An Overview of Life Rafts
Life rafts are inflatable devices that are designed to provide flotation and environmental protection for a small number of persons for a short period of time. The life rafts that West Marine sells have capacities from 2–12 persons.
Reasons to Have a Life Raft
Since boats can and occasionally do sink, boaters need ways to stay afloat until they can be rescued. For inland boaters, this may require life jackets or an inflatable dinghy. Boaters that operate on larger bodies of water, especially when the water is cold, need greater amounts of protection.
Types of Life Rafts
There are four basic types of life rafts: Rescue platforms, coastal life rafts, offshore life rafts and USCG and SOLAS life rafts designed for extreme conditions.
Can a hard dinghy be used as a “life boat”?
In choppy water or under heavy seas, hard dinghies are very unstable and provide no protection against the elements. This is why we suggest that coastal and offshore boaters strongly consider purchase of a life raft.
How Life Rafts Come Packed: Canister versus Valise
Life rafts come packed in either a flexible fabric valise or a rigid fiberglass or plastic canister. Canisters can be mounted on deck where they will get wet, while valise rafts must be protected from water and stored in a dry location.
Are Life Rafts Required?
Life rafts are not required for non-commercial vessels, although offshore sail and power boat races may require them. We strongly suggest that offshore cruisers and coastal boaters, who may find themselves outside the range of immediate rescue, consider the purchase of a life raft.
What do life rafts include?
All life rafts come equipped with a small amount of survival gear, usually including flashlights, bailers, paddles, drogues, seasickness remedies, a limited amount of water, etc. However, certain important pieces of survival gear, such as EPIRBs, a water maker and lots of flares are not included. These must be brought on board the raft from the mother vessel.
Periodic Life Raft Inspections
Finally, all life rafts should be inspected and repacked at periodic intervals to insure that they are ready for use if necessary. The inspection and repacking must be done at an authorized facility. We suggest you determine the cost of this process before you purchase your raft.
Brands of Life Rafts Offered by West Marine
West Marine offers life rafts from several manufacturers, including Jim Buoy, Plastimo, Revere Survival and Viking Liferafts.
Life Rafts FAQ
To select the right life raft:
- Determine the number of passengers it needs to support.
- Choose between coastal or offshore models based on your boating area.
- Coastal life rafts are suited for short-term protection in calmer waters.
- Offshore life rafts provide added stability, weather canopies, and survival gear for rough conditions.
West Marine offers life rafts tailored to different navigation needs and safety requirements.
The key differences are:
- Coastal Life Rafts: Designed for short-duration emergencies in calmer, nearshore waters. They provide basic protection but may lack stability in rough seas.
- Offshore Life Rafts: Built for longer-term survival in harsher environments. They include ballast bags for stability, canopies for protection, and additional survival gear.
West Marine offers both types, ensuring you have the right safety equipment for your journey.
Life rafts should be serviced every 1 to 3 years according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
During servicing, professionals check for:
- Leaks or punctures that may affect inflation.
- Wear and tear on seams and materials.
- Functionality of automatic inflation systems.
Regular servicing ensures your raft will deploy properly in an emergency.
Yes, life rafts designed for cold water conditions include:
- Double-floored insulation to reduce heat loss.
- Canopies and covers to shield against freezing temperatures.
- Survival gear like thermal blankets and emergency rations.
These features are essential in frigid environments where hypothermia is a concern.
Standard survival gear in life rafts includes:
- Signal flares for attracting rescue teams.
- Water pouches and emergency food rations.
- A first aid kit for treating injuries.
- Paddles for maneuvering.
- Rainwater collectors and repair kits for longer-term survival.
West Marine offers rafts with varying survival equipment levels to match different needs.
Follow these steps to deploy a life raft:
- Remove the raft from its storage container.
- Throw it overboard—most models inflate automatically upon water contact.
- If manual inflation is required, pull the painter line to trigger inflation.
- Tether the raft securely to your boat.
- Board the raft carefully to avoid capsizing.
Familiarizing yourself with your raft’s deployment method ensures you’re prepared for an emergency.