What is it really like to spend a night in a liferaft?
At Suffolk Marine Safety, we believe that understanding your safety equipment is just as important as having it on board.
We recently donated a liferaft for a fascinating practical experiment, giving one adventurous individual the opportunity to experience what life inside a liferaft is really like.
From Inflation to Overnight Survival
The experience began with inflating the liferaft and exploring its design, layout and features.
Once inflated, the next step was to investigate the contents of the liferaft’s survival equipment pack, discovering what is provided and how the individual items can be used in a survival situation.
But this wasn’t simply a demonstration.
Taking the experiment a step further, he spent an entire night afloat on a lake, using the liferaft and equipment provided to experience some of the challenges that could arise while awaiting rescue.
What’s Inside a Liferaft Survival Pack?
Many boat owners carry a liferaft but may never have had the opportunity to explore one fully or understand the equipment packed inside.
Depending on the liferaft’s specification and equipment pack, contents can include items such as:
- Drinking water and emergency rations
- Signalling and attention-attracting equipment
- Bailing equipment and sponges
- Paddles and other essential survival accessories
- Equipment designed to support occupants while awaiting rescue
The experiment provides an interesting insight into how survival equipment can be used in practice and why familiarisation is so valuable.
Watch the Full Experience
From the initial inflation and inspection of the survival pack to spending a night on the water, the video offers an unusual perspective on the realities of being inside a liferaft.
Watch the liferaft overnight experience on YouTube
Video courtesy of the adventures from one man https://www.youtube.com/@KentSurvival