Old liferaft as a tent?

[Nos4r2]

Anyone tried using an old liferaft as a tent?

After the sad demise of my favourite campsite it's occured to me that being able to anchor the 5.4 somewhere out of the way upriver might be amusing if I could use an old expired hypalon liferaft as a tent tied alongside.

I'm aware there'd be inflation and packing away issues and so on, just thinking a bit outside the box.

[Nasher]

Mate, you do like to remind me occasionally of why I love you.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Nasher

Mate, you do like to remind me occasionally of why I love you.

The thought was triggered because I spotted a load of expired liferafts for sale for 50 quid or so. Would be a cheap holiday, plus a very quick pitch the first time!

[Old seahorse]

A whole new take on Airbnb!

[Nos4r2]

Plus, I saw this...and an old expired raft is definitely not £2k.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEuJJ_v7wZ8

[GuyC]

I don't think it is a bad idea - it's just a waterborne awning.

After the first time of inflation with the CO2 canister, you could just use the manual inflation.

The commercial rafts often have an insulated floor.

You may have your night's sleep disturbed by the noise of the RNLI / CG.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Anyone tried using an old liferaft as a tent?



After the sad demise of my favourite campsite it's occured to me that being able to anchor the 5.4 somewhere out of the way upriver might be amusing if I could use an old expired hypalon liferaft as a tent tied alongside.



I'm aware there'd be inflation and packing away issues and so on, just thinking a bit outside the box.

I actually think you’re onto something there. Waterproof/insulated/quick up. Packing away might be interesting, but a small 4 man in a valise might not be a bad shout.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I actually think you’re onto something there. Waterproof/insulated/quick up. Packing away might be interesting, but a small 4 man in a valise might not be a bad shout.

Roll away and stow then pack up later, and without servicing they're almost valueless, but very rarely actually deteriorated on the main raft itself.
Plus a 4-6man in a valise would fit an airbed.

[willk]

It's a reverse waterbed.

Throw in some company and a jug of sunflower oil...

...you rascal!

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by willk

It's a reverse waterbed.

Throw in some company and a jug of sunflower oil...

...you rascal!

You never got to watch the joys of anyone trying to get off Biggle's (Long since disappeared Ribnetter) RC585 after he'd thrown a whole tin of Aerospace 303 on the tubes...

Biggles himself used to carry 2 rearming kits for his LJ because he fell in every time he tried to get off to recover it

[jeffstevens763@g]

Have you room for a pop up tent or quick pitch tent not expensive to buy

[willk]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

You never got to watch the joys of anyone trying to get off Biggle's (Long since disappeared Ribnetter) RC585 after he'd thrown a whole tin of Aerospace 303 on the tubes...

Oh stop - donegaldan will confirm that I fell/slid off mine after a similar application. Luckily I was "on the hard" and avoided a fracture rather than drowning...

[Matt]

Just commenting so I get updates on this madness as it progresses

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Have you room for a pop up tent or quick pitch tent not expensive to buy

Yes, but having attempted to pitch a tent on a beach and found out
A) how bloody cold it is
B) how fast the tent becomes scrap when it gets sand in (one night is quite possible)
C) how hard it is to get the damn thing to stay in one place
I'm quite willing to try something else.

[GuyC]

On sand, snow stakes are your friend.

Liferafts however have ballast pockets which you could fill with sand.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by GuyC

On sand, snow stakes are your friend.



Liferafts however have ballast pockets which you could fill with sand.

This is when we need a “like” button

[Poly]

Nos - I can see where your thoughts are going, and on a flat lake it might be vaguely entertaining. My gut feel is that even with slight sea or a second person on board it would not be a comfortable night - the floor is not rigid like a drop stitch sib deck.

I think if I saw an inflated liferaft, even tied alongside a rib at anchor, I would being going to check all was Ok or calling the CG.

It will make a great thread though so remember to take your camera!

[GuyC]

Slight thread creep but it is liferaft related.

I've done my sea survival course twice. The first time was in the indoor pool at Andark Diving in Southampton and to make the three of us up to a full course, we were joined by around 17 dancing girls from P&O. The joining instructions specifically stated that overalls or loose fitting clothing was to be worn so we dutifully turned up in our white overalls.

Either this joining instruction had been omitted from the memo sent to P&O or it had been given a stiff (fnaar fnaar) ignoring as the 17 girls turned up in a range of skimpy bikini's.

The course identified a couple of things -

(1) the chances of survival if you are reliant on the P&O dancing girls is minimal

(2) it would be a fantastic way to die

The second time I did it was at HMS Excellent on Horsea Island in February and whilst potentially more realistic, it wasn't as glamorous.

On a more serious note, I'd thoroughly recommend doing a sea survival course if only to get an overview of what to expect if you need to get in a liferaft. Learning to turn a capsized liferaft the right way up is relatively easy and a lifesaver.

[Orwell boy]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Anyone tried using an old liferaft as a tent?

After the sad demise of my favourite campsite it's occured to me that being able to anchor the 5.4 somewhere out of the way upriver might be amusing if I could use an old expired hypalon liferaft as a tent tied alongside.

I'm aware there'd be inflation and packing away issues and so on, just thinking a bit outside the box.

Really interesting possibility imo ,maybe worth adding an Anchor buddy ,to enable shore campfire drinking sessions ,then back to life raft ,pull pin on anchor buddy and back to your deep water mooring

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Anyone tried using an old liferaft as a tent?

After the sad demise of my favourite campsite it's occured to me that being able to anchor the 5.4 somewhere out of the way upriver might be amusing if I could use an old expired hypalon liferaft as a tent tied alongside.

I'm aware there'd be inflation and packing away issues and so on, just thinking a bit outside the box.

You Sir are a Genius.....you have us all looking on ebay for used liferafts lol.