Liferaft : How to choose a life raft

Liferaft: life span and overhaul

The revision of your lif eraft is mandatory and must be done every 3 years, all models included. This revision of your liferaft allows you to check the totality of the equipment on board, the integrity of the liferaft structure and to replace any outdated material. The regulations in force impose a mandatory revision of the liferaft every 3 years, but the revision methods may vary from one manufacturer to another. Some manufacturers work with specialized service stations located all over the French coastline, approved by the majority of manufacturers. Other manufacturers, such as Plastimo, only overhaul their liferafts at the production site in Lorient.

Since the implementation of the new standards in force, the life rafts revisions take place every 3 years and imply a change of the gas bottle, which ensures the inflation of the life raft, every 9 years (at the time of the third revision).

You can choose to have your liferaft serviced when it is 12 years old and use it until it is 15 years old. In fact, you can consider a safe transatlantic voyage with a 14 year and 11 month old liferaft. However, you become an outlaw at its fifteenth birthday. The lifespan of a life raft is not limited to 15 years of good and loyal service, no regulation imposes it for the moment.

 

 

 

Setting off your liferaft

If your ship is sinking, you will have to deploy your liferaft to take refuge until help arrives. You'll need to place it on the deck of your boat, ready to be used.Your liferaft will be tied to your boat with a webbing mooring line protruding from the closed container as you sail.You will need to remove the raft from its packaging, and throw it into the water as is. The automatic inflation system will be triggered by the strap and will take care of giving it shape.You will then only have to embark by the ladder and protect yourself from the cold and the water thanks to the tent of the raft.

The packaging of the survival raft

The packaging of a survival bag is available in 2 forms: in a bag or in a container. The bag packaging is very practical and will fit very well in small boats because of its compactness. The container packaging offers more protection and security for the raft which will better resist to bad weather. It will be up to you to choose between a bag and a container depending on your type of boat and your preferences.

Which model to choose?

First of all, you must keep in mind that you should not choose your liferaft based on price. The safety of this type of product is the most important and deserves a real investment that you will thank if it allows you one day to keep your life. The price of a liferaft may seem high, but it is justified by the lifespan, the technicality and the gain in safety.

To choose your life raft, you must take several things into account:

• Capacity. You must have a liferaft with a number of places greater than or equal to the number of people on board the boat.
• The certification. There are 2 certifications for life rafts, ISO 9650-I and ISO 9650-II. The first one is for offshore navigation and the second one for coastal navigation. We can subdivide class 1 into two sub-categories:
• Class A. More resistant, the rafts of this class have a double bottom and their inflation system is operational between -15°C and 65°C.
• Class B. Liferafts in this class have a single bottom and adopt an inflation system that operates between 0°C and 65°C.
• Arming. In general, there is a -24h and a +24h armament. The first one contains what is necessary to wait for help for less than 24 hours, while the second one allows to last more than 24 hours. Whether it is in terms of rations or equipment.
• Access and stability. It is important to check if the liferaft has one or two ladders (outside + inside) and a system allowing a better stability, or even a self-righting liferaft allowing to right the liferaft if it is upside down on the water.

Life rafts at Nautisports

At Nautisports, we offer a wide range of life rafts with brands specialized in safety at sea such as 4Water and Plastimo. We favour the integration of quality brands and they perfectly meet our expectations.

At Plastimo, we find the famous radeau Transocean ISAF Plastimo . This raft meets ISO 9650-1A and ISAF standards. It is the perfect ally for a safe offshore navigation. It will be able to accommodate the group while waiting for the rescue. You can find it packed in a bag or in a container.For a lighter raft, we recommend the . it is certified ISO 9650-1 and authorized for a survival of -24h. it is quite similar to the coastal model proposed on our site.

Again at Plastimo, the brand has proven its excellence in life rafts with the model Golden Globe Race Plastimo }. It is a 4-seater ISO 9650-1 and ISAF +24h raft offering extra equipment compared to the basic version. It was chosen by 16 out of 18 sailors at the GGC. This model will accompany you as well for an inshore or offshore use. This liferaft is packaged in a 6-person container because of the extra equipment it has.

On the 4Water side, the }is an extremely powerful raft that will be able to accompany you beyond 60 MN. It is available in 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 seaters in bag or container. It offers great stability and excellent thermal protection for increased survival.

You can consult all the details of each product by consulting its article card. You will find its price, the type of liferaft, the delivery time, the accessories provided with the product, the category of its certification, its packaging (bag or container), etc.

Have a nice surfing!

 

For any question or additional information, we are at your disposal at 04.78.41.79.31.

 

The Nautisports. com team