Why a life raft on a rib? - Page 2

Brambles · 13 February 2005, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

As to mountings designed to break free remember a RIB is subjected to much higher g force than a normal boat. If they are strong enough to survive the pounding the chances are they won't break free when you need them to.

Have to agree with you there Mr Codprawn.

The reason I asked the question was because we hired a life raft last year for a trip to France. It was a fall back position in the event of fire, and we stowed it in the bow locker.

During the trip we had a tricky 45 minutes when we encountered some big, confused, seas & at one point we all thought there was a real possibility of being flipped. Now here is the dilema; if we had been flipped it would have been very difficult (if not impossible) to retrieve the life raft from the locker. On the other hand, if we had lashed it to the deck the waves crashing down on the boat (some from about 4 metres side on) could possibly have broken it free & we would have lost it overboard.

BTW yes we did have EPIRB & grab bag etc.

Any more thoughts?

Regards.

Ian.

danny · 13 February 2005, 13:58

I have seen an inflatable system on top of the Aframe that will bring the RIB up on her feet again in case of being flipped over.
This system only works in weatherconditions where there is no extreme wind otherwise the inflatable piece on top of the RIB wil help you flip over again and again. It's a only once action.

In case of fire anyone would leave the boat quicker then you would think. Flames and petrol are an unpleasant combination. Often fire is started at the petrol section of a boat and therefore there will be litlle chance of saving the boat.
When using a raft, I would mount it somewhere up on you boat, at least 1 meter above waterline. I would buy a self-opened system. Just pul one rope and the raft will open. When your boat is flipped over, you will find this rope and raft will open itself.
There are also systems that will inflate when de raft will submerge 1 meter.This the most reliable system for us ribbers.

For one, a good raft will not be flipped over that easy by wind because it has long bags filled with water under the raft to prevent this. A raft is bright red and wel noticed from the air.
A raft has survivalpack that includes dry food, water en flares. Just in case you would drift the wrong way. These last things did save number of lives.

Conclusion. A rib is very save until fire breaks out. You can't stay on a rib that's been flipped over. Mostly you will not find anything back in your RIB when it's flipped over.
So when your make great distances offshore with one boat, I would definitly buy one.

Dan.

Tim M · 13 February 2005, 15:56

When I did my RYA VHF course, I did it with just two other people; a couple who owned a Gin Palace. They are extremly surprised when I said I didn't have a liferaft. I was equally shocked that they thought I would carry one on a 4.1m RIB!

If I had the space I would carry one; you carry an auxilery engine in case your main fails, a spare prop, and even a spare kill-cord. Surly the risk of capsizing/fire breaking out is just as great as other potential risk like falling overboard. Given the boat is your only safe place when out on the sea, surly a liferaft has to be a must if anything happen to your boat?

Pete7 · 13 February 2005, 18:40

I carry a liferaft, but only because she is coded. The thing is damed heavy (38kgs) requires an expensive annual service and gets in the way. Given a choice I would carry a small inflatable dinghy, much more useful and cheaper unless your venturing out into the great unknown wilderness. Thats past the Needles for speedboats

Pete

Dave B · 14 February 2005, 07:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkWildey

If your boat sinks is one reason?

Just cus you are in a RIB doesn't mean they don't sink.

MArk

Just ask Allan Priddy !!!

codprawn · 14 February 2005, 11:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave B

Just ask Allan Priddy !!!

Yes but they did NOT use the liferaft!!!

sunrider · 14 February 2005, 19:59

Hi all...making the decision about a liferaft was a tough one for me during my voyage. I was making open ocean passages, but the fuel I used (biodiesel) was not flammable, so my risk of fire was relatively low. I assumed the boat could burn from an electrical source, but perhaps slower and less explosive in nature. I had very little room, but in the end my final criteria was always safety - so I carried a 6 person offshore raft (wanted it comfortable if I really had to use it!). The best, or perhaps only, location for me was in the cockpit lashed with quick release straps to the cabin. I could shove it over the tubes easily. If inverted, I had a self-righting device on my A-frame which should lift the boat to deploy the raft even if I didn't right fully.

Fortunately I never had to use it - but found with some padding on top it made a very convenient foot rest! I've attached a picture of the boat and of the cockpit for your reference. The raft is at the lower left in the cockpit picture, white with red stripes.
bryan

Rogue Wave · 14 February 2005, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Yes but they did NOT use the liferaft!!!

That's cos they didn't sink and you stay with the vessel for as long as you can.

BY the way Pete your expensive annual service is booked for next weekend

Pete7 · 15 February 2005, 07:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

That's cos they didn't sink and you stay with the vessel for as long as you can.

BY the way Pete your expensive annual service is booked for next weekend

Thanks, get them to stamp the log book if they can

Sunrider, when are you writing the book ?

Pete

sunrider · 15 February 2005, 12:30

Pete, I've got a lot done, and worked with some people for a year on a video (currently at the bottom of my closet) but I always seem to end up playing around with boats rather than writing - I'm sure you can understand. And I'm not much on promoting - get kind of tired of hearing myself talk - and a book needs promotion to make the effort worthwile. I think the time may have passed - besides, Alan writes well enough and produces enough adventures for all of us! His was the real adventure..mine was more like pushing a fuel barge around the world. thanks for the interest though.
Bryan

Pete7 · 15 February 2005, 12:50

Bryan, understood, perhaps combine it with your next adventure what ever you may choose next, perhaps the North West passage.

Regards Pete

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...321451-0780862

codprawn · 15 February 2005, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

That's cos they didn't sink and you stay with the vessel for as long as you can.

BY the way Pete your expensive annual service is booked for next weekend

That's the whole point - it would take a hell of a lot to SINK a good RIB - swamp it - flip it maybe!!!

sunrider · 15 February 2005, 14:44

Pete, I'm more of a palm tree and coconuts type - here's my idea of adventure cruising.
bryan

Pete7 · 15 February 2005, 15:50

Mine too, leave the Icebergs to Alan P

codprawn · 15 February 2005, 17:50

Sorry but a RIB just doesn't look right in that environment - maybe a nice Sunseeker or Azimut draped with loads of blond bimbos!!!

peteb · 21 February 2005, 22:36

This thread has been though provoking and I have decided to get a liferaft (mainly because I have a 3yr old and an old dog, furry kind

on board), are there any experts on here who could suggest the best between a Seago and an Ocean safety one. I have seen the Ocean safety 4 man for £499 + £15 postage and the Seago 4 man at £549 + £5 postage, both valise and include VAT at that price.

Cheers,

Rogue Wave · 22 February 2005, 07:43

My three are Ocean Safety but I don't know the seago at all well, I just know that ocean safety are ok. what are the service intervals on both!

peteb · 22 February 2005, 09:19

Both have a 3yr service interval, Seago has a 12yr guarantee see :-

http://www.safesailing.co.uk/Shop%20...liferafts.html

http://www.seamarknunn.co.uk/catalog/subcat515.htm (incl free lifejacket

)

http://www.jimmygreen.co.uk/chandler...raftsSeaGo.htm

Cheers,

Vasco · 24 February 2005, 04:20

Before buying a liferaft I would recommend attending a sea survival course.
There is no point having one if you haven't used one (hopefully in a practise environment), because the first time you use it for real it won't be a calm sea in daylight!

Sod's law will prevail - it will inflate inverted!

Don't buy too large a raft - you may think the extra room is good, but if you don't have enough weight in a rough sea it is more likely to invert.

Aging Youth · 24 February 2005, 07:15

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkWildey
If your boat sinks is one reason?

Just cus you are in a RIB doesn't mean they don't sink.

MArk

Just ask Allan Priddy !!!

First off Mark we didn't sink!

My personal view is that with the number off seperate compartments within the tubes you would have to suffer a complete seperation of the tube from the boat to sink immediately. Or an explosion on board, which can be pretty catastrophic.

Although our boat was under water and the tube had seperated as far back to the wheelhouse. The bouyancy within the tubes kept us afloat long enough for the emergency services to arrive on scene.

My view is it comes down to personal choice, unless your boat is coded for commercial use; you do not have a choice.

I feel that a rib is one of the safetest craft on the water & can become one big liferaft when required.

I for one would not reguarly carry a liferaft unless I felt the risk assesment of the journey warrented it.

Survival Suits, Eperb's, Satalitie Communications & Flares are more user freindly. Please remember this is my own personal view and not that of any of the Crew from "Spirit".

Best wishes

Kevin