There is an old saying that "you always step up into a liferaft" . In
otherwords dont get off the boat untill you are sure its going down.

In this case the Coast Gaurd had ordered them off the boat but they had made
a mayday call and had no idea what to do.

term "liferaft" conjours up some romantic belief that all will be well once
you get in. Far from it. They can capsize. Sea sickness can set in much
faster. They are harder to spot from the air. They are a smaller target to
fire a heaving line too. Items ( like the grab bag) are more easily lost
overboard. The list goes on. Using the liferaft is the "last" thing a
skipper should consider.

They got lucky. The skippers son was a competative swimmer at the time and
was the only one able to make it to the life and get in unaided. Everyone
else needed help from him getting in. They would have all drowned if it
wasn't for him.

On a side note. Always make sure your grab back is bouyant. For instance
water bottles should not be full and should have lanyards. Then they will
float and not sink if lost overboard.

Excellent idea. Do they make them with floats in them or other means to keep
them afloat or do you have to make sure of that yourself after you equip it?

Its hard to comment on your story of the foundering yacht without more info.
But it makes sense that if the boat is heeling too far the pumps may not
work. Buckets. although more tiring, are far more effecient than manual
bilge pumps. Electric pumps are great if you still have power.

They had power that lasted another week but their hull was leaking at the
seal between the deck and the side. I don't think the boat was capable of
the trip but even so it mannaged to survive even after they jumped off.

Needless to say, before I attempt a real blue water trip I will need to know
what the boat can handle and how to trust in that.

Does anyone recommend taking your boat out in bad weather on purpose, locally,
in order to test the boat and your abilities? I know there are classes in
this but if you are capable and experienced, do you go out to test the boat
and check for leaks and such with prior notification to CG or anything like
that? It seems like a lot of problems could be fixed before someone sets out
for a longer voyage if they have been through it on purpose at least once.

Bill

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