Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN FAST
RESCUE BOATS
1
10. Handling survival craft and rescue boats in rough
weather
10.1 Using sea-anchor and oilbag
Throw out the sea anchor, or improvise a drag from the raft's case, bailing
bucket, or a roll of clothing.
A sea anchor helps you stay close to your ditching site, making it easier for
searchers to find you if you have relayed your location.
Without a sea anchor, your raft may drift over 160 kilometers in a day, making it
much harder to find you.
You can adjust the sea anchor to act as a drag to slow down the rate of travel
with the current, or as a means to travel with the current. You make this adjustment
by opening or closing the sea anchor's apex. When open, the sea anchor acts as a
drag that keeps you in the general area.
When closed, it forms a pocket for the current to strike and propels the raft in
the current's direction.
Additionally, adjust the sea anchor so that when the raft is on the wave's crest,
the sea anchor is in the wave's trough.
Fig. 10.1 Sea anchor and deployment of sea anchor
When engaged in heavy seas, where excessive pitching is being experienced,
the prudent use of oil on the surface of the water can effectively reduce the motion of
the boat. One gallon of oil is provided as standard issue to all lifeboats. This oil is
usually an animal or vegetable oil, rather than a mineral oil. Coxswain are advised
that the use of oil in limited quantities should prevent waves from breaking over the
craft and so reduce the violent movement on the craft. The oil will not reduce any
swell effects.
It is normal practice to use the oil bag in conjunction with the sea anchor and
heave the boat to, with the intention of riding the bad weather out. A small amount of
oil is used at any one time, ideally spread ahead of the craft to form an advancing
slick giving full benefit to the boat. In a towing operation the oil should similary be