Properly equipped inflatable Life Rafts

The Revere Offshore Commander 4.0 auto-inflating life raft is a self-erecting structure with a weatherproof, double-zippered door.
The Revere Offshore Commander 4.0 auto-inflating life raft is a self-erecting structure with a weatherproof, double-zippered door.

When we toss the dock lines and head out to sea for an ocean crossing, the last thing we dare think about is the possibility of having to abandon ship. To be sure, this is a rare occurrence. The oceans of the world, despite what some will say, are almost clear of floating debris and outcroppings of rocks and sandbars, particularly in the Tuamotus Archipelago, are clearly marked on our charts. Nonetheless, there is always still a possibility of running into a shipping container or partially submerged vessel lurking only inches below the water’s surface. 

A sudden leak in our hull from contact with such debris, or perhaps from a loose hose inside the hull, could spell the end of a wonderful cruise – and indeed our lives – unless we are equipped with an easily accessible life raft. This small vessel ideally should be capable of self-inflating upon contact with water or be built with a solid hull filled with foam to guarantee flotation.

Some rigid-hull life rafts double as dinghies, complete with oars, oarlocks, motor mounts and even sailing rigs for extra recreation while the main vessel is at anchor. With a double-duty life raft, you save valuable space on the foredeck and money as well.

Carrying several electronic emergency devices will enhance your chances of being located at sea in your tiny emergency craft. Two obvious items we certainly need to carry aboard our life raft are a waterproof, handheld VHF radio and an EPIRB to inform potential rescuers of our position. In addition, equipping yourself and fellow crew with personal locator beacons also greatly enhances your chances of being found within a short amount of time.

Auto-inflating life rafts
Many ocean sailors prefer the convenience and compact design of a dedicated life raft packed in a sturdy container mounted just forward of the mainmast, ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice.

The Viking RescYou Pro life raft can fit up to six crew members and is constructed of a lightweight, natural rubber fabric, which ensures a waterproof vessel that is easy to pack and deploy. The automatically deployed inflation system fills two separate flotation chambers, each of which can maintain a crew above water.

The RescYou Pro stays upright with a ballast system comprised of four bags, each of which can hold 16 gallons of sea water. Two storage pockets are built into the interior for food, drinking water, medical supplies and other necessities you may wish to have on hand in the event of main vessel loss.

Although it is hard to think of creature comforts in a life-saving situation, the RescYou Pro has two openings for ventilation and visibility. Having access to the outside also allows you to fish, just in case help does not arrive as fast as we would hope.

The Revere Offshore Commander 4.0 features a self-erecting, polyurethane-coated polyester structure and canopy with a weatherproof, double-zippered door and rainwater collector, all mounted on buoyancy tubes measuring nine inches in diameter.

To ensure safety, the Offshore Commander 4.0 also offers interior and exterior grab lines, four ballast bags with quick-deploying weights and a sea anchor with 100 feet of tow line. Though perhaps not the first thing to come to mind when we are imagining ourselves in a life raft, a sea anchor with ample line keeps our miniscule emergency vessel from flipping over or becoming unmanageable in tall seas.

Among the Offshore Commander 4.0’s other useful details are a boarding ladder, a rescue ring with 100 feet of line, drinking water, rainwater collector, floating flashlight, two wooden paddles and more helpful items designed to keep crew alive and as comfortable as can be managed in a survival situation on open ocean.

The Superior Offshore Stream Life Raft is another highly rated flotation device stored in either a fiberglass container or vinyl soft pack, depending on the model you select. If you ever have to climb into an Offshore Stream in an emergency situation, you will benefit from an insulated floor and, as Superior claims, “the most visible canopy on the market.” The boat’s bright, florescent green cover certainly makes it easier for aircraft and search vessels to spot, even in rough sea conditions. 

Though I have sometimes wondered about the efficacy of paddles aboard a life raft, the Offshore Stream, just like the Revere Offshore and no doubt other brands and models of life rafts, lists paddles on the equipment list. If they are occupying too much space inside the raft, the paddles no doubt can be attached to or even towed behind the tiny vessel. 

A somewhat smaller version of the Superior Offshore, the Revere Offshore includes many of the same features of the Superior but with a slightly smaller profile and more limited food supply, which obviously can be augmented with extra provisions added by crew. For storage, the Offshore and Superior Offshore models are available with either a valise or a waterproof container.

The Plastimo line of cruiser life rafts offers four-person and six-person models for offshore yachts in addition to its line of professional, inflatable, life-saving craft. The four-person and six-person models feature a roof canopy, three 8-gallon ballast pockets, an automatic inflation tube, highly visible yellow buoyancy bags, a fluorescent orange canopy and a rope boarding ladder to ensure everyone in the water has a chance to climb aboard.

The inflatable tubes on the Plastimo are designed to withstand a good measure of punishment on open water. The tubes are constructed with “tube in a tube technology,” comprised of 1100 Decitex PVC on the outer skin and polyurethane sheet for the inner skin. This complex structure adds strength and durability to the tube assembly. The upper and lower tubes are fastened to each other but are inflated individually, guaranteeing flotation even if one of the tubes is punctured.

While the Plastimo life raft comes with a standard carrying bag, you can opt for a hard-shell cradle, which is generally mounted forward of the main mast or, on larger boats, near the stern, depending on deck layout and personal preference. A hydrostatic release deploys the life raft as soon as the release system senses water pressure. Although the cradle can be locked for security while at anchor or in a marina, it is critically important to remember to unlock the unit as soon as you leave the slip or anchorage so it can be deployed quickly.

If you are a budget-conscious, single-handed sailor, consider the ISPLR One Man Raft from The Raft Store. This safety provider offers much larger and more elaborate life rafts, but the One Man Raft is much smaller and easier to stow, making it a good choice for a lone sailor on a small boat.

The One Man Raft consists of a U-shaped flotation device, which makes it easy to slide into after deploying the unit. A plastic roof over the raft can be opened and closed by a zipper on either side of the tiny vessel, but there is still a small opening to permit fresh air into the space.

While the One Man Raft is available for less than $2,000, The Raft Store also offers six larger models for cruisers and professional mariners on larger ships. At the top of the line is the Winslow Pelican Pack, a circular, six-person raft with a locator beacon. For the complete pack, you can add a canister, mounting cradle, reverse osmosis watermaker and deck mount for a little more than $8,000.      

A Jotron GMDSS VHF radio aboard your life raft will help you stay in contact with rescue operations.
A Jotron GMDSS VHF radio aboard your life raft will help you stay in contact with rescue operations.

Emergency communications
Packing a survival VHF radio in your ditch bag before jumping into a life raft is the best guarantee you will have voice communication with nearby ships. However, the ideal choice for this radio should include the ability to summon help beyond the typical, eight-mile range of a handheld VHF radio.

Any submersible, floating handheld VHF will serve the purpose of an emergency radio on a life raft if the batteries hold out. One should use the radio sparingly, attempting contacts only if there is another vessel visible on the horizon. Desperate calls to nowhere by panicked crew, or the foolhardy attempt to monitor radio traffic constantly, will gradually drain the battery and decrease the chances of being rescued.

At the very least, a handheld VHF radio should have DSC (digital selective calling) capability to ensure contact with passing ships. You can opt for a more expensive VHF with GMDSS (global maritime distress and safety) capability, but a VHF with DSC should be sufficient for making contact with other vessels in the area.

High on the list of GMDSS radios is the Jotron Tron TR30, which is a “two-in-one” radio offering access to GMDSS simplex channels and maritime duplex channels. Assuming you will have your hands full during an emergency situation, you can take advantage of the TR30’s ability to connect to an IP-67 speaker microphone or a headset with a PTT module. A small, compact, two-position charger is simple to install in your nav station.

When you connect the emergency battery to the TR30, the radio is automatically set in emergency mode. At this point, the only features available are those associated with emergency mode, preventing confusion and time wasted by the user.

ICOM’s GM1600 VHF marine transceiver offers the kind of tough construction demanded by the U.S. Coast Guard and international SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations. Used on commercial and pleasure vessels, the GM1600 is waterproof to one meter and the lithium-ion battery provides eight hours of operating time at temperatures ranging from -4 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The unit transmits at 1 or 2 watts, which is lower than standard VHF handhelds used primarily for voice communication.

ICOM’s bright yellow handheld is intended for emergency and routine communications. When we consider its durability, the GM1600 is a dependable VHF radio designed and constructed for the worst of conditions. 

Likewise, the ACR SR203 GMDSS Survival Radio offers only voice communications, but it does boast slightly higher output (2.5 watts) and 16 hours of battery life. As soon as the radio is activated, it is automatically tuned to channel 16 for emergency communications. The radio comes complete with a replaceable lithium battery, rechargeable lithium polymer battery, rapid battery charger, power adapters and a wall mount.

Having an EPIRB ready to deploy on your vessel and in your life raft can increase your chances of being found. The GlobalFix V6 EPIRB from ACR Electronics sends out a 121.5 MHz signal to surrounding vessels and confirms the message has been received. You also can monitor your GlobalFix’s activity using a smartphone app. The battery has a life of 10 years and operational life of approximately 48 hours.

The Ocean Signal rescueME EPIRB1 Pro uses an automatic release housing to ensure a homing signal is transmitted as soon as the unit hits the water. Similar to other devices in its class, the rescueME will continue to send out a signal for roughly 48 hours. The device is 30% smaller than others in its class and offers the same 10 years of battery life and 48 hours of signal transmission found in other, larger devices in its class. 

Equipping your vessel with a high-quality life raft, VHF emergency radio and EPIRB can enhance your chances of surviving the loss of your main vessel. Look at the options in emergency gear and select those systems best suited to your needs and lifestyle on the water. n