The Uses of Inflatable Boats: Surviving
If only the Titanic had its ample share of life boats or life rafts
, the sea tragedy could have had more survivors. Buying a life raft is a necessity that must be complied and happy are the small aircrafts pilots and crew of small cruisers and yachts if the life rafts that they buy remain tucked in their valises or canisters, unused. However, life rafts are necessities that a water vessel cannot afford not to have. Many lives have been saved because anglers, pilots, sailors and boating enthusiasts had the good sense to equip their planes or boats with inflatable life rafts.A one-person life raft is suitable for small boats and planes. The smallest one-person life raft (Plastimo Solo) weighs less than 10 pounds packaged small enough to fit under a pilot's seat. Small as it seem this life raft contains the basic characteristics of a life raft. It has a rubberized fabric structure; automatically deploys and inflates; has a canopy as protection from the harsh environment; a sea anchor and water ballasts to prevent drifting and at the same time provide stability in choppy water.
It only follows that the bigger the boat, the bigger the survival life boat that it needs. The larger 4 to 6- person life rafts are essentially the same as their smaller versions but with the addition of boarding ladders, flares and more room for supplies. It is still feasible to opt for an 8-person capacity life raft but since larger life rafts are harder to deploy it is best to just opt for two 4-6 person life rafts. A life raft bigger than an 8-passenger raft will be too heavy to be handled manually by a regular boat crew.
The US Coast Guard and the US Sailing and the Offshore Racing Council recommend that the minimum space requirement for a life raft is 4 square feet per person. This translates to a floor area of 16 square feet for four people. The required floor space is the minimum but this is not really ideal for all especially if you and your crew are on the heavy side. It is best to consider buying a life raft that is one size bigger that is required. When in doubt it is best to check the manufacturer's recommendation as an under-loaded life raft is more likely to tip over in extreme water conditions.
Standard Inflatable as a Life raft
If you have a standard inflatable sport boat or a soft tail, would that suffice as a life raft? Life rafts are not really cheap and more often are bulky and hard to stow even if contained in canisters or valises. Won't an inflatable sport boat do? If you are a commercial boat, you won't get pass the Coast Guard. If you are into racing sailboats off shore, your sponsors will insist on a life raft. If you flying a plane or motorboating to the far ends of the Yucatan Peninsula where no one would care whether you carry a life raft or a play boat, somehow, you will be at the losing end when something goes amiss. How can you possibly bail out fast from a sinking plane or boat when you have to take out the pump and inflate your sport boat or play boat first? The answer is NO! You need a real life raft in these circumstances.
For the regular boating public who coast along the shores of shallow water, a conventional dinghy or sport boat, a RIB, kayak or a riverboat will do. Though these inflatable do not have the same characteristics of a true life raft, these will do in shallow coastal waters when the rescue is imminent within a few hours.
You can use your conventional inflatable as a life raft if: it inflates automatically or you carry it onboard already inflated; if you have a ready-survival bag that you can grab in case of emergency and last, if the inflatable is big enough to carry the entire crew.
For more information about using inflatable boats for surviving please visit:
http://inflatable-boats-kayaks-and-canoes.com/using-inflatable-boats-for-surviving/default.php
The Uses of Inflatable Boats: Surviving
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