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At sea, constant vigilance and an understanding of the safety measures to be taken in the event of absolute distress are essential. Determining the right moment to board a liferaft can then become a crucial issue. This decision, vital to survival at sea, is guided by precise considerations. We explain what to do should this situation arise.
Analyze the boat's situation
If your boat is not sinking, we strongly recommend that you stay on board and tie up your liferaft as a precautionary measure. The liferaft should only be used as a last resort, when you are certain that the boat is about to sink, or in the event of a devastating fire, and always after you have passed your MAYDAY and triggered your distress beacon.
Even a half-submerged boat is always more visible than a raft, especially in heavy seas!
When the ship is about to sink, the crew must board the liferaft without delay. Don't forget to retrieve the watertight bag with all your survival gear. A knife without a point is attached to the liferaft near the mooring line to cut it, so as not to be swept away by the boat when it sinks. Once on board, keep your lifejacket.
In the event of reversal
Occasionally, a raft may be upside down when deployed. In this case, don't panic. Simply pull on the end under the raft, levering it with your foot on the bottle. The raft will gradually turn upside down.
My raft has a hole in it. What can I do?
In the event of an impact, up to 200 bar of pressure is delivered to the raft chamber. Its construction must therefore be extremely solid. Plastimo rafts, for example, feature double chambers: the inner chamber made of polyurethane, stretchable up to 700% and offering considerable puncture resistance, and the outer chamber made of abrasion-resistant 1100 decitex PVC. Seams and heat-sealed bands ensure both strength and airtightness. If, despite these safety features, your raft should be punctured - which is extremely unlikely - each unit comes with a patch kit to make the necessary repairs. Thanks to a system including different buoyancy chambers, you'll be able to repair your inner tube with ease.
Remember that in the event of extreme distress far from the coast, a dinghy is no substitute for a liferaft, which is designed to be stable in all weathers and to increase visibility in rough seas.
Don't try to open your raft unless you have to.
