different types, sizes and versions of life rafts used in sports boats, the international equipment regulations for carrying life rafts and what you should be aware of when storing life rafts on board, using them in an emergency and what to consider when servicing them.

Regulations for life rafts on board, guidelines for the condition and specifications of life rafts.

Which life raft to buy
ISO 9650 basics
ISO 9650-1 offshore & transocean
ISO 9650-2 coastal areas
ISO comparison table
Emergency equipment

In an emergency

Storing on board
Boarding correctly

Maintenance of life rafts

Maintenance interval
Maintenance service includes

What are the regulations for life rafts on recreational craft and sailing yachts?

As a general rule, in Great Britain there are no on-board requirements regarding safety equipment items for recreational craft up to a length of 13.70 metres, as long as the yacht is not used commercially. Nevertheless, it is highly recommended for every skipper to have adequate life-saving equipment on board. The type and extent of equipment depends very much on the size of the boat and the sailing area. The international ISO 9650 standard from 2005, which we will explain in more detail later, serves as a guideline for the equipment and specifications of a life raft.

If you sail under the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, the equipment regulations which that are valid in Great Britain apply, irrespective of the waters sailing in. If you sail abroad under the national flag of that country, you must observe the national regulations. Below we have listed the applicable regulations in France, Italy and Spain for you:

In some countries, however, depending on the area, it is mandatory to carry a life raft and other safety equipment, such as life jackets or pyrotechnics.

France - What regulations apply for carrying life rafts?

The district is divided into zones, distance to the coast in nautical miles (NM) applies:

In France, the "Division 240" has been in force since May 2015, which includes the introduction of a new territorial zone - the "Semi Hautier" zone of 6 to 60 miles. For this new zone, boats flying the French flag must have at least one ISO 9650-2 certified life raft on board. If you sail under the French flag outside the 60-mile zone, your boat must be equipped with a Bureau Veritas certified ISO 9650-1 life raft.

Italy - What are the regulations for carrying life rafts?

The district is divided into mile zones, distance to the coast in nautical miles (NM):

Spain - When must a life raft be carried on board?

Find out about the respective equipment specifications in international areas.

Which life raft should I buy for my sports boat?

Before buying a life raft, it is important to consider your needs clearly and then determine the necessary features of the life raft. In short: Blue-water sailors have different requirements for a life raft than coastal sailors on the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

In addition to the required ISO type , the number of persons required should also be considered when purchasing a life raft. The bigger the better as a concept does not work here, as the life raft's buoyancy is based on the weight of the occupants. There is a risk of capsizing if the number of persons or the corresponding weight is exceeded or not reached.

What are the guidelines for the condition and specifications of life rafts according to ISO 9650?

In 2005, the international ISO 9650 standard for life rafts on sailing and motor boats was introduced. This standard specifies the technical condition of life rafts, the extent of emergency equipment and the materials that may be used in the manufacture of life rafts. However, compliance with this standard is not compulsory in all countries. Compliance is voluntary.

Details regarding differences can be found below in the comparison table for ISO 9650-1 life rafts & ISO 9650-2 life rafts.

ISO 9650 applies to sailboats and motorboats up to 24 metres in length and classifies life rafts according to two main categories:

ISO 9650-1 Life Rafts for Offshore & Transocean

ISO 9650-2 Life Rafts for Coastal Areas

Life rafts of type 9650-1 are divided into two groups for different operating temperatures: Group A life rafts are designed for a temperature range from -15 to +65° Celsius and Group B life rafts for temperatures between 0 and +65° Celsius.

These life rafts are available in various configurations: For an estimated rescue period of less than 24 hours as a standard package and for an estimated rescue period of more than 24 hours with survival equipment, such as drinking water and emergency provisions.

SEAGO SEA MASTER ISO 9650-1 / ISAF, for unrestricted offshore use and for category 1 and 2 regattas. Available either in a robust flat container or packed in a bag. Additional equipment can be carried in a "grab bag". Make sure that the grab bag is waterproof and floatable.

ISO 9650-1 Life Rafts

ISO 9650-2 Life Rafts for Use in Coastal Areas

Life rafts of type 9650-2 are safe to deploy in temperatures between 0 and +65° Celsius and are configured as a standard package for a maximum duration of 24 hours.

If you only sail close to the coast, an ISO 9650-2 life raft will meet all requirements.

SEATEC by SEAGO life rafts. These life rafts are for 4, 6 or 8 persons and are suitable for sailing along the North Sea or Baltic coast for example, on big lakes and inland waters. They come as a standard package without drinking water but with 2 parachute flares and 3 hand flares and have the advantage that they are French Bureau Veritas approved and Italian RINA approved.

ISO 9650-2 Life Rafts

Comparison of ISO 9650-1 Life Rafts & ISO 9650-2 Life Rafts

What emergency equipment is found in life rafts.

How do I store my life raft on board?

The life raft is optionally packed in a handy bag or a sturdy GRP container. Choose an on-board storage location for the life raft that is always in view and can be reached quickly by the entire crew. A stainless-steel holder on deck is ideal for storing a life raft on board. The life raft is attached to the holder with a rip cord.

Storing the life raft on board

How is the life raft activated in an emergency?

In an emergency, the life raft and its container are thrown into the water. A crew member then pulls the rip cord, which is up to ten metres long, until resistance is felt. This point is often marked in colour on the cord. With a jerk of the hand, the release mechanism is activated and the buoyancy chambers of the life raft are automatically filled with air or CO2. The pull rope can now be tied to the side of the ship (manually or with the winch for sailing ships). The life raft should always be pulled to the ship's side, never to the stern. The stern will act like a guillotine in rough seas and could damage the life raft.

Alternatively, an on deck life raft can be fitted with a hydrostatic inflator . When the life raft is under water (water depth 1.5 - 4m), the hydrostatic inflator is activated by the water pressure and the life raft floats up and inflates automatically. However, hydrostatic inflators must be replaced every 2 years.

Practice dealing with an emergency at sea without getting into danger - this can bedone during safety training in Neustadt/Holstein, Info: www.kycd.de

Hydrostatic inflator

What is important to know when getting into a life raft?

The most physically-able person should enter the life raft first. This person can then help the other crew members into the life raft. Ideally, all persons should climb into the life raft directly from the ship without entering the water. If this is not possible, many life rafts have ladders or boarding aids that make it easier to access the life raft from the water.

Only when all crew members are in the life raft and the ship actually sinks (usually many hours later) can the pull rope be finally detached from the ship. All life rafts are equipped with a knife for this purpose.

Why a personal grab bag is a good idea and what it should contain

Check in advance the emergency equipment available on the life raft and replenish if necessary. A personal grab-bag makes a sensible addition to the accessories a life raft is usually equipped with. A grab-bag is a waterproof and floatable bag or container in signal colour. You can also carry important documents and personal items in a waterproof and floatable grab-bag that are essential in an emergency and must not be missing. This may include:

Important medication
Copies of important documents (Boat license, purchase agreement of the vessel, etc.)
Passport & credit card to identify yourself after recovery & to obtain money
Sunglasses & sun cream
Handheld radio and/or satellite telephone for communication
EPIRB or SART AIS transmitter for sending an emergency signal
Water & additional food items

We recommend testing the bag or container after it has been filled to see if it can float before starting the journey. If this is not the case, you can either put a float in it or fill it with air. Not all items in a grab bag can be permanently stored in it. Handheld radios and credit cards, for example, are probably still needed during sailing and will be stored elsewhere on board. It is a good idea to put a sticker on the grab bag listing the items that need to be added in an emergency, so that you don't forget anything important, especially in stressful circumstances.

How often must a life raft be serviced?

A life raft can only function in an emergency if all relevant components are in perfect condition. Regular maintenance of the life raft is therefore essential. Each manufacturer has its own guarantee and maintenance interval regulations, which should be strictly adhered to (guarantee up to 18 years; maintenance usually every 3 years). SVB is a maintenance station for life rafts made by PLASTIMO , XM , ZODIAC , SEAGO und SEATEC . SVB is regularly trained, tested and certified by these companies. The maintenance carried out by SVB is fully documented for you in a log or check-book.

What does the SVB life raft maintenance service include?

Checking the general condition of the life raft, e.g. ballast chambers, roof and bottom
Replacing parts such as seals, masking tape, signalling equipment, etc.
Inspection and replacement of emergency provisions and water for damage and expiry date
Testing the function of the ignition head
Pressure test and leak test of the individual air buoyancy chambers
Testing of the regular opening and closing of the intake and pressure relief valves
Packaging and sealing of the life raft in a vacuum bag and in its original packaging (container or bag)

Every life raft has a maintenance interval prescribed by the manufacturer, which should be strictly adhered to.

A life raft is a vital piece of equipment for your sports boat or sailing yacht! Before buying a life raft, make sure you know where you will be sailing and the number of crew you will need it for. After purchasing a life raft, take a closer look at how it works and the emergency equipment available, and add to this according to your personal needs. Have your life raft serviced according to the manufacturer's instructions. You will then be well prepared for an emergency that will hopefully never occur.

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Written by our SVB (technical) experts

Our SVB safety experts regularly carry out maintenance checks and tests on our safety products, such as life jackets, life rafts etc. They test products and base their recommendations on many years of experience and their own know-how.

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Reference ID: 7950f6f6-165b-11ef-b2a3-0cd4058c3c40

The Complete Guide To Liferafts on Ships

Life rafts are survival equipment provided as a life-saving appliance on every seagoing merchant or passenger ship, in addition to the lifeboats .

Life rafts are much easier to launch than lifeboats. In emergencies, evacuation from the ship can be done without manually launching any of them, as the life rafts are designed with an auto-inflatable system.

SOLAS Chapter III gives all the details for the types, and the number of life rafts to be carried according to the size and type of the ship.

Table of Contents

Where Are Liferafts Located On Ships?

Life rafts are typically located on the muster station, on the port and starboard side near the lifeboat, and on the aft of the ship. The location generally depends on the size of the ship.

Life rafts are stored in a fibreglass container, and a high-pressure gas inflates them during an emergency.

A Hydrostatic Release Unit (HRU) is connected to the raft container and ship, which releases the raft even after the vessel sinks in water.

The particulars of the raft are stencilled on the container, which includes the capacity, manufacturing date, servicing date, company name, etc., along with the launching procedure with a photogenic display for easy understanding.

The raft already contains the essential survival items, including rations, pyrotechnics, life jackets, etc.

Some ships carry a davit launching system allows the crew to inflate and board the raft on the deck, avoiding the risk of seawater entering.

Important Solas Requirements For Life Rafts

All liferaft provided on ships should be bestowed with its painter permanently attached to the vessel.
Each liferaft or group of liferafts should be stowed with a float-free arrangement complying with the requirements so that each floats free. If it is an inflatable raft, it should inflate automatically when the ship sinks.
Liferafts should be stowed to permit the manual release of one raft or container at a time from the securing arrangements.
Davit-launched liferafts should be stowed within reach of the lifting hooks unless some transfer is provided, which is not rendered inoperable within the limits of trim and list as required or by ship motion or power failure.
Liferafts intended for throw-overboard launching should be stowed to be readily transferable for launching on either side of the ship.

Servicing of Liferafts

All liferafts shall be serviced:

at intervals not exceeding 12 months (if impracticable, the administration may extend this period to 17 months)
at proper service stations with proper servicing facilities and trained professionals

Davit-launched liferaft automatic release hooks should be maintained following instructions for onboard maintenance

Essential Requirements for Liferafts and Carrying Capacity

The liferaft of any ship needs to follow the regulations mentioned in SOLAS. Some of the important points regarding liferafts are:

The lift raft should be capable of withstanding exposure for 30 days afloat in all sea conditions
When dropped into the water from a height of 18 metres, the life raft and all equipment in it will operate satisfactorily.
The floating life raft should be capable of withstanding repeated jumps on it from a height of at least 4.5 metres above its floor, both with and without the canopy erected.
It can be towed at 3 knots with its complete equipment, complement of persons and one anchor streaming.
Canopy to provide insulation and protection against heat and cold by two layers of material separated by an air gap
Interior to be of a non-discomforting colour.
It shall admit sufficient air for the occupants at all times, even when the entrance is closed
It shall be provided with at least one viewing port
It will be given with a means of collecting rainwater
It shall be provided with a tool to mount a survival craft radar transponder (SART) at the height of at least 1 meter above the sea level
It shall have sufficient headroom for the sitting occupants under all parts of the canopy
The minimum carrying capacity must be at least six persons
The maximum weight of its container, as well as the equipment, should not exceed 185 kilos
The life raft shall be fitted with an efficient painter of length equal to the minimum of 10 metres plus the distance from the stowed position to the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition or 15 metres, whichever is greater
A manually controlled lamp shall be fitted on the top of the canopy, and the light shall be white, and it must operate for at least 12 hours with a luminous intensity of not less than 4.3 candela
If the flashlight is fitted, it shall flash at a rate of not less than 50 flashes and not more than 70 flashes per minute for the 12 hours that it burns
A manually controlled lamp shall be fitted inside the life raft, capable of continuous operation for at least 12 hours
When the liferaft is loaded with a full complement of persons and equipment, it should be capable of withstanding a lateral impact against the ship side at an impact velocity of not less than 3.5m/s and also drop into the water from a height of not less than 3 metres without damage
CO2 does inflation with a small quantity of N2, which acts as an anti-freezing element. Also, CO2 is non-flammable and weighs more than air, adding buoyancy to the raft. The freezing point of CO2 is -78 degrees so that it can inflate life rafts at shallow temperatures
Location on a ship: – Forward – At embarkation stations on both port and starboard sides
The painter breaking strength should be: – 15kN for 25 people and more – 10 kN for 9 to 24 people – 7.5 kN Rest (6-9)

Safety Features on a Liferaft

Some of the main safety features on a liferaft are:

Pressure relief valve
Stabilizing pocket
Insulated canopy with two layers for protection against heat and cold

Important Liferaft Equipment

All liferafts on ships are fitted with the following equipment:

Rescue quoits with minimum 30-metre lines
Non-folding knives with buoyant handles
For 12 persons or less, one bailer. For more than 13 persons, 2 bailers should be kept.
Two sponges
Two buoyant paddles
Three tin openers
Two sea anchors
One pair of scissors
One first-aid waterproof kit
One whistle
One waterproof torch for communicating Morse code with one spare set of batteries and a bulb
One signalling mirror/heliograph
One radar reflector
One life-saving signal waterproof card
One fishing tackle
Food ration totalling not less than 10000 kJ for each person
Water ration- 1.5 litres of fresh water for each person
One rustproof graduated drinking vessel
Anti-seasickness medicine is sufficient for at least 48 hours, and one seasickness bag for each person.
Instructions on how to survive (Survival booklet)
Instructions on immediate action
TPA is sufficient for 10% of the number of persons or two, whichever is greater
Marking shall be SOLAS ‘A’ Pack
6 Hand Flares
4 Rocket Parachute Flares
2 Buoyant Smoke Signals

Markings on a Liferaft Container

Important markings provided on a liferaft container are:

Maker’s name and trademark
Serial number
Name of Authority
Number of persons carried
SOLAS emergency pack enclosed
Date of the last service
Length of painter
Maximum height of stowage
Launching instructions

Markings on an inflatable Liferaft

Important markings provided on an inflatable type of liferaft are:

Serial Number
Date of manufacture
Name of approving authority
Name and place of the last service
Number of persons permitted

Launching of a liferaft when the ship sinks and HRU activates (Auto)

A general overview of the launching procedure of a liferaft when the ship sinks is as follows:

When the ship sinks up to 4 metres, the water pressure will activate a sharp knife in the HRU
It will cut the securing rope around the container/canister of the raft, and the raft will float free
As the ship sinks further, the painter line will stretch, and it will inflate the life raft
Due to the increase in buoyant pressure, the weak link will break at around 2.2 kN +/- 0.4, and the raft will be on the surface.

Read: Liferaft release system and launching procedure

Launching the life raft manually

Take out the painter of the raft
Fasten it to the ship side at a strong point
Remove the railing and check overboard for any obstructions
Unfasten the hook from the cradle
Two people can lift the life raft and throw it overboard
After it’s thrown, pull the painter sharp until the life raft inflates
With the painter, pull it towards the ship’s side
Lower the embarkation ladder or jump directly onto the life raft, depending on the situation and the time at hand
Sit wide order face to face to prevent any imbalance
Ensure SART and EPIRB have been carried
Take a headcount
Cut the painter using the knife, paddle, or anchor, clear away from the ship.

If the life raft inflates and is upside down, the raft has a righting strap capable of stabilizing it. Climb onto the CO2 cylinder and pull it in the same direction as the wind to do so.

Watch: How to launch and board an inflatable liferaft?

Launching the life raft by the Davit

Remove the ship’s handrail
Remove lashings from the container
Lower the davit and lock it with the lifting shackle
Secure canister lines outboard
Secure browsing line
Pull the painter out approximately 5-6 metres
Secure the painter’s line
Pull the entire length of the painter
Now lift the life raft canister to some height
Pull the painter sharply and let it inflate
After it inflates, secure the liferaft
One person should go in and make some checks
Collect the SART and EPIRB
Go inside and sit evenly
Release the bowsing line and pass to the raft
Check if the launching area is clear
Lower the raft using the brake release
Operate hook release 1m above the water or allow the raft to ride a crest of the wave to put the load on the water, and it will automatically release
Cut the painter and clear away

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About Author

Shilavadra Bhattacharjee is a shipbroker with a background in commercial operations after having sailed onboard as a Third Officer. His interests primarily lie in the energy sector, books and travelling.

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Be the first to comment, 19 comments.

How many life rafts are there on ships and how many are sold each year? Any idea? Kind regards Chris

As stated in the article, the number depends on the size of the ship. You can refer regulation under SOLAS III/31.1.1.2.

What is the standard lenghth of an operating cord in an inflatable life raft?

Can you please provide the reference material used for the Basic Construction Details of Life Rafts section.

IS THERE A RELATION OR A RULES FOR POSITIONING OF DAVIT LIFE RAFT IN RELATION WITH THE POSITION OF FREE FALL LIFEBOAT

What if a liferaft failts to inflate or open? What action to be taken in that case sir ?

Can you tell me what is the minimum length of the ship which requires laftraft in forward sir maam?..pls rply thanks.

Hello, I’d like to know about that quantity of water and food ration. In the article says “Water ration- 1.5 litres of fresh water for each person”. This is a daily amount info? Appreciated Alex

It is allowed to put Ship’s name and Port of Registry to our inflatable Life rafts in the vessel?

Best Regards, Oliver

Remote liferafts asper SOLAS Ch III Regulation 31

1.4 Cargo ships where the horizontal distance from the extreme end of the stem or stern of the ship to the nearest end of the closest survival craft is more than 100 m shall carry, in addition to the liferafts required by paragraphs 1.1.2 and 1.2.2, a liferaft stowed as far forward or aft, or one as far forward and another as far aft, as is reasonable and practicable. Such liferaft or liferafts may be securely fastened so as to permit manual release and need not be of the type which can be launched from an approved launching device.

So for remote liferafts:- • HRUs are not required. • Must have means of rapid, easy manual release, while being secured against sea damage. • Must have sufficient means of embarkation (a knotted lifeline is not acceptable).

These lifeboats shall be of at least for 6 persons capacity since no liferaft shall have a capacity less than 6 people.

What is the standard size of a Painter line for a rigid life raft?

A good video, but @3:30 an inflated liferaft does not become “more heavier”, it becomes more buoyant

Than you Ian for the clarification. ??

How many types of liferaft

Life raft hose assembly, non-metallic for our 20 and 10 man life rafts, we use compressed air to fill our tanks and was wondering what the end fittings should be made of….should it be stainless steel , nickel, or brass.

Good Day My name is Charles Merritt and I will like to order life. Kindly email back with the cost of Revere Coastal Elite Life Raft and we can proceed from there. Thank you

Is it possible that a rocket parachute or hand flare of survival pack burst operate itself

It is unlikely for a rocket parachute or hand flare of survival pack to operate on its own without being activated.

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Liferaft - viking, 10dk+, throw overboard (10 pers.), extended service interval.

L010D027200NCA

Liferaft - VIKING, 50DKS, throw overboard, self-righting, (51 pers.)

Liferaft - viking, 12dk+, throw overboard (12 pers.), extended service interval.

L012D027200NCA

Liferaft - VIKING, 100DKS, throw overboard, self-righting, (101 pers.)

Liferaft - viking, 16dk+, throw overboard (16 pers.), extended service interval.

L016D027200NCA

Liferaft - VIKING, 150DKS, throw overboard, self-righting, (153 pers.)

Liferaft - viking, 20dk+, throw overboard (20 pers.), extended service interval.

L020D027200NCA

Liferaft - VIKING, 25DK+, throw overboard (25 pers.), extended service interval

L025D027200NCA

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Offshore Life Rafts - Recreational & ISO

These Offshore recreational life rafts are a good option for any non-commercial boater or sailor who is travelling miles offshore and looking to stay safe in case of emergency. Some of these ISO-9650 life rafts also meet standards for some sailboat and yacht racing associations. Each of these offshore rafts include an offshore equipment pack essential for survival until rescue is achieved.

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Winslow Liferafts

Winslow has a tradition of excellence for over eighty years..

Winslow LifeRaft Company manufactures the finest marine and aviation liferafts. We combine superior quality and a wide array of standard features with unmatched performance.

Winslow LifeRaft Company, a division of Collins Aerospace, manufactures the finest marine and aviation emergency inflatable liferafts available on the market today. Winslow has a tradition of excellence for over seventy-five years, combining superior quality and wide array of standard features with unmatched performance.

The quality for which Winslow has become famous is built into each emergency inflatable life raft.

Each liferaft is built by employees who take pride in their work

In addition to Winslow's investment in high tech computer controlled cutting machines, life raft assembly is still performed by skilled employees. For some things there is simply no substitute for a skilled pair of hands. Our highly trained workers fabricate the cut components into the rings and arches, and pressure test before assembly.

Winslow builds the best marine and aviation liferafts

Winslow Marine and Aviation Super-Light and Ultra-Light liferafts have been rated number one in every independent liferaft evaluation in which they have been included. At Winslow, we know you depend on us for your safety in an emergency. Winslow marine and aviation liferafts are built with only one thing in mind and that is to save lives!

Winslow has been a leading inflatable manufacturer since 1941

After entering the aviation market in 1994 we rapidly became the OEM supplier of choice for every major business jet manufacturer. In addition to servicing the large and ever increasing installed base of Winslow liferafts, we expanded our service to include aircraft escape slides in 2003 and now service the slides used by many top airlines.

Winslow emergency inflatable marine liferafts

Dedication to our tradition of excellence

Winslow LifeRaft Company is the world’s leader for marine liferafts for the recreational boater and sailboat racer, built with only one thing in mind and that is to save your life. Each liferaft is meticulously handcrafted. Learn more

Winslow's world class service

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Does your liferaft need recertification?

Contact Winslow’s factory service department for more information for servicing or repairing your liferaft. We perform routine maintenance or repairs to all Winslow liferafts. Winslow’s has the experience in performing quality service inspections to keep your liferaft maintained with confidence.

We take pride in integrity without compromise in the work and service we provide. It is our commitment to you to use only the correct parts, to follow CMM’s to the letter and maintain complete and accurate documentation and traceability. We conform to all regulatory requirements and keep our certifications current. Our prices are competitive and turn times are superior.

Have a question?

Call 1-800-838-3012 or visit Contact Us for other ways to connect.

Life Raft Rentals

Depending on the type of boating you do, you may want to consider a life raft as additional peace-of-mind. some offshore fishing tournaments and sailing regattas require it. a life raft serves as a floating platform to keep you protected from the elements such as freezing cold water or scorching hot sun in the rare but serious event that you need to abandon your boat..

Exposure in open water is a dangerous thing. Most life rafts have a canopy. This provides minimal protection from exposure and can even collect and channel rain water for drinking. A life raft also serves as a larger visual target for rescuers to see, especially from the air.

Life rafts are carefully packed in a hard case (called a canister) or a soft case (called a valise) and are inflated by compressed gas, usually nitrogen and CO2 stored in a high pressure cylinder. Rafts come in several sizes, typically 4, 6 or 8 man capacity and range in price from around $2,000 to more than $10,000. They weigh anywhere from 20 lbs to 100 pounds.

For more on selecting a life raft, check out the West Advisor section on life rafts . Or, you may try one of the following places that rent them where you will likely have to pick one up. Due to the bulk of these units and the gas cylinders, you’re not likely to find affordable options to have one shipped to your location:

Life Raft Companies

Search for a Life Raft Company in your area by visiting: United States Marine Safety Association — www.usmsa.org

California: Avalon Rafts — Wilmington 310-549-9665 Coast Marine — San Francisco 415-673-1923 Sal's Inflatable Services — Alameda 510-522-1824

Florida: Viking Life Saving Equipment — Miami 305-614-5800 Sun Coast Inflatables — Tampa 888-572-4317 (or) 727-572-4317 Lifeline Inflatable Services — North Miami 305-621-1500

Maryland: Vane Brothers — 800-440-8263

New Jersey: Sea Safety International — Secaucus 201-963-8493

Rhode Island: Life Raft & Survival Equipment, Inc – Tiverton 401-816-5400

Texas: C&M Marine Aviation Services Inc. — Dallas 877-878-4835

Washington: Puget Sound Inflatables, Inc. — Seattle 800-743-7238 (or) 206-762-3877 Westpac Marine Services, Inc. — Tacoma 800-343-5826

Virginia: Vane Brothers — 800-440-8263

Uncategorized

4-6 or 8 man Life Rafts. The Neptune 2.0 is our answer to economy, durability and above all, safety – requiring service just once every three years. Featuring two tubes for greater freeboard and a self-erecting inflatable arch canopy, the Neptune 2.0 is fitted at each corner of the raft with lead weighted deep water ballast pockets to improve stability in rough sea conditions until search and rescue arrives. These, along with many more safety features, help ensure the Neptune 2.0 will keep you safe on the water.

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Coast Guard rescues 4 boaters stranded on life raft after vessel overturns off coast of Texas

Severe weather was in the area at the time, and the national weather service office in houston had issued a special marine warning due to high winds, large hail and high waves..

Watch: Coast Guard rescues boaters stranded on life raft off Texas coast

The U.S. Coast Guard was able to successfully rescue four boaters from a life raft off the coast of Freeport, Texas, on Monday after they sent out a mayday call when their boat began to roll over.

HOUSTON – The U.S. Coast Guard was able to successfully rescue four boaters who were stranded on a life raft after their boat overturned off the coast of Freeport in Texas on Monday.

According to officials , Coast Guard Sector Houston - Galveston watchstanders received a Mayday call at 4:47 p.m. CT on Monday from a crew member who said their tug and barge were rolling over onto its side with four people on board.

After receiving the mayday, the Coast Guard sent a 45-foot rescue boat on the water and a rescue plane and helicopter from the air from nearby bases and air stations.

This images shows the U.S. Coast Guard rescuing a boater who was among four that were stranded on a life raft off the coast of Texas on Monday, May 13, 2024.

(U.S. Coast Guard/ Air Station Corpus Christi / FOX Weather)

Officials said the helicopter crew was able to locate a life raft and was able to provide its location to the Coast Guard response boat.

Three of the stranded boaters were transferred to the Coast Guard boat and brought back to the station in Freeport. However, due to a back injury, one of the boaters needed to be lifted from the life raft by the helicopter and was brought to the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston.

Severe weather in area where boat overturned

Coast Guard officials haven't said what caused the boat to flip over, but the FOX Forecast Center notes there was severe weather in the area at the time. The National Weather Service office in Houston had issued a Special Marine Warning that was in effect until 4:45 p.m. CT due to winds greater than 34 knots (40 mph), pea-sized hail and high waves.

Another Special Marine Warning was issued after that and was in effect until 5 p.m. CT due to winds higher than 49 knots (56 mph) and the possibility of large hail and high waves.

Extreme Weather
Severe Weather

Coast Guard rescues 4 people from their overturned boat near Freeport, officials say

FREEPORT, Texas (KTRK) -- Coast Guard crews rescued four people from their overturned boat earlier this week in Freeport.

According to Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston, watchstanders received a mayday call at about 4:47 p.m. on Monday from a crew member who said their tug and barge were rolling over on their side with four people aboard.

Officials said the boat crew pulled three people on board from a life raft and taken to Station Freeport.

The fourth person, who reportedly suffered a back injury, was hoisted into a helicopter and flown to the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston.

Their conditions are unknown.

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Body recovered from Colorado River over 2 weeks after man, dog vanish with homemade raft in Grand Canyon

Updated on: May 14, 2024 / 10:58 AM EDT / CBS/AP

The body of a New Mexico man has been recovered from the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park more than two weeks after he disappeared with his dog, authorities said Monday.

National Park Service personnel were notified Friday about a body being spotted in the river. Authorities said the body appears to that of 58-year-old Thomas L. Robison of Santa Fe.

Park officials said Robison was believed to have attempted to travel down the river with his dog on a wooden raft. Officials previously released a photo of the raft that it is believed Robison used, showing just a few long planks assembled together, along with a paddle and life vest.

Robison had abandoned his vehicle at Lees Ferry , a fishing and boat launching point in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The site is often used as a launch for whitewater rafting trips along the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon, according to park officials.

The Coconino County Medical Examiner will confirm positive identification of the body.

The National Park Service and medical examiner's office are investigating.

The Colorado River runs nearly 1,500 miles, from the Rocky Mountains to Mexico, according to American Rivers , a site that catalogues information about the nation's waterways. In the Grand Canyon, the river continues to deepen and widen in the national landmark, according to the NPS . Whitewater rafting is common in the river.

Kerry Breen contributed to this report.

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The state is poised to spring a cop killer from prison — the 42nd in the past seven years — as the officer’s family fights to keep the career criminal behind bars, The Post has learned.

Police Officer James Whittington was off-duty in Brownsville, Brooklyn, on Oct. 30, 1982, when he encountered felon Mitchell Martin, who was armed and fighting with a woman.

Whittington chased after Martin while trying to arrest him before Martin fatally shot the police officer at close range.

Nicole Demby at PBA offices on Broad St.

Martin was sentenced to 25 years to life and has been in prison since August 1983.

The parole board is set to consider the 66-year-old’s release from Elmira in June.

The police officer’s daughter, Nicole Demby, plans to implore the release-happy parole board to keep Martin behind bars — a laborious chore the family endures every two years.

“You know, my father’s life sentence began 42 years ago,” the 48-year-old mom said.

“He’s in Green-Wood Cemetery and that’s his place. My mother’s life sentence began at that time too. She’s 83 and she never remarried.”

“We’re forever in our life sentence.”

Martin first came up for parole in 2014.

“We had peace of mind before that,” said Demby, who works for Amazon in Manhattan. “We thought life meant for life.”

Now, every two years “we’re reopening a wound that we’re constantly trying to mend.

Nicole Demby holds a picture of her slain dad at PBA offices on Broad St

“For a person to take the life of a police officer it means they not only have a disregard for human life, but they also have a disregard for society. Because of that, there really is no place for them in our society.”

The surge in freeing cop killers is due in large part to a revision in 2017 to the rules governing how the 17-member parole board weighs a prisoner’s release, in part because of lobbying by prison reformers and legal groups, a law enforcement source said.

The board gives more weight to an inmate’s age and record while in prison — and less to the crime they committed, the source said.

Board members are appointed by the governor and approved by the state Senate and have increasingly been left-leaning.

“If they let this vicious cop killer out of jail, it’s an insult to our hero police officer and his family,” Police Benevolent Association Patrick Hendry said. “He gave his life that day. This family lost everything and this vicious cop killer should stay behind bars where he belongs.”

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Whitewater rafting is a springtime rush for WA adventurers

With pristine, free-flowing rivers fed by snowmelt, Washington is a wonderland for whitewater rafting. From the Skagit to the White Salmon, the Nisqually to the Yakima, there are adventures for beginner and expert rafters alike.

But for whitewater thrill-seekers hoping to conquer the state’s most exciting and challenging rapids and boulders, one river tops the list.

The Skykomish River is an hour-plus-traffic drive northeast from Seattle. It’s fed by melting snow raging down from the Cascades. It makes for a wild ride.

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“The Skykomish is the most fun [river] with the best rapids,” said Dustin Basalla, owner of Gold Bar guiding outfit Alpine Adventures. “You’re going down narrow chutes to big drops past house-sized boulders, with must-make moves where the boat has the potential to flip, with a lot of active paddling.”

Late spring is peak rafting season on the Skykomish, when snow thaw is in full effect and the rapids are really kicking. Water flow on the river can reach as high as 15,000 cubic feet per second — a nearly unmanageable torrent — but it’s currently in a tamer range, around 3,000 cubic feet per second, after a winter of light snowfall.

Still, imagine thousands of basketballs composed of water rushing by every second.

On a chilly April morning, equipped with a helmet and a splash jacket, life vest and a neoprene wet suit, I launched my own Skykomish adventure. After unloading our raft at the Lake Serene trailhead, my boat’s Alpine Adventures guide gave a safety briefing while knee-deep in the river. The spires of Mount Index, still snowcapped, towered overhead; the water was frigid, but the neoprene did its job.

Whitewater rafting is dangerous. There’s no bones about that.

“Customers ask me all the time, ‘Am I going to be safe? Is it safe?’ And I say, ‘Absolutely not,’ ” Basalla said. “Everybody handles things different, especially if they fall out of the boat. Fight-or-flight. Some people just go into shock, other people swim to shore, rescue their friends.”

All rivers can be unpredictable and filled with unseen obstacles. The hazards of drowning are real. Respect the water and follow instructions. I’m not a whitewater novice, but I trust the experts who are experienced on any given stretch of water: They know where to go, and which spots to avoid.

After pushing off from the Skykomish riverbank, we slipped under a bridge and rolled through our first rapids. Our guide put us through our paces, perched at the back of the raft, calling out various orders: “One stroke forward!” “Two strokes back!”

The scenery was breathtaking. I craned my neck around to admire the different peaks that emerged then disappeared with each turn and twist of the river. Ducks and osprey whizzed over our heads as we jostled downstream.

About an hour into the trip, we pulled off to the bank. Boulder Drop, the biggest rapid on the Skykomish, and one of the few accessible expert-level Class V rapids in Washington, was just a few hundred feet ahead. We needed to scout it out.

We hopscotched over rocks to a lookout point and watched in awe as walls of water slammed into a patchwork of trailer-sized boulders. My rafting crew watched another guide conquer the rapid, then it was our turn.

I could feel my heart jackhammering in my chest as we hit the first big waves. “Keep paddling!” our guide yelled. Our raft got tossed around like a rubber duck before we hit the big drop. “Lean in!” I folded my body toward the middle of the boat, and the force of impact almost ejected me, but I held on. We escaped to calm waters, where we hooted, hollered and raised our paddles together in victory.

The rest of our ride was largely uneventful. A few bumps here and there, many of which would be more exciting at times of high water, but that wasn’t the case on my April trip.

For Washington outdoor thrill-seekers, rafting is the premier springtime adventure. Basalla says it may not be a religious experience, but it’s close.

“There’s nothing like that sense of adventure of going down a river for the first time and just being connected to nature,” he said.

Need a whitewater rafting cheat sheet? We have you covered.

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Offshore Life Rafts

Part 3 - heading offshore is no time to compromise the survival performance of your 'final option.' the 13 offshore rafts we tested range from poor to excellent..

by Douglas S. Ritter

Having presented general findings in the May 1 issue and coastal rafts in June, this final review deals with offshore models. That all offshore rafts are not up to the task was tragically illustrated in the 1998 Sydney-Hobart Race.

Except as noted, prices listed are the manufacturer’s list price for a six-person raft, packed in a valise, excluding any options, followed by an estimated discount price.

Crewsaver Mariner Offshore Crewsaver’s Mariner ($3,245/$2,435) is rectangular with a single-arch canopy that always kinked. This only made the single-arch headroom problems worse and pumping up the standard inflatable floor just exacerbated the problem.

There is a pair of zip-up semi-circular entries. Closure was problematic because the storm flaps kept getting caught in the zipper, and the canopy was stretched so tight it was virtually impossible to zip one entry fully closed, compromising weather protection. Four small ballast bags (80 lbs. each, 320 lbs. total) and a poor-performing drogue provide inadequate stability.

The Crewsaver’s unique slab-sided appearance comes from connecting the 9.5″ tubes via material that is attached on the exterior, instead of the conventional hinge tape between them. While offering some structural and assembly advantages, it also causes problems, the most serious being that repair of a leak or puncture inside that juncture becomes tricky at best.

The manual pump must first be assembled, inserting wood paddles into the pockets of a flexible vinyl bellows. This was extremely difficult, taking 30 minutes. Then the hose wouldn’t fit the pump. Said one tester, “Whatever were they thinking?”

The raft knife’s sheath likely wouldn’t be immediately obvious in the dark and was difficult to remove.

The Mariner is vacuum-packed and available in 4-, 6-, and 8-person models. The canister is flimsy and like some others, the bottom half is retained on the painter, which could pose a danger to survivors in the water and rub against the raft.

The DBC Marine Rafts DBC’s Swiftsure ($2,710) and Swiftsure Global ($3,290) are identical except for the Global’s entry aids, insulated canopy, inflatable floor, and switched interior light.

They are hexagonal with dual 9″ tubes. The single-arch translucent canopy has a small entry with an internal fabric gaiter that closes up, and an external that closes down. Together they provide a moderately weatherproof closure. With only difficult-to-manipulate cloth ties plus elastic loops and button on the external cover, the cover did allow water to spray in over the top. The observation port, equipped with cloth ties, enables it to be secured against water entry and for improved ventilation.

The standard survival equipment pack (SEP) is identical to DBC’s coastal SEP-inadequate, in our opinion. An offshore SEP is a $240-$340 option, depending on size. The inflatable floor is optional on the Swiftsure ($170-$300 depending on size).

The Global has an inflatable boarding platform extending from the bottom tube that made it far and away the easiest raft to board, though a few more handholds would have been appreciated. The standard Swiftsure has only a double-rung looped ladder and proved very difficult to board. Ballast, consisting of five orange V-shaped bags (92 lbs. each, 460 lbs. total) and the modest drogue combined to provide modest stability.

Both rafts are available in 4-, 6-, and 8-person sizes. The canister is sturdy with a modest one-handed grip indent at each end. The canister half is not retained on the painter. DBC was the only company to supply a cradle with the canister (we hadn’t requested one), but the release on the pelican hook failed, which would prevent a timely launching of the raft.

Givens Deluxe Buoy The Givens Deluxe Buoy’s ($6,925/$5,351) main selling point is its unique hemispherical ballast (roughly 1,800 lbs. according to Givens). It does work very well when filled, but it was very slow to fill. Because of that, the raft could be capsized 15 minutes after deployment, albeit with some extra effort. After deployment, the ballast bag still had not dropped down after 90 seconds, worst of all we tested, despite our shaking and rotating the raft. Thus, there is a longer period after initial deployment before the full effect of the ballast is brought to bear and the raft is not particularly more stable than any of the other rafts until it is filled. In rough conditions, the ballast might fill a bit quicker; weights or more inflow might help.

This is the only raft that deployed with the entry closed. Diagonal markings and a placard, “Door Push Open,” encourage entry, but on a dark and stormy night we wonder how visible it will be. It does serve to keep the interior dry and helps promote initial self-righting after deployment.

Entry aids consist of a very awkward to use double-rung, center-supported web ladder, the lower rung being too low, the upper too high. There is a small V-shaped interior boarding ladder, but many testers were unable to reach it. Boarding over the 9″ tubes was very difficult; one tester was unable to board unassisted.

The high, triple-arch, SOLAS insulated canopy provides generally good headroom throughout. The double entry flaps close with cloth ties that are too short and thus difficult to tie. A fair amount of water came through the openings and channeled into the insulated canopy space. Even more poured through the observation port that proved impossible to secure.

Givens Deluxe rafts are available in 4-, 6-, 8-, 10- and 12-person sizes.

The canister is sturdy, but difficult to grip, and is retained on the painter. Givens also makes a lighter weight International Offshore Racing model that we did not test.

Plastimo Offshore+ Plastimo’s Offshore+ ($3,415 / $3,075) is a pentagonal raft with a single-arch canopy. The dual-color canopy is tied up to the arch and drops down where it is zipped around the bottom. Testers found it difficult to get the zipper started. It was moderately weatherproof, with leakage through the zipper, but dark and cramped.

There is a water collection V on the back side of the canopy. A simple slit functions as a zippered observation/ventilation port that was both uncomfortable to use and not very practical, in our view. It also leaked.

Four ballast bags (98 lbs. each, 392 lbs. total) and a poor-performing drogue provide only moderate anti-capsize capability.

The underside has some retro-reflective tape (that returns light rays parallel to the incident rays), but is otherwise all black. In other regards it is fitted out essentially like the Coastal reviewed in Part 2, incorporating Plastimo’s unique “tube-in-a-tube” construction.

The Offshore+ is vacuum-packed and available in 4-, 6-, 8- and 10-person sizes. No canister was provided. Plastimo offers two other offshore rafts, but these were not tested.

In Part 2 (June), we discussed a number of Plastimo problems, including their use of non-DOT-approved cylinders, valves that could puncture the tube, and difficulties with service. Since then, Plastimo has eliminated the middleman so that service stations now deal directly with the factory in France. Plastimo also has issued an updated Service Bulletin, 99.01.01, with a revised foam packing piece designed to prevent damage to the rafts from the valves. Owners should ensure that their rafts comply with this latest service bulletin. Plastimo will change out all non-DOT cylinders free of charge at the five-year hydro test.

Switlik MD-2 The MD-2 ($3,745/$2,925) is essentially Switlik’s MD-1 coastal with double 10″ tubes, available in 6-person only. Along the way, they added a few features which help solve some of the problems we noted with the MD-1. The most notable addition is an effective rigid boarding platform entry aid (as on the CLR6 coastal). Our prototype installation made a huge difference in boarding compared to the MD-1’s entry that we faulted.

The double tubes moderate the low headroom, but space still suffers in comparison to others. The too-tight canopy collapsed the arch when the entry was closed, which in itself was difficult to accomplish because of the tension.

Inflating the optional floor ($695) just made it worse. Water leaked through the unprotected zippers. With identical ballast and drogue, stability is about the same as the MD-1-moderate at best.

Our MD-2 came in a robust canister, the best of the group.

Switlik SAR Mk II Switlik’s top-of-the-line Search and Rescue Mk II ($5,295/$4,395) represents their concept of the definitive life raft (available only in 6-person size). However, inflatable floors are optional; ours was fitted with their tied-in INFAB floor ($695; heat-sealed floor $195), as is an “extended” SEP ($100). Developed for the U.S. Coast Guard to drop from aircraft to those in peril, but never purchased by them, the SAR Mk II incorporates a number of unique features.

The toroidal ballast (1,432 lbs.) is essentially a red rectangular bag that extends completely around the periphery of the raft. It is divided internally into compartments and is weighted at these junctures. It filled fairly rapidly and provided good capsize resistance, as well as serving to block wind from getting under the raft. With the boat-shaped form factor and swivel-less drogue, this large amount of ballast is a big plus.

The double-arch canopy is similar to the CLR6 with good headroom. The top is convertible and deploys with it furled in the open position. This makes jumping in from a vessel a cinch, as well as recovery via air, but it also adds to the workload upon initial entry. While not terribly difficult to close-up, it isn’t as quick or intuitive as other designs. Also, some cloth ties provided as a backup to the normal zippered closure were too short to be easily tied. In the dark or with high seas and winds it might be a real challenge. Each arch support is independently inflated via separate inflation cylinders.

Switlik’s platform makes entry relatively easy over the double 10″ tubes. A zipper on each side closes up each of the entry doors and generous Velcro storm flaps do a decent job of keeping water out.

We were unable to reach the painter, attached to a bridle, without partially collapsing the canopy, and then, as a result, found using the raft knife also difficult. One of the shroud lines to the drogue, normally double-knotted, had partially untied itself during our short test session-not good. The survival manual isn’t waterproof.

Viking UK Yachting The Viking UK Yachting ($3,100) elicited complaints from every tester about its natural rubber-based fabric. The smell was nauseating, even without the raft closed up. The material provides good traction, which helped keep testers in place, but also caused painful sores on exposed skin.

The rectangular raft has a pair of 9″ tubes. The two-rung webbing ladder, along with minimal other aids, made it fairly difficult to board, though the grippy material helped somewhat.

The cramped single-arch, translucent orange canopy is tied up towards the arch on one side and is closed by pulling it down over the top tube. Velcro patches and an internal shock cord retain it. While weather tight, there’s not much adjustment-open or closed is about it. If the canopy arch is punctured, the top tube deflates-not a great idea.

The observation port sock is tied up to the arch when not in use, rendering it the most weatherproof of all tested-simple but effective.

A single rain catcher is provided.

Five large orange V-shaped ballast bags (101 lbs. each, 505 lbs. total) and a moderately effective, manually deployed drogue provide fair capsize resistance.

The canopy seemed to be marked for application of retro-reflective tape, but there was none.

An optional tied-in inflatable floor is available ($200-$250).

The raft comes in 4-, 6-, and 8-person sizes. The canister provided was reasonably robust and didn’t trap the painter, but included no handles or grips and is banded with nylon straps-we prefer stainless.

West Marine Offshore The West Marine Offshore ($2,799) is a collaborative effort between West Marine and Zodiac to produce a value-priced offshore raft with features that Chuck Hawley, West Marine’s equipment guru, felt were missing from many others. The elongated hexagonal raft has a 9″ top tube and 10″ lower tube. There are six V-shaped ballast bags (80 lbs. each, 480 lbs. total) and a drogue with swivel for moderate resistance to capsizing.

A boarding platform extends from the bottom tube. While reasonably effective, this proved far more difficult to use than the similar but superior DBC version. The surface is attached to the top of the platform’s tube supports instead of the bottom as on the DBC. Some testers slid off the slick platform a time or two attempting to board it, even with the generous hand grips provided. Once on the platform, boarding the raft was easy. The painter leads to a second entry without good boarding aids (for hauling it close to the boat). We think there should be instructions for in-water survivors following the painter to the raft to board on the other side with better boarding aids.

Headroom with the tall dual-arch canopy was excellent. A pair of tall semi-circular zippered doors with a storm flap at the top provided fairly easy entry from the vessel, fair ventilation, and easy closure. Some water came in via the zippers. Rain-catchers are installed at both ends.

The foam insulated floor was easily torn by persons moving about in the raft. It has a self-bailer installed in the center. With no placards or instructions, testers were at a loss figuring out what it was.

The SEP in our test raft was inadequate for offshore use. For example, there are only three SOLAS hand flares and no signal mirror or water. Spare drawstring bags for equipment are nice, but you’ll definitely need a well-equipped abandon-ship bag to supplement what little is in the raft.

The molded plastic canister supplied was the least substantial of all tested, and the bottom half remained on the painter. It did have easy-to-grip retracting handles.

The West Marine Offshore is available in 6- and 8- person sizes.

The Winslow Rafts Winslow’s “Super-Light” offshore line of decagonal rafts offers a multitude of options, including their Basic Cruising and Fishing Offshore ($3,795/$3,036), that we didn’t test, and viewport-equipped Offshore Plus ($3,945/$3,145), the well-equipped Extended Offshore ($5,395/$4,595), and Winslow’s vision of the ultimate offshore raft, the Ocean Rescue ($7,345/$6,445).

Each has a selection of three possible survival equipment packs: Offshore, Extended Offshore ($400), and SOLAS A-Plus ($1,700). There’s also a 50-item list of options (many included in the higher specification rafts), in case the pre-configured rafts or SEPs don’t quite suit you. General features are shared with the Winslow coastal rafts reviewed in Part 2.

The two lower-priced rafts come with a single-arch canopy identical to the coastal rafts. The tri-arch canopy on the two others is similar in most respects (and an option on the lesser spec rafts), but the extra arch segment provides much more headroom around most of the raft, though not as much at the center of the entry as we’d prefer. An inflatable floor is standard only on the Ocean Rescue, optional on the rest ($200-$300).

Winslow’s entry aids, as described in Part 2, are supplemented in the offshore models with a longer four-rung ladder, additional grab handles, and “stirrups” on the bottom tube, resulting in a raft everyone could board with minimal difficulty over its 11″ tubes. The larger tubes provide significantly more freeboard than the closest competitors.

While our prototype test rafts came with both sizes of Winslow’s ballast, the company advised that production offshore rafts now all come with their Cape Horn ballast (128 lbs. each, 640 lbs. total). Together with Winslow’s top-rated swivel-equipped drogue, capsize resistance is very good. Winslow’s righting aids, including the locator light, are very good, and the righting ladder fitted to the Ocean Rescue (a $75 option on others ) is the best solution seen.

Viewports are fitted to all but the Basic raft; opening viewports and their storage pockets are fitted on the two top-spec rafts.

Winslow’s offshore SEPs are, for the most part, well-equipped. Their SOLAS A-Plus SEP exceeds SOLAS standards in many regards, even including a PUR 06 watermaker. While this SEP adds a good deal of weight, it obviates the need for much of what would go in an abandon-ship bag.

The extra space in the Ocean Rescue is more than just a luxury, and Winslow’s standard self-deploying 406 MHz EPIRB on the two higher cost rafts should expedite rescue.

Winslow’s offshore rafts are available in 4-, 6-, 8-, 10- and 12-person sizes, except the Ocean Rescue which is only available in 4-, 6- and 8-person sizes. The Winslow canister is sturdy and has a good gripping area at both ends, but unfortunately retained the bottom half on the painter.

Zodiac Racing Super MP6 Zodiac sent their MP6 Racing Super model ($2,595), because they didn’t yet have anything but a proposed brochure of their new offshore design that will replace the Open Sea line. The MP6 has a great deal in common with West Marine’s Coastal.

Our comments about the West Marine Coastal in Part 2 apply, with the following exceptions:

There is no swivel on the drogue. Instead of a single zippered entry, both sides are retracted up towards the arch and are secured with ties. This provides pass-through ventilation while open; they are closed by pulling the elastic edges down over the tube and securing them with some ties, providing a fairly weather tight, but cramped and stuffy canopy.

The boarding aids are a bit less effective; there’s no tube at the bottom of the ladder, meaning that getting in was even more difficult than the West Marine Coastal.

The survival manual appears exceptional in content and format, even including useful ocean current charts and a plotter, but is written in French. The Racing Super is available in 4, 6- and 8-person sizes.

Conclusions It is obvious that lifesaving capability in life rafts does not come cheap. For offshore use, the differences in capability can be significant and any deficit potentially magnified. Where you are likely to deploy the raft also makes a difference; the world’s waters are not all equally demanding of your “final option.” It is not an easy choice.

Winslow’s quality, performance, light weight, and attention to detail make their rafts our top choice; they were also the near unanimous selection of our volunteers. Two couples, participating for the purpose of selecting a raft, bought Winslow. We were impressed with Winslow’s many innovative, industry-leading features, as well as their obvious consideration of human factors in design and equipage. The flexibility to tailor a Winslow to your particular needs is a welcome option, as is their upgradeability.

The Winslow Ocean Rescue is our top choice for an offshore life raft, albeit at a premium price, followed closely by the Extended Offshore, which provides perhaps the best value in their line, in terms of standard features and capability for your dollar. The Offshore Plus, in its standard configuration, represents the best of the single-arch canopy rafts, none of which we really like. A judicious choice of options, such as the tri-arch canopy, will fix the most significant drawbacks and give you nearly top-rated performance and features at a relative bargain price, though still not inexpensive.

There is a lot to like in Switlik’s Search and Rescue Mk II, the only other raft to receive votes for best offshore raft from the volunteers. Its toroidal ballast is excellent and goes a long way towards ameliorating the potential stability problem of a drogueless, boat-shaped raft. One of its biggest drawbacks is weight-the trade-off for its robustness. Given its premium price, we’d like to see some of the shortcomings addressed, such as the lack of a swivel for the drogue, which wouldn’t cost much to add. Greater attention to human factors would also help. Switlik’s quality construction is readily apparent and was noted by many of the volunteers.

West Marine’s Offshore has many well-thought-out features, including the spacious dual-arch canopy, boarding ramp, swivel for the drogue, and vacuum packing, among others. It’s a good value for those on a budget and with less demanding requirements. The SEP does not contain as much equipment as many others so you will need a well-equipped abandon-ship bag. It’sour Best Buy.

The Givens Deluxe Buoy is optimized for extreme conditions, but seems poorly suited for less severe circumstances. If you are sailing in higher latitudes, it may be an acceptable choice. For most sailors, particularly those sailing shorthanded, we deem it too heavy, with too many flaws (though most could be easily remedied without undue cost).

DBC’s Swiftsure Global is a moderately capable offshore raft at a moderate price, but a notch below those above because of its single-arch canopy and other noted shortcomings.

The remaining offshore rafts in this review had significant flaws and shortcomings and not enough counterbalancing positive attributes.

Contacts- Crewsaver (Inflatable Survival Systems, Inc.)PO Box 359, Sharon Center, OH 44274; 330/239-4331, email: [email protected] . DBC Marine Safety Systems, 101-3760 Jacombs Rd., Richmond, BC V6V 1Y6 Canada; 800/931-3221, 604-278-3221, www.dbcmarine.com. Givens Marine Survival Co., 548 Main Rd., Tiverton, RI 02878; 401/624-7900, www.givensliferafts.com. Plastimo (Lewmar, Inc.-Safety), 6475 Parkland Dr., Sarasota, FL 34243; 800/946-3527, 941/753-7533, email: [email protected] . Switlik Parachute Co., 1325 E. State St., Trenton, NJ 08609; 609/587-3300, www.switlik.com. Viking Life-Saving Equipment (America) Inc., 1625 N. Miami Ave., Miami, Fl 33136; 305/374-5115, www.viking-life.com. West Marine, PO Box 50070, Watsonville, CA 95077; 800/262-8464, 831/761-4421, www.westmarine.com. Winslow LifeRaft Co., 11700 Winslow Dr., Lake Suzy, FL 34266; 800/838-3012, 941/613-6666, www.winslowliferaft.com. Zodiac of North America, Inc., 540 Thompson Creek Rd., Stevensville, MD 21666, 410/643-4141, www.zodiac.com.

Editor’s note: Doug Ritter is a Practical Sailor contributing editor and the editor of the Equipped To Survive (www.equipped.org) web site.

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IMAGES

Lifeboats and Life Rafts Selection Guide: Types, Features, Applications
Life Raft Operation and Survival Practices
Why You (Desperately) Need a Life Raft on Your Boat
OCEANMASTER ®LIFE RAFTS
Launching and boarding a life raft
Life Raft and Lifeboat

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COMMENTS

Guide to Choosing a Life Raft for Recreational Boating
Revere Supply's Coastal Compact Life Raft is a calm-water, inland solution, for four people, and is better than jumping in the drink with your life vest on. A sudden sinking or out-of-control fire would make you glad to have this platform. The raft weighs about 16 pounds, and most of that weight is in the inflating cylinder.
How to Choose a Liferaft
At least two separate flotation chambers. Insulated floors (two inflatable layers or with an insulating material) An inflatable canopy covering the entire raft. Large ballast bags suspended below the raft to stabilize it in high winds or waves. A boarding platform to make the raft easier to enter from the water.
Best Liferaft for sailboats
Specifications: Cannister 4, 6 or 8 man. Weighs 28kg. Fully tested to the ISO 9650-1 Group A specs, the Waypoint ISO 9650-1 Ocean Elite liferaft is extremely well built and designed for the toughest sea conditions. This is one of the best liferafts in the market today for the ocean sailor.
Life Rafts: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
A life raft is an integrated system in which the performance of individual features, or lack thereof, can significantly affect overall performance. ... it is more critical. A boat-shaped raft, running with wind and waves, is probably somewhat less likely to overturn, in this case end-over-end, than a comparably sized and ballasted round raft ...
9 Life Rafts Reviewed
These rafts are required aboard sailboats participating in certain offshore-racing events, and often such requirements trickle down to cruiser-based rallies, such as the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, which now mandates a life raft meeting International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), ISAF, or ISO 9650 guidelines.
Lifeboat and Life Raft Basics
Proper care ensures the raft is always ready for use and repacking a six-person life raft generally costs $500-$900 including parts, labor, fresh equipment, and the re-arming CO2 canister. Recertification is also a good option if you buy a pre-owned life raft. You'll want to know its condition and age.
Life Rafts
Life rafts are inflatable devices that are designed to provide flotation and environmental protection for a small number of persons for a short period of time. The life rafts that West Marine sells have capacities from 2-12 persons. Reasons to Have a Life Raft. Since boats can and occasionally do sink, boaters need ways to stay afloat until ...
Commercial & Recreational Inflatable Liferafts
From $3295. Show Details. 1. 2. New life rafts from top brands like Crewsaver, Elliot, Zodiac, and Revere. Buy from the experts: We are USCG and manufacturer approved to service all of the liferafts we sell. Whether you're looking for a commercial liferaft for your fishing boat or passenger vessel, or an ISO approved or recreational liferaft ...
How to Choose a Life Raft for Your Boat
If deck space is limited, choose a valise life raft that can be stored below deck. Don't oversize. If you normally boat as a couple with occasional guests, get a four-person raft. USCG-approved rafts should have a minimum of four square feet per person, which isn't much. Although it's true that tempers flare when you can't stretch out ...
Marine Liferafts
Winslow LifeRaft Company is the world's leader for marine liferafts for the recreational boater and sailboat racer, built with only one thing in mind and that is to save your life. You operate the best equipment, and spare no maintenance, because safety is your number one priority. ... Deploying a Life Raft. Have a question? Call 1-800-838 ...
Professional Marine Life Rafts
If you are a commercial boat looking for a marine life raft, you will want to look at IBA or Inflatable Buoyant Apparatus Rafts. These rafts are specifically designed for commercial sailor and their vessel. Our selection of Inflatable Buoyant Apparatus rafts ranges from 4 man-size to 150 man-size, each with unique cradle and canister assemblies.
Everything you need to know about life rafts
In 2005, the international ISO 9650 standard for life rafts on sailing and motor boats was introduced. This standard specifies the technical condition of life rafts, the extent of emergency equipment and the materials that may be used in the manufacture of life rafts. However, compliance with this standard is not compulsory in all countries.
Life Rafts
The Viking RescYou Pro 6 is a self-righting boat-shaped offshore life raft, the first such that we've tested for the recreational marine market, though the Givens we tested last time came close. "Self-righting" means that if the raft inflates upside down, it automatically rights itself. This is accomplished on the RescYou Pro 6 via a pair ...
Marine Life Rafts
Shop Life Rafts for boaters and marine enthusiasts at Defender. Get fast delivery and free shipping on eligible orders over $99. ... Superior Life-Saving Equipment Universal Deck Mount Life Boat Cradle - CRD-SS-01 $462.99. 0. Revere Life Raft Cradle & Hydrostatic Kit - 45-OO4CRAD $547.99. 0.
Life Rafts and Marine Survival Gear
A life raft is one of the most crucial pieces of marine survival gear on your boat. With our wide variety of raft types it's easy to find the one you need whether you mostly cruise along the coast or are outfitting a commercial vessel. Choose from coastal life rafts, near shore life rafts, offshore life rafts, compact life rafts and ...
The Complete Guide To Liferafts on Ships
Go inside and sit evenly. Release the bowsing line and pass to the raft. Check if the launching area is clear. Lower the raft using the brake release. Operate hook release 1m above the water or allow the raft to ride a crest of the wave to put the load on the water, and it will automatically release.
Liferafts
Liferafts. Renowned for their unmatched dependability and robustness, our throw-overboard and davit launchable liferafts come in both standard and automated self-righting versions. VIKING liferafts undergo rigorous trials in challenging sea conditions and can be deployed in extremely high wind speeds and frigid temperatures.
Offshore Recreational Life Rafts
These Offshore recreational life rafts are a good option for any non-commercial boater or sailor who is travelling miles offshore and looking to stay safe in case of emergency. Some of these ISO-9650 life rafts also meet standards for some sailboat and yacht racing associations. Each of these offshore rafts include an offshore equipment pack ...
Know Your Life Raft Inspection Requirements
A pioneer in the world of inflatable boats, Avon was acquired by French competitor Zodiac in 1998. Zodiac stopped making Avon liferafts in 2004, and then scaled back to two Zodiac brand life rafts. Emerging from bankruptcy in 2015, the company, now known as Zodiac Nautic, introduced two new liferafts this year.
Emergency Inflatable Life Rafts
Call 1-800-838-3012 or visit Contact Us for other ways to connect. Winslow has a tradition of excellence for over seventy-five years. Winslow LifeRaft Company manufactures the finest marine and aviation liferafts. We combine superior quality and a wide array of standard features with unmatched performance.
Life Raft Rentals: BoatUS Foundation
Avalon Rafts — Wilmington 310-549-9665. Coast Marine — San Francisco 415-673-1923. Sal's Inflatable Services — Alameda 510-522-1824. Florida: Viking Life Saving Equipment — Miami 305-614-5800. Sun Coast Inflatables — Tampa 888-572-4317 (or) 727-572-4317. Lifeline Inflatable Services — North Miami 305-621-1500.
Life Rafts
4-6 or 8 man Life Rafts. The Neptune 2.0 is our answer to economy, durability and above all, safety - requiring service just once every three years. Featuring two tubes for greater freeboard and a self-erecting inflatable arch canopy, the Neptune 2.0 is fitted at each corner of the raft with lead weighted deep water ballast pockets to improve stability in rough sea conditions until search ...
Coast Guard rescues 4 boaters stranded on life raft after vessel
HOUSTON - The U.S. Coast Guard was able to successfully rescue four boaters who were stranded on a life raft after their boat overturned off the coast of Freeport in Texas on Monday. According to officials, Coast Guard Sector Houston - Galveston watchstanders received a Mayday call at 4:47 p.m. CT on Monday from a crew member who said their ...
Coast Guard rescues 4 people from their overturned boat near Freeport
Officials said the boat crew pulled three people on board from a life raft and taken to Station Freeport. The fourth person, who reportedly suffered a back injury, was hoisted into a helicopter ...
Video Dragon boats to race in Washington, DC
Dragon boats to race in Washington, DC "GMA" looks at an ancient tradition being brought to life at a festival in the nation's capitol this weekend. May 17, 2024. Examined. Examined.
SCDNR to conduct courtesy boat inspections during Memorial Day weekend
May 17, 2024. In an effort to keep people and waterways safe during the Memorial Day weekend, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Law Enforcement Division will be conducting courtesy boat inspections at public boat landings around the state. The Memorial Day holiday kicks off the summer boating season and is one of the busiest ...
Body recovered from Colorado River over 2 weeks after man, dog vanish
Officials previously released a photo of the raft that it is believed Robison used, showing just a few long planks assembled together, along with a paddle and life vest.
Cop killer comes up for parole, again
3. Police Officer James Whittington was off killed by Mitchell Martin in 1982. Whittington was sentenced to 25 years to life and has been in prison since August 1983. The parole board is set to ...
Whitewater rafting is a springtime rush for WA adventurers
May 16, 2024 at 10:00 am Updated May 16, 2024 at 10:00 am. By. Corbin Reiff. Special to The Seattle Times. With pristine, free-flowing rivers fed by snowmelt, Washington is a wonderland for ...
Offshore Life Rafts
West Marine Offshore. The West Marine Offshore ($2,799) is a collaborative effort between West Marine and Zodiac to produce a value-priced offshore raft with features that Chuck Hawley, West Marine's equipment guru, felt were missing from many others. The elongated hexagonal raft has a 9″ top tube and 10″ lower tube.