James,
I originally had a Switlik which lasted me 18 years and was still good when I got rid of it.
It is important to get a life raft that is not too big as without sufficient interior weight they tend to flip. I chose a Winslow 6 man raft. Winslow was my choice as it has pockets inside that close. I believe the model was SLOP. It has numerous designs for a hard case, I also got a great price at the Annapolis boat
show. I chose it for 3 reasons,. If you read survival stories , you read about rafts flipping and losing their contents. With the pockets that can’t happen, secondly it is lighter than most rafts and, it has a 3 year repacking life.
My ditch bags are the type with dry suit zippers and will float with 75 pounds in them most ditch bags sink. I have also attached a painter to them with a snap shackle. Amongst other things in them I have:
Epirb
VHF
Watermaker
30 days of life raft food.
Lots of flares
Fishing gear and a board to cut up fish.
And a lot more things.
Fair Winds
Eric
Kimberlite Amel Super Maramu #376
Hello everyone -
Though this is not Amel specific, I would like to ask the group for recommendations regarding what you all would consider the best life raft for off-shore sailing. This would be for an Amel SM2000, and ideally a 6 or 8 person life raft.
Perhaps there is one that fits best on the boat, and perhaps you could share any good or bad experience with the ones that you have had.
I appreciate any feedback...
-James (hopefully a new Amel SM owner in the very near future)