Liferaft

Life rafts

Life rafts are inflatable floating modules equipped to allow collective survival at sea in a confined space. They can accommodate between 4 and 12 people and are one of the major elements dedicated to safety at sea.

The capacity of a raft must correspond to the number of people on board a vessel, skipper included. These craft must be chosen according to the type of navigation planned.

Types of mandatory life rafts on pleasure sailing boats (extract from the updated Division 240 – 2017)

In France as well as in the European Union, life rafts are mandatory on pleasure boats sailing more than 6 nautical miles from a shelter* (see the updated Division 240 of the Ministry of Transport, which defines mandatory equipment on pleasure craft).

*Reminder of the official definition of the term “shelter”

A place on the coast where any craft, boat or vessel and its crew can take shelter safely by anchoring, beaching or berthing, and leave again without assistance. This notion takes into account the current weather conditions as well as the characteristics of the craft, boat or vessel.

Official standards for life rafts

The new ISO 9650 standard has made it possible to harmonize the design of life rafts on an international scale. It distinguishes two types of rafts:

Type 1 life rafts

Type 1 life rafts (ISO 9650-I standard) are intended for offshore navigation (more than 60 nautical miles from a shelter). They are designed to withstand strong winds and high seas.

This category of rafts is divided into group A (inflation temperature from -15 to 65°C, double floor) and group B (inflation temperature from 0 to 65°C, single floor).

It is the skipper’s responsibility to choose the raft adapted to the navigation program. If one does not sail in icy waters such as Alaska, Spitzbergen or Patagonia, a group B raft is sufficient.

All type 1 rafts can be equipped for a rescue waiting time of less than or more than 24 hours. This choice again depends on the skipper.

These rafts include the following equipment:

- boarding ramp
- minimum surface area per person of 0.372 m2
- automatically inflatable arch upon deployment
- rafts designed for a rescue waiting time greater than 24 hours are sold with a separate watertight bag (grab bag) to store water, food, medication, etc.).

Type 2 life rafts

Type 2 life rafts (ISO 9650 type II standard) are designed for coastal or semi-offshore navigation (from 6 to 60 nautical miles from a shelter) and for use at temperatures from 0 to 65°C, in moderate wind and sea conditions.

Inspection intervals

Life rafts must be serviced every 3 years, and every year after 15 years.

However, annual servicing is recommended after 10 years.

The case of the tropics

The lifespan of life rafts may be reduced in hot and humid conditions. For this reason, manufacturers in tropical areas require annual servicing of life rafts. It is therefore prudent to comply with this measure in the event of a prolonged stay in these regions.

Where to store a life raft?

Life rafts can be packed in a bag or in a rigid container. While the bag is easier to stow, the container better protects the raft from bad weather and mechanical damage (chafing, accidental puncture, etc.). The container generally weighs around 3 kg.

A raft must always be able to be launched easily. This is why it is always stored outside the boat, on deck or at the stern.

How to inflate a life raft?

Life rafts are equipped with a strap that is easily accessible when removed from the bag or container. One starts by firmly attaching this strap to the boat. Then the raft is thrown into the water. When the strap tightens, it strikes a compressed air bottle that triggers the automatic inflation of the raft.

Once the crew is aboard the raft, never forget to cut the strap, otherwise there is a risk of being dragged down with the boat if it is sinking.

Cost of a life raft

Coastal or offshore life rafts can be found for around 1,000 euros (minimum price).

Survival courses

The company Infornav organizes safety training and life raft handling courses in La Rochelle.

World Sailing (formerly ISAF) courses also include a sea survival preparation program.