Page 6 - Mid America Boating - July 2023 issue

boat first a poor one. Keep in mind, the When purchasing a product that will be
first few minutes after a fire breaks out are used to keep you alive in an emergency, it
critical and may be the only ones you have is best to get one that meets the highest
JULY 2023 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ] 6
to save your passengers and vessel. Fire standards. SOLAS-approved rafts are not
always burns up in the direction of a life- required on recreational boats but they
boat placed on top of a vessel so precious have a boarding platform, additional safety
minutes could be lost that should be used gear and more interior space than commer-
to fight the fire and get PFD’s on everyone. cial-grade models.
It is not a requirement of the Coast Guard There are three basic life raft designs;
that recreational boaters carry an approved Coastal, offshore and ocean going designed
liferaft. Marine specialists agree however, as survival life rafts. Coastal rafts, for when
anyone who goes offshore, regardless of a quick rescue, (within a day) is expected,
the size boat, should carry an offshore lack features needed for long-term surviv-
liferaft designed for 4 to 5 days of surviv- al. Offshore rafts expand survival time to
al. Even if your boating is only inshore, a four or 5 days by including supported cano-
liferaft can be a good idea. In waters colder pies and two buoyancy tubes (the second
than 78 degrees, hypothermia can occur acts as a backup). Ocean going rafts are
within 2 hours. In tropic waters, protec- equipped for survival of at least 30 days.
tion for the sun and heat stroke is a factor. They are required on commercial vessels
Coastal compacts bridge the gap between and some international racing vessels.
a lifejacket and full-feature liferaft. They are You can determine the size of the life raft
small, lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to to carry by two factors; size (LOA) of your
deploy and store plus operation is simple. vessel and number of people you expect to
Lifeboat or tender from Page 4 Open a flap on the valise and extend the have on board. The Coast Guard requires 4
painterline, give a hard pull and the raft cubic feet per person, and capacity ratings
Although the boat provided a platform that able. If you must go up on deck or onto the inflates automatically in less than 30 specify the maximum number of people
the men could board and float upon, they hardtop to release them, getting there could seconds with the high-tech, self-contained a raft will hold based on a minimum of 4
had no protection from the weather and no be a troublesome task in itself. Vessels tend CO2 inflation system. square feet per person. Consider buying
means of control over the capsized vessel. to heel over when taking on water, which If you expect to venture well offshore, a raft rated for at least 50% more people
Fortunately, a quick rescue favored the men makes getting to the hardtop difficult. The you need the security of a lifesaver, a Coast than you plan on using it. For a double
who abandoned a still afloat yacht and weight of the lifeboat in a cradle or tied Guard and/or SOLAS approved survival life cabin boat, which would accommodate two
deployed their intended lifeboat. The men down when the craft is heeled over can raft. They all can be quickly inflated and couples, a six-person raft would be recom-
were recovered from the upside down vessel cause an extensive strain on lines or straps put overboard and are the best option to mended but a pocket cruiser could do well
and the cruiser was salvaged and towed holding the lifeboat and it may be impossi- count on to save your life. with a four-person raft. There is a rational
to shore. It took almost as much effort to ble to release. In addition, shifting weight SOLAS (International Convention for the to limit size also, a larger raft may be lighter
salvage the small boat because righting it from the lifeboat and a person trying to Safety of life at Sea) covers a wide range of and subject to capsize plus more difficult
was impossible and towing caused it to dive launch it may cause the craft to heel further measures designed to improve safety and for fewer bodies to warm the interior. MAB
and pull down on the towboat. and increase its rate of sinking. protect lives. It is one of the oldest efforts
Lifeboats tied down or those that require In the case of fire, other factors make of its kind, the first version were adopted
power to lower to the water are just not reli- the choice of attempting to release a life- in 1914 following the sinking of the Titanic.