Conference unifix::sailing

New liferafts are very expensive. What do you need one for? If you are 
sailing only near shore, a dinghy or an Avon coastal raft (for example) 
could serve. If you are sailing far offshore, a double chamber, double
floor Avon (for example) would be a better choice (at around $3500 to
$4000 list). If you have oodles of money, a Givens might be a still
better choice. There are design differences that affect raft behavior
(see notes 254 and 724 for some discussion). Also, your philosophy of
life after disaster might affect your choice of raft. With a heavily
ballasted Givens raft, you're constrained to drifting to the whim of
current and wind. With a lightly ballasted raft and if you have a
sailing dinghy, you might be able (ala the Robertsons) to reach safety
on your own. 

Be very, very cautious about buying a used raft. Rafts MUST be serviced 
by an approved inspector EVERY year. Depending on the equipment that 
needs replacing and other work required (like hydrostatic testing of the 
gas bottle) the annual inspection runs $250 to $500. A raft can be 
ruined very quickly if it isn't properly maintained. Even with proper 
maintainance, the life of a raft is only ten years or so. If you do buy 
a used raft, insist that it pass inspection before you pay for it. Rafts 
are, alas, easily stolen, so you should also have an insurance rider 
with a minimal deductible (say $100) for the raft.

If you need a liferaft for a single passage (eg, Bermuda and return) you 
should consider renting one.

One source of relatively objective comparative data is Survival 
Technologies Group, out of St. Petersburg, FL. (They have a toll-free 
number -- check 800 information.) 

They publish a more or less quarterly free review-and-catalog, called
Newswave. The last issue had several pages on about five or six different
rafts they carry, with specific recommendations and cautions (and reasons)
for each. They don't carry Givens, but otherwise represent several of the
best domestic and foreign makers.  They also do servicing, but a local
outfit might be more cost-effective for annual checks. 

From my several dealings with them, they have never even attempted to 
oversell me, as long as you understand that they take their approach to 
maximizing marine safety *very* seriously.  (No cheap stuff, period.)

J.

    I have a six man Avon coastal raft which I bought new 2 years ago for
    about $1600 at the Marine Exchange in Peabody.  Fortunately I have
    never had to use it, but it is a nice insurance policy.  Coastal rafts
    are (or were) built much the same way that standard rafts are but have
    much less of the survival gear packed into them than full service rafts
    do.  However, Alan, the raft I bought as a coastal raft is double
    chambered and double floored.  
    
    Geoff

Before taking your raft to an inspector for annual maintenance, it is a
valuable and interesting exercise to inflate your raft and become
familiar with its design, construction, and equipment. It was suggested 
to me that this be done ashore in a dry, clean location (I used my 
living room). Inflate the raft with a manual air pump -- don't use the 
compressed gas bottle. The expanding gas is very cold and the raft 
fabric could be damaged by repeated inflation this way (or so I was told). 
Besides, refilling the bottle is costly. 

The survival equipment packed in a liferaft is quite minimal. We
assembled an abandon ship bag with considerable extra equipment because
this. We also made an extra sea anchor. Rafts (except Givens rafts) are
dependent to a large extent on a sea anchor to prevent capsize. If you
can afford it (how can you afford not to?), have an EPIRB (eg, an ACR
RLB-14 which costs under $200) packed inside the raft. A handheld VHF
radio with spare batteries should be in your abandon ship kit (packed in
a waterproof bag, of course). It is also a good idea to have your boat's
name on the raft's canopy. 

Also consider a hydrostatic release on the liferaft lashings (just in 
case your boat sinks before you can cut the lashings). Non-repairable, 
non-testable, one-use hydrostatic releases with life of two or three 
years are available for under $100 or so. 

(The cost of all the safety equipment one should have aboard is enough 
to make one think about another recreational activity -- growing 
zucchini maybe.)

re .3:

According to the literature I have: The Avon coastal liferaft has a 
single circular bouyancy tube and a single floor. (Double floor models 
may be available but aren't listed in my catalogs.) The bouyancy tube is 
divided into two separate chambers. Though the literature does not state 
how the bouyancy tube is divided, it is probably divided by two vertical 
transverse bulkheads into two semi-circular tubes. Thus a leak in one 
chamber will result in the raft's occupants sitting in the ocean.
Current list price is about $2350 (discount about $1900 - $2200) for a
six-person raft. 

The Avon offshore liferaft has two independent circular bouyancy tubes. 
This provides twice the freeboard and twice the bouyancy of the coastal 
liferaft. If one bouyancy tube fails, the offshore liferaft effectively 
becomes a coastal liferaft and the occupants remain dry. An inflatable
double floor is an optional extra for the offshore raft. List price for
a six-person, double floor raft packed in a canister is about $3750
(discount $2700 and up). List price for a single floor valise-packed 
offshore raft is about $3340. 

The liferafts are available packed either in a fiberglass canister or a 
nylon fabric valise. The valise-packed rafts are cheaper but should not
be carried on deck as the valise is not watertight. 

The offshore raft is substantially more expensive, but offers, I think, 
substantially more safety. Given the wrong circumstances, you might have 
to survive quite some time aboard your liferaft even if you sink near 
shore. But, as usual, tradeoffs are necessary (see note 254).

    I also agree with Alan on the inflate before you have to question.
    We did this on a raft we were going to borrow and were suprised
    to find that after the tubes and roof inflated one of the tubes
    then proceded to defalte. This problem was corrected at the time
    of inspection and repacking. It was however kind of disheartening
    at the time.
    We also tried the "provisions", hard tack and glucose tablets, looked
    at the flashlights and generally were not impressed with the equipment
    packed as standard in the raft.
    Get serious and make a package that contains food, water, canned
    fruit, matches, flares, mirror, space blanket, the items Alan mentioned
    and maybe a sextant and associated plotting gear. Do not depend
    on whatever is packed in the reft to make your stay pleasant even
    for a short period.
    Add a seasick preventative too and some sunscreen.
    
    hope you never need to use this information.

    To the provisions listed by LDP::PARKER, in .6, would you think
    that adding a bottle of vitamins and minerals (100% RDA on the basic
    vitamins and minerals)?
    
     I read the account (author's name escapes me, now), of the guy
    who spent 74 days on a raft after his boat sank, and he claims that
    vitamin deficiency was a major problem. It seemed like a simple
    thing to add.
    
     I wonder if the body can absorb and use the vitimins when on a
    subsistence diet?
    
    Gregg

    You might try the liferaft service companies for a lease or reasonably
    priced "used" raft.  Mine was inspected/serviced by Landrigan at
    Logan airport.  They are FAA & USCG certified so I think take it
    all pretty seriously.  At $400+ per service and 1 year recommended
    intervals, owning a raft is an expensive proposition.  Mine is inside
    a deck locker, so I've chosen a 2-3 year inspection cycle.
    
    b.t.w. - If you are cruising in New England or Ca. waters, a double
    floor is a MUST.  Hypothermia in a single floor raft in cold waters
    will get the passangers long before they starve or dehydrate.
    
    If you need a raft then a EPIRB is a must eg the nifty small ACR-14.
    If for some reason you expect a long stay, then add the hand held
    reverse osmosis water maker (I forget name) for $595.
    

    Better Boat for June 1989 has a single page write-up about rafts.
    My copy arrived yesterday.  If somebody wants a photocopy of the
    page, I'll be glad to oblige.
    
    Dave
     

    Re. 1214.7  The book was called, "Adrift".  I forget the author's
    name.  It's in paperback.  On our sailboat this w/e sailing in somewhat
    rough waters 3-5 foot waves from Buzzards Bay to the Vineyard, I
    thought abt. that book.  My husband's a Brit--has always had Avons
    and if we were to get anything, he swears by Avons.  And, after
    reading "Adrift" you would too.
    
    Gail as in Gail Warnings

    Remembered--ADRIFT by Steve Callahan