On Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:12:56 -0500, HK wrote:

wrote:
On Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:24:08 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:01:01 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

The Everglades boat looked a bit top-heavy anyway, and rafts look to
be about 60-100 lbs, depending.
It is ironic that very few boats under 35 ft carry life rafts but they
are the ones that most need them. There are soft pack rafts that
weigh less than 50 lbs. All life rafts however have a significant
hidden expense: They must be repacked and recertified every 1 to 3
years depending on the manufacturer and model.

It's part of the same logic that leads people to think that a smaller
boat needs smaller bilgepumps.




Indeed.

One aspect of the Parkers I've owned that I appreciated is their
bone-dry bilges. Unless I open a hatch and pour water down into it, I
don't seem to get any water into the bilges of my 21-footer. There's no
liner. I supposed if I started filling up the center console, at some
point water would go down the rigging tubes into the bilge, but that
doesn't happen a whole lot.

So far the only person who has said he carries a life raft is Wayne.
Expected given the size of his boat.
Gfretwell doesn't go offshore - I think.
But though it appears to be a good idea carrying one if you go
offshore, I expect hardly any small boaters will equip them.
What sold me the most on it being a good idea is that it would have
saved the football guys from what killed them - hypothermia.
And in not really cold water.
Guess it just depends on your outlook about boating safety.

--Vic