Life raft on board: Here’s how the switch is carried out in an emergency

​The life raft is one of those pieces of equipment that, ideally, is never needed on board. That is precisely why it remains an abstract concept for many boat owners and skippers. It is stowed away, maintained and, in the best-case scenario, inspected, and is expected to work immediately in an emergency. Yet many people only know in theory how the process of deploying it actually works.

​In an emergency, it is not just the equipment that matters, but above all the procedure. If you know the correct sequence of actions, you can act in a more organised manner even under pressure. This is particularly true if a fire, a flood or some other serious damage renders the boat uninhabitable.

Stay on board for as long as possible

​The most important principle is this: the life raft is not a stopgap for times of unrest on board. It should only be considered once the boat has lost its protective function. As long as the boat is afloat, remains visible and still provides safety for the crew, it is generally the better platform.

For motorboat operators, this point may be reached, for example, in the event of a fire, following a collision or in the event of a massive influx of water. In such cases, the decision to switch must be made deliberately and must not be taken in a state of panic.

More on this topic:

• ​A 24-hour self-experiment: What’s it like to spend a night in a life raft?
• ​Rescue equipment: Rapid rescue in the event of flooding or fire

For many, it remains a theoretical concept

​Many boats are fitted with a life raft, but it has never been put through its paces in a practical exercise. For many people, it is simply a white container or case stowed away somewhere on board, intended to save lives in an emergency. Depending on the model, a life raft can easily weigh between 25 and 40 kilos. Nevertheless, it often remains a piece of equipment that hardly anyone knows how to use from personal experience.

That is precisely where the risk lies. Anyone who is only familiar with the procedure through hearsay must decide, organise and act all at once in an extreme situation. Safety training, such as the Well Sailing sailing school, which has centres in Neustadt (on the Baltic Sea) and Hamburg, demonstrate time and again just how helpful it is to have gone through the individual steps at least once, either in practice or in your mind. Anyone who knows how to deploy the island, how to secure it to the boat and how the transfer works is more likely to be able to act effectively.

Getting into the life raft – explained step by step

​Anyone who needs to board the life raft should have thought through the procedure in advance. A step-by-step guide – from preparation through to deployment and safe boarding.

Step 1: Prepare the island

Place the case on deck so that it can be easily lowered into the water – ideally amidships, as this area remains relatively calm in choppy conditions. The island must be within easy reach, unobstructed and not moored too securely. The ripcord should already be attached to the boat.

Important: Position the island so that it fits easily over or under the railing.

Step 2: Put on your kit

Put on your lifejacket and get your safety lines ready. Now it’s time for the grab bag: keep the emergency bag containing medicines, documents, water and essential survival equipment within easy reach – along with the VHF radio and EPIRB.

If there's still time: warm clothes underneath your waterproofs.

Step 3: Trigger the island

Throw the island into the water, then pull the ripcord – it can be up to fifteen metres long. Keep pulling until you feel distinct resistance, then overcome it with a sharp tug. A dull thud, a loud hiss: the CO₂ cartridge fires, and the island inflates. If the cartridge continues to hiss even though the chambers are fully inflated, there’s no need to panic – excess gas escapes once maximum pressure is reached.

Step 4: Position the island

Position the life raft so that the entrance is close to the boat. Pull it close and secure it so that the float is raised slightly out of the water. This ensures a stable connection between the raft and the boat. Look for a suitable place to board. If the raft has inflated upside down, use a boat hook carefully to turn it the right way up.

Step 5/6: Secure and get in

Prepare the safety lines: clip one carabiner onto the stretch rope or footrail, and the second onto the ripcord. Then step over. Once you have a firm foothold on the island, first unclip the lifeline carabiner on board, then the one on the ripcord. Slide as far back as possible within the island, with your back against the wall and your feet towards the centre – this leaves room for other people.

If possible: Help others get on.

Step 7: Disconnect from the boat

Once everyone has boarded the island, cut the line connecting them to the boat. The emergency line also has a predetermined breaking point: should the boat start to sink before the line has been cut, it will snap automatically at this point.

​​Key points at a glance

1. The life raft is intended solely for the Emergency intended.
2. Before triggering, you must Pull the ripcord and clear the way be.
3. If possible, prepare a life jacket, safety line, grab bag, radio and EPIRB.
4. The island first close to the boat Position yourself, then step over it in an orderly manner.
5. Do not release the safety catches until you have a firm footing on the island.
6. Do not sever the connection to the boat until all crew members have transferred to it.