Life Rafts and Accessories

• Liferafts

  The initial cost of a liferaft can seem prohibitive to many occasional sailors. But given that most incidents occur well within view of the land, foregoing such a critical piece of equipment can be a very dangerous economy. When you choose a liferaft make sure that it is from a reputable manufacturor and that it has an established local service network. Many customers get caught out every year when they buy a budget model liferaft from a so called Discount Chandler only to find that it is imported from Europe or the Far East and only has one or two service stations in the UK. Shipping a liferaft from one end of the country to the other is not only time consuming but will add considerable costs to your final service bill. 

• Liferaft Accessories

  If you are choosing a container model liferaft mounted outside then securing it with a Quick Release Strap and a Hydrostatic Unit is essential. This simple set-up will automaticlly release the liferaft and activate the inflation cylinder should the vessel sink suddenly. When choosing a valise model liferaft consider the weight. Many budget price models sold by Discount Chandlers can be quite heavy. Many reputable liferaft manufacturors put grab handles on the end as well as the top of the valise, allowing you to store the liferaft end-on in a locker. This maximises the use of limited storage space and also reduces the reach needed to haul it out in an emergency. Keeping a Grab Bag close at hand is also worth consideration. This can be filled with useful emergency kit such as Thermal Protective Aids, Distress Flares, First Aid Kits, Torches and a Handheld VHF.