• Ahoy and Welcome to the New SSS Forums!!

    As you can see, we have migrated our old forums to new software. All your old posts, threads, attachments, and messages should be here. If you see anything out of place or have any questions, please scroll to the very bottom of the page and click "Contact Us" and leave a note with as much detail as possible.

    You should be able to login with your old credentials. If you have any issues, try resetting your password before clicking the Contact Us link.

    Cheers
    - Bryan

Single Person Life Raft

standardhuman

standardhuman

Dana 24 "Maris"
Switlik makes the Inflatable Single Person Life Raft. Costs less than $1K and weighs about 6lbs. If it includes a repair kit with inflation pump (the oral inflation tubes may be sufficient given the small volume), it may meet the RRC. Not ideal for cold water, but perhaps an interesting idea if you prefer not to carry a traditional life raft and have a cold water exposure suit in your ditch bag anyway.

http://www.switlik.com/aviation/isplr
 
Once upon a time, I had a one-man life raft which had been part of an aviation parachue seat pack. (you bail out over water and, voila: flotation!). I had it modified to include a canopy. SSS SHTP ultimately caused this raft to become history (same had been used in 1986 by a lady in a red Moore 24) when it was made a raft requirement that the canopy be self-erecting. OK, so much for that. Is the Switlik raft of which you speak in compliance? Light weight is good. But so is compliance.
 
I just heard back from Switlik. It does not include a repair kit, but that doesn't mean one could not be added to the package along with a pump if the RC so requires. This raft is designed to be inflated orally once the cartridges have fired, so perhaps lungs may be considered a pump for this device.

Otherwise, it would appear to meet the requirements.

4.47 A life raft designed specifically for saving life at sea, that will remain afloat and support
the skipper even when filled with water. The life raft shall include a canopy or cover which
automatically sets in place when the liferaft is inflated. The cover shall be capable of
protecting the occupant against injury from exposure and shall be a highly visible color.
The life raft shall contain the following minimum equipment:
[1] Sea anchor.
[2] Repair kit with inflation pump
Click to expand...
 
I purchased that raft last year. I approached the Committee Chair as to whether it was legal. They looked over the information online and by email approved it for the race. I am currently under the assumption that my life raft requirement is meet by this raft. It is really small!. As a matter of fact the raft resides INSIDE my ditch bag currently. It is small enough that they have a belt mount to wear if you so choose. It is also sealed in plastic so it needs to be serviced less often.
Doug Paine
 
An interesting point was made at the SAS seminar I attended at SFYC. A raft is only stable when inhabited by the number of people it was designed to inhabit. If you have to get in your rented four man liferaft on a SHTP, bring lots of stuff.
 
Very interesting info, both of you. Here is a little more info from Switlik regarding service intervals and costs.

...servicing intervals vary with each model. Our Soft pack is 1 year, Belt pack is 3 years and Hermetically Sealed version is 5 years from date of manufacture.

Depending on the model -servicing prices starts at $85.00 plus bags and any parts or repairs needed. If you would like to send in for service please contact us and we will give you a returned goods authorization.
Click to expand...

They recommend only servicing through Switlik.
 
I still would like to know if the little Switlik raft you have cited has a "self erecting canopy". If it does, I may want one.
 
It sure looks like it Ken.

I'm also watching with great interest. It won't do me any good for Pacific Cup this year - they're still using OSR Cat. 1 which requires the liferafts be certified by some agency - but for the next SHTP, or a solo Tahiti race, it could be the answer.

It looks like the source of a serious case of boat butt, but a regular raft doesn't keep your butt dry either. We were just in the water flipping over an eight man raft and climbing in - 'twas a bit damp in there.
 
Having participated in several "life raft drills" I would point out that a person's "space" in a liferaft is about 2' X 2', so I wonder how much space there is in a one-person raft nowadays. I've always been of the opinion that "one size" up would make for more comfortable liferafting.

When I was young, right after WWII, we had an surplus Lister tank my father cut down that we used as a swimming pool (11" in diameter) and we also had a fighter pilot's liferaft to use as a float. I remember it as being okay for a 6 and 4 year old to sit in with our feet dangling over the tube. I hope they've improved since then.
 
Harrier said:
I still would like to know if the little Switlik raft you have cited has a "self erecting canopy". If it does, I may want one.
Click to expand...

It certainly appears that it does and I've posed this question the Switlik. Will let you know what comes back. I've also asked about the difference between the model w/ floor (+$200) and w/o floor.
 
Hi,

Here are the ISAF rules for Cat 1 races. Could one of you ask Switlik about their compliance with SOLAS LSA code 1997 Chapter IV regarding quality of construction ?

Even more specific, does Switlik comply with the ISAF guidance on life raft construction and equipment: http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/OSR2012AppAP109122011-[11750].pdf ?

There are some exceptions in that doc. that could be taken for a solo adventure but largely it would seem you would want general compliance.





4.20.1 Liferaft Construction and Packed Equipment
4.20.2 Liferaft(s) shall be provided capable of carrying the whole crew when each
liferaft shall comply with either:-
MoMu1,2
a) Liferafts shall comply with SOLAS LSA code 1997 Chapter IV or later version
except that they are acceptable with a capacity of 4 persons and may be
packed in a valise. A SOLAS liferaft shall contain at least a SOLAS "A" pack or
Extract File
MoMu1,2
b) for liferafts manufactured prior to January 2003, OSR Appendix A part I (ORC),
or
MoMu1,2
c) OSR Appendix A part II (ISAF) when, unless otherwise specified by a race
organizer, the floor shall include thermal insulation, or
MoMu1,2
d) ISO 9650 Part I Type I Group A (ISO) when each liferaft shall contain at least
a Pack 2 (<24h) and-
MoMu1,2
i shall have a semi-rigid boarding ramp, and MoMu1,2
ii shall be so arranged that any high-pressure hose shall not impede the
boarding process, and
MoMu1,2
iii shall have a topping-up means provided for any inflatable boarding ramp, and MoMu1,2
iv when the liferaft is designed with a single ballast pocket this shall be accepted
provided the liferaft otherwise complies with ISO 9650 and meets a suitable
test of ballast pocket strength devised by the manufacturer and
MoMu1,2
v compliance with OSR 4.20.2 (d) i-iv shall be indicated on the liferaft certificate
 
Last edited:
brianb said:
4.20.1 Liferaft Construction and Packed Equipment
4.20.2 Liferaft(s) shall be provided capable of carrying the whole crew when each
liferaft shall comply with either:-
MoMu1,2
a) Liferafts shall comply with SOLAS LSA code 1997 Chapter IV or later version
except that they are acceptable with a capacity of 4 persons and may be
packed in a valise. A SOLAS liferaft shall contain at least a SOLAS "A" pack or
Extract File
MoMu1,2
b) for liferafts manufactured prior to January 2003, OSR Appendix A part I (ORC),
or
MoMu1,2
c) OSR Appendix A part II (ISAF) when, unless otherwise specified by a race
organizer, the floor shall include thermal insulation, or
MoMu1,2
d) ISO 9650 Part I Type I Group A (ISO) when each liferaft shall contain at least
a Pack 2 (<24h) and-
MoMu1,2
i shall have a semi-rigid boarding ramp, and MoMu1,2
ii shall be so arranged that any high-pressure hose shall not impede the
boarding process, and
MoMu1,2
iii shall have a topping-up means provided for any inflatable boarding ramp, and MoMu1,2
iv when the liferaft is designed with a single ballast pocket this shall be accepted
provided the liferaft otherwise complies with ISO 9650 and meets a suitable
test of ballast pocket strength devised by the manufacturer and
MoMu1,2
v compliance with OSR 4.20.2 (d) i-iv shall be indicated on the liferaft certificate
Click to expand...

So my Coleman raft is out.
 
Greg Nelsen has followed up with Switlik regarding the use of this raft. In addition to his analysis, the raft is not ISAF compliant. It certainly is a light weight design. Below is his report:

-------------------- From Greg ---------------------------------------------------

Did some research on the ISPLR and didn't find all the answers I wanted so I contact Brian Kender @ Switlik, the Marine Products manager. He answered a few questions I had and stressed that they only recommend this raft for aviation use. As much as I wanted to have to product fit the needs of the racers I wouldn't recommend it for several reasons:

• Most of the stability comes from your body sitting below the water line.
• Sitting below the waterline will ensure your body heat is transferred rapidly to the surrounding water = hypothermia much quicker.
• No space for a decent size ditch bag and/or supplies = no possible extended stay in the raft if a EPIRB signal doesn't go out due to a malfunction, etc.
• No room to move around if an extended stay happens.
• The big red flag was that it's a single tube. No 2nd tube like an offshore raft, no inner safety tube (even their basic single tube coastal raft has an inner backup tube).


Cheer, Greg
 
Waawaawaaaaa. Looks like I'll have to be safer...and heavier. It does have an inflatable floor option which should help insulate and perhaps make it a reasonable piece of oh-shit-kit for coastal and near coastal ops.
 
Yeah, even my pirate raft has two tubes. Sheeesh!

I might still get one (with the inflatable floor) because I'm not all that concerned about racing rules. If we ever get the solo Tahiti race together there won't be any, and renting a raft won't make sense for the whole Summer.
 
BobJ said:
I'm not all that concerned about racing rules. If we ever get the solo Tahiti race together there won't be any, and renting a raft won't make sense for the whole Summer.
Click to expand...

A solo Tahiti race w no rules. That is old school.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top