Sailing NVvideo
This video could save your life (Liferaft Lessons) | S2 Ep.4
19 November 2023 · 28 min · 5K views · Port Vila
What this video covers
The crew's child and Jo on their Open 66 NV had their life raft serviced at Marine Aerospace Survival Systems Vanuatu in Port Vila, Vanuatu, while moored at Yachting World Marina, and documented the full process to show what sailors should know before an emergency.1:09
The technician begins with a visual inspection of the valise for mould, humidity, and material deterioration, then checks the painter line length — NV's is 10 metres, though category-one ship-grade rafts run 24 metres.2:35 He explains that pulling too hard before the line is fully extended prevents inflation.3:34 The raft's two independent buoyancy tubes are each capable of keeping the raft afloat alone; a conical gas fitting and pressure-relief valves prevent over-inflation.8:51 The raft is inflated by vacuum and left 24 hours to check for slow leaks.13:25 The drogue (floating anchor) — 25 metres of line, stainless-steel-framed, parachute-style — slows drift and keeps the raft near the last known position.10:51 Grab-bag contents covered include food rations (expiry checked), water, three hand flares, three parachute flares, two torches, a signalling mirror, seasickness tablets, survival sleeping bags, and a medical kit.19:20 The crew adds a strobe light, sugar, extra seasickness tablets, sun cream, and dog booties to protect the raft from Solo's claws.21:30 A key boarding sequence: enter, find the knife to cut the painter, close the gas-bottle valve, take seasickness tablets immediately, and conserve the EPIRB battery by keeping watch in two-hour rotations.24:22 The crew's child notes that on a foam-filled boat like NV, staying aboard as long as possible is preferable; if inflating on deck, beware the raft surfing away on waves and slamming back into the hull.25:31
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