Ballad Exchange

Mark, congrats on your newborn child.

When I bought my Ballad, a life raft was one of the first things I invested in. Yet, several years later, I decided to make do without it for a couple of reasons. First, despite the 3-year service interval specified by most manufacturers, the Greek authorities require annual--and expensive--inspections of all life rafts, in an effort to extort even more money out of boaters. (I can't fathom how a public service employee who probably can't tell the bow from the stern is more technically proficient than the designers of Viking and Ocean Safety). Second, after reading countless life raft tests I deduced that you really have to spend a fortune in order to get something that will function well in anger, i.e. cheap or even medium-priced life rafts were a waste of money. Instead, I've invested the money--which, if you include the purchase price and the annual servicing, is over 2,000 euros--in building a better boat. This includes a watertight bulkhead in the bow, a modern electrical system, a safer gas installation, etc. I also carry an inflated dinghy with a hard floor all the time. As for mounting the life raft, I had mine stored in the port locker but was thinking of relocating it on top of the hatch cover by building a stainless steel cradle that would be through bolted to the coachroof. The stern is also a nice spot but I, too, have lots of weight there. Having said that, if I were to cross a large body of water, I'd bite the bullet and buy an ocean-spec life raft.

Nicholas

We have a 4 person life raft in a canister which sits on the hand rails between the mast and the hatch cover. It is held fore and aft by some teak faced ply which is shaped to the bottom of the canister, and is strapped down to a padeye on each side. It has a manual quick release mechanism.

So far it has held in place, although I have had to replace the wooden bearers due to age, and the padeyes have leaked a bit in the past which damaged the small wooden backing.

The life raft itself is ancient, and was last serviced about three years ago. I do wonder how well it was done too, but can't bring myself to get rid of it, and it isn't a nuisance where it is so I will probably continue with the current system.

Cameron

Hello everyone,

Thank you for all the helpful comments, I have since purchased a 2009, Wetline, "Ocean" valise liferaft. It won't be appropriate in proper "Ocean" conditions, however, with four 30 litre ballast bags, it should be stable enough for the coastal stuff we do.

http://wetline.co.uk/product/WETLINE_OC_4_MAN_VALISE_LIFERAFT_WL04V_210192

I don't like the extra weight aft (it is 25kg), however, I will stow in a cockpit locker with a grab bag and move my inflatable onto my foredeck, thus making the liferaft easier to access from the safety of the cockpit in the unlikely event we need it.

Nicholas, I can't believe the Greek authorities insist on that! Thankfully we don't have such regimes in England, and a more common sense approach is taken. I won't be able to afford to service my life raft until next year anyway (as it is due one).

Once again, thanks for the assistance.

Mark and family