Life rafts

-6%
Lalizas life raft Leisure-Raft for 4 to 6 persons
£729.99 £779.99

There are high requirements and legal regulations for equipping ships and yachts with life rafts. A life raft is indispensable for sea-going yachts on the high seas, but also makes sense in coastal areas. Only a life raft can save lives in an emergency at sea if the ship is lost or sinks. It offers safety and protection for the crew until rescue is on site. It enables a longer survival time and also protects against swell and cold.

The most important features of life rafts

Life rafts are designed and equipped differently depending on the area and requirements of the trip. In the case of rafts for offshore use, the buoyancy bodies consist of at least a double-chamber hose system. Several air chambers offer greater safety reserves in the event of damage and loss of pressure. A double floor protects against the cold, a roof against spray and waves. In rough seas, sufficiently dimensioned capsize bags should ensure stability in the water and largely prevent the boat from tipping over. In the event of capsizing, the island must be self-righting due to its buoyancy. Drift anchors, paddles, bellows and repair materials are among the standard equipment of a life raft. A practical boarding system with boarding ladder is absolutely essential to enable safe and quick boarding of the raft. The material of a life raft must be resistant to abrasion and weathering and, of course, completely airtight and watertight. Specially welded PVC plastics are also flame-retardant and remain flexible even with large temperature fluctuations. In addition to the standard equipment, a liferaft can be fitted with additional survival and emergency equipment depending on the area of operation. This includes an EPIRB emergency transmitter, a VHF mobile phone, water, food and medication. Life rafts are a good alternative for yachts travelling close to the coast or on larger inland waterways if a prompt rescue is expected.

The international IMO convention with the SOLAS provisions regulates the obligation to equip ships with life rafts. They must be certified in accordance with ISO standards and have ISAF approval. Life rafts are mandatory for commercial shipping and for recreational shipping, which is subject to compulsory equipment. This also includes, for example, charter vessels, training yachts and traditional vessels.

Storage of liferafts

Liferafts are supplied either in a packing bag or in a rigid container. Packing bags are more flexible and easier to stow away. However, they are also more sensitive to pressure and damage. Life rafts must inflate automatically even at sub-zero temperatures and high temperatures. Nevertheless, they should be kept in a dry and frost-free place during winter storage. This prevents the formation of condensation and damage caused by freezing moisture in the container.

You should bear this in mind

The size of the life raft depends on the number of people usually travelling on board. It should match the crew size exactly. If the life raft is too large, the castaways will find little support. On the other hand, the tighter and closer you sit, the less room there is for manoeuvre. Where a life raft is fitted on board depends on the size of the raft and the design of the boat. As a general rule, a life raft must be quick and easy to deploy in an emergency. The best place for this is on deck. Life rafts in panniers, for example, which are stored in stowage spaces under bunks, cannot be brought on deck quickly enough in an emergency. Special liferaft holders are available for containers for mounting on deck or on the railing. Attaching it to the pushpit is ideal. This is the best way to activate the life raft. The container is released from the holder and thrown overboard. A ripcord, which also triggers the release, connects the life raft to the boat until the crew has boarded. Only then can it be cut from the life raft. For safety reasons, the ripcord has a predetermined breaking point so that the liferaft can detach itself from the sinking boat and not be pulled along.

The reliable operation of a liferaft depends largely on regular maintenance. A life raft on deck is exposed to considerable stress due to temperatures, UV radiation and mechanical loads. Every liferaft has maintenance intervals that are specified by the manufacturer. They must be adhered to if you do not want to lose your insurance cover and be exposed to third-party claims in the event of damage. Maintenance may only be carried out by authorised specialist companies. The scope of maintenance includes checking the condition of the raft and tank, replacing seals, replacing equipment, functional testing of the ignition head, leak test and pressure test of each chamber as well as functional testing of all valves.

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