Inflatable life rafts, depending on what type, have the ability to extend survivability for 5 to 30 days. This article is written to help introduce inflatable life rafts to boaters and help boaters decide whether they need an inflatable life raft and is so what type. To the right you can find articles on specific inflatable life rafts as well as a link to Go2marine.com, where you can see all of the inflatable life rafts they carry.
The most important factor in surviving a boating accident is staying out of the water. The human body loses heat 30 times faster in water colder than the human body core temperature (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) than when exposed to cold air. In human survivability in water less than 59 degrees Fahrenheit, is less than five hours. Since inflatable life rafts get survivors out of the water, thus extending survivability from hours to days, inflatable life rafts should be a requirement on all vessels considering long-term cruising.
While all inflatable life rafts are designed to keep survivors out of the water while they await rescue, there are three basic types of life rafts; coastal, off-shore and ocean-going, each with its own specifications and purposes. Coastal inflatable life rafts are designed to be used by vessels that operate near shore (0 -10 nautical miles), in areas where there is a high probability of rescue within a day. Most coastal inflatable life rafts are not equipped with double inflation tubes nor extra emergency features for sustained survivability. If you will be operating over ten miles from shore, in areas with volatile weather patterns, cold water and or in areas where rescue may take more than a day, an offshore inflatable life raft is your best bet. Offshore inflatable life rafts are designed to extend survival time to four or five days and come with supported canopies and double inflation tubes, in which the second tube acts as an emergency reserve in case the outer tube gets punctured. For vessels that operate offshore for expended amounts of time, an ocean-going inflatable life raft is a must and is required for most commercial vessels and international racers. Ocean-going inflatable life rafts have numerous safety features and are designed to extend survivability beyond thirty days.
It is important that no matter what inflatable life raft you decide to purchase, that you chose one that is SOLAS (Survivability of Life at Sea) approved. SOLAS has the highest standards in the marine industry and if a product meets their approval than it also meets the approval of the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard. For inflatable life rafts to be SOLAS approved, they must meet a series of requirements including; being able to be stored for 15 months without affecting performance, and have a boarding platform as well as a canopy designed to protect occupants from both heat and cold.
Your next decision is deciding how many people your life raft needs to accommodate. The U.S. Coast Guard recommends approximately 4 cubic feet per person, which is not a lot of room. We would recommend that you choose a life raft that accommodates two person's more than you need, since this will allow you a little extra room for comfort and storage of supplies. If you choose a life raft that allows room for more than two extra people, it becomes hard for body heat to warm up the interior of the life raft.
Another decision you will have to make is whether to purchase a life raft with a single or double floor. A single floor is usually a couple of millimeters thick and serves to keep survivors out of the water. The problem with single floors is that they do not offer any protection from the water's temperature. Inflatable life rafts with a double or insulated floor protect survivors from the water's cold by either providing an insulated or lifted floor above the bottom floor. There are also some inflatable life rafts that have floors made of porous material that traps splashed water, preventing the survivors from having to sit in it. The problem with the porous material is that it can be hard to bail a raft if severe splashing is experienced. Some inflatable life rafts come with floors that have a righting ladder attached underneath than can be used to right an inflatable life raft if it deployed upside down or capsized.
If you choose to purchase an offshore or ocean going inflatable life raft, you need to decide what type of canopy you want. The best type of canopy is one that is highly visible on the outside but has a dark interior that cuts down on glare. It is also recommended that you purchase an inflatable life raft that has canopy supports that automatically inflate versus manual inflation once the survivors are aboard. If possible you should purchase a canopy that has at least one large opening for easy boarding, and a second that can be opened to increase ventilation.
Once you have chosen an inflatable life raft you need to decide where to store it. Don't ever store it in the engine room, for two reasons, and engine fire can destroy it and it also hard to get to. If you purchase an inflatable life raft in valise bag you should store it out of the weather in an easy accessible area near the cockpit or main helm. If you purchase an inflatable life raft in a container, bolt a cradle to in an area where it will not be abused by equipment or passengers. Where you mount the cradle should also be clear of rigging so that the inflatable life raft will not get tangle with the ship. If you can you, want to get a cradle and or container that have a hydrostatic release that discharges the inflatable life raft if the boat sinks.
