Life Raft 101: Super Essential Skills for Liveaboard Cruisers

I’m ashamed to admit it, but until recently, I wasn’t 100% sure how to deploy our 8 person life raft. If you’re unfamiliar with what an offshore life raft is, it’s a backup floatation device used for survival if the boat sinks. Ours inflates into a neon orange floating tent packed with water, flares, and other life-saving items.

Watch the video and then read below.

But before I get ahead of myself, this article is about three things all liveaboard cruisers must know, starting with the importance of understanding your life raft.

Ignoring the Unsinkable: My Life Raft Denial

For five years, I’d glance at the big white box containing our raft and think, “I don’t want to envision ever having to use it, so let’s ignore the abandon ship possibility.” Or, “If I ever have to use it, I’ll figure it out when I need to.” And, of course, my go-to line: “Simon will sort it out if that ever happens!”

The Niggle of Neglect: Life Raft Anxiety

Positive mental attitude (PMA) is my thing, so I’m quick to redirect negative thoughts. But when it comes to boat safety, diversion isn’t a good long-term strategy.

Even as I write this, my inner voice whispers, “If I don’t think about it, it won’t happen.” But ignoring the issue only increased my anxiety. Every time I looked at the raft or imagined Simon incapacitated at sea, that niggle grew.

The truth is, becoming a liveaboard cruiser comes with immense responsibility. Some of us know this but choose to ignore it (guilty!). This only reduces our confidence and unknowingly increases our fears.

A Wake-Up Call: 48 Hours in a Life Raft?

Yes, emergency services exist, but due to their remote locations, response times for liveaboard cruisers can be hours or even days. Someone recently told me the average wait to be found in an emergency inflatable life raft in the Caribbean is 48 hours!

That’s a far cry from my experiences in the States and the UK, where help was always minutes away. But during a recent medical emergency on a deserted island, I had a wake-up call. We had to figure out how to get me from our anchored boat to an island with services, and even then, the help wasn’t immediate.

Three Crucial Life Raft Lessons for Liveaboard Cruisers

This experience highlighted three crucial things every liveaboard cruiser must understand:

1. Be Prepared to Be the First Responder: You might have to provide first aid and care for a loved one for hours, not minutes.
2. Know Your Safety Equipment: The boating industry provides life-saving tools, but they’re useless if you don’t know how to use them. This includes your life raft.
3. Master Basic Boat Operations: Everyone on board should be able to retrieve a person overboard, make emergency calls, navigate, and handle the boat alone.

The Worst-Case Scenario: Life Raft Deployment

Imagine this: Your boat is going to sink. What do you do?

Many people ask me how to convince their partners to embrace the sailing dream. It’s a two-pronged approach: sell the positives and ensure everyone has adequate training to handle the boat and emergencies. The key is to build confidence.

Building Confidence: Practice Makes Perfect

Once you have your boat, don’t waste time on upgrades. Instead, practice essential skills:

• Tacking and gybing single-handed
• Maneuvering under engine power
• Man overboard (MOB) drills with different sail configurations
• VHF radio drills, including MAYDAY calls and DSC alerts
• Lowering sails alone
• Anchoring in new locations
• First aid

Practice regularly and involve everyone on board, even children. Make it a routine.

My Life Raft Revelation: It’s Not That Scary

Back to my ignorance… I now know how it works, thanks to a recent life raft services company. Seeing it inflated and learning the ins and outs was a game-changer. It’s no longer an unknown source of anxiety.

I should have learned this sooner and established a routine practice schedule. The anxiety I felt about raft & survival equipment, combined with other potential emergencies, was unnecessary.

Creating a Life Raft Safety Manual

As part of our boat chartering process (we offer Sailing Lifestyle Experiences), I had to write a safety manual. It covers the basics, such as life jackets, MOB, fire, and VHF calls, but I wanted to go further.

I thought about the absolute worst-case scenario: What if both Simon and I went overboard? Our guests would need to know how to start the engine, read the plotter, perform a crash tack, lower the sails, and make emergency calls.

So, the first part of our manual is a quick-start guide for operating the boat. It’s followed by sections on life jackets, MOB, fire, steering, engine, collisions, taking on water, life raft deployment, medical emergencies, grounding, and more.

Why Every Boat Needs a Life Raft Safety Manual

It’s baffling that boat owners are not required to know how to operate their vessels or handle emergencies at sea. Every boat should have a quick-start manual and a guide to safety equipment and procedures. Whether you have a 2 person life raft or a 4 person life raft, or even a 6 person life raft they all operate the same.

Remember, knowledge is power, especially when it comes to life raft safety, so don’t let anxiety hold you back. Take the time to learn, practice, and prepare. Your peace of mind and the safety of everyone on board depend on it.