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Post by sitara on Aug 15, 2012 5:06:55 GMT
Hi all,
I am planning to purchase a life raft with a view to sailing Bass Strait in our coming summer. Does anyone have recommendations/comments for life rafts that will fit in the centre rear cockpit locker. A quick check of the Plastimo rafts indicate that they will fit the locker if stored on their side.
Rob
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2012 12:06:07 GMT
We keep a 4 man valise liferaft in the 36i transom locker; set upright on a pair of chocks to lift the valise clear of water run offs. It fits perfectly. Raft is a SEAGO (made/sold in UK).
Dimensions: 60 X 24 X 38cm, 23.5kgs.
Believe that a valise (with the handles on top) might be easier to deploy than would a cannister from the transom locker?
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Post by tedp on Aug 15, 2012 17:00:24 GMT
Last year we borrowed a 4-man Plastimo liferaft in a valise which we lashed against the pushpit with quick release lashings, the painter tied to the rail as prescribed. The valise should be water resistant if the zipper is at the bottom. I firmly believe in quick access to a raft, so I did'n want it in the locker. Our SO32 probably has less stowage space anyway.
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Post by offshore on Aug 16, 2012 5:31:02 GMT
Hi Sitara
We have a Zodiac 8 person raft in a hard cannister in the transom locker on our 36i. It fits snuggly on its side and the webbing straps have been set up to act as handles to make lifting it simple. The 6 person raft is in exactly the same size cannister, but would weigh a bit less. The eight person raft requires a strong or desperate person to lift it out of the locker. Our raft is set up for Cat 2 AYF.
cheers
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Post by sitara on Aug 16, 2012 22:09:52 GMT
Thanks all for your comments,
I think a canister liferaft stored on its side in the transom locker is the way I will go. Access is easy but the only problem I see is the lift to get out. As we are only planning coastal cruising a lightweight raft is probably the way to go.
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Post by lateron on Aug 18, 2012 8:53:37 GMT
I have a Seago 4 man valise liferaft in the locker on my SO32. I have placed it so it can be hauled out in a single pull. What it did make me do was rationalise the storeage in my locker so that now it is easier to see things. Basically less in the locker, and nothing trapping the liferaft.
My worry with a valise on the pulpit is it getting swamped by a wave in the kind of conditions you might be thinking about using a liferaft, you know maybe boat low in water, rough seas etc!! Hope never to be there!
Ron
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Post by dublin on Aug 18, 2012 18:46:37 GMT
I would not put a valise on the pushpit or anywhere it could be swamped. We put a 4 man canister on the pushpin of our 39. After about 4 years the pushpin stated to feel u stable with th weight. We fabricated stainless steel supports to strengthen the pulpit. They also work great as grips when coming alongside in the punt. We also carry the inflated punt strapped to the pushpit on short passages between the island anchorages and the strengtheners have made the whole rig very stable.
The main egative about putting the life aft on the pushpit is the risk of loosing the whole lot in a breaking sea when running. Ths happened to a friend of mine in a Vancouver 38 on a transatlantic crossing.
However as I still believe you should never have to lift your life raft in an emergency. Unless of course you ave a crew of gorillas. On the pushpit I onl hav to pull out the release lever nd I falls not the water
But each to his own
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