We own a Beneteau First 260 Spirit and all of our sailing is confined to short hops and day sails - after discussion with my wife I realised she would prefer a higher level of safety equipment on board. The choice I feel is either a life raft or an Epirb, my leaning is towards a Valise liferaft (preferably not both - cost) - has anyone any suggestions or thoughts.

Has to be a liferaft everytime. If the ship is going down, you can't step off onto an EPIRB.

EPIRBs are good if you can afford them, though you need to make sure yours is registered, but they are not standard where as a life raft should be.

Hi Howard, I have a liferaft but no Epirb, would I want to swap my liferaft for an Epirb? No chance!

I note you mention a valise, mine is in a valise just inside the wheelhouse door and there is plenty of space around it so it is relatively easy to drag out onto deck but be warned, liferafts weigh a ton. If yours is a sailing boat, you may do better to have a cannister type, mounted somewhere on deck. you certianly wouldn't want to be neotiating steps or anything in an emergency.

No contest, it has to be the liferaft. Chas makes a good point, unless you can keep it fully, rapidly and conveniently available all the time then get a canister. It's no use to anyone if it's in the bottom of a cave locker under the spare water cans and fenders!

N.B Before the pedants out there get started, yes, I know, liferafts aren't safety equipment, they're emergency equipment, but that debate isn't competent business for this topic.

Hi Howard, they are all right. It has to be the liferaft. But I would add one thing: do the RYA Sea Survival course, where you get in a swimming pool in full oilies and practise turning it over if it inflates the wrong way up, and how to get into it. It was the best course we ever did. We had been sailing around for years with a false sense of security, because we always carry a liferaft, but until we did the course, I am not sure we would have been able to make very good use of it. An Epirb is only the second line of defence. And if most of your sailing is not too far offshore, a handheld VHF will help!

Yes agree with Cathy there. It's worth doing otherwise you won't have a clue how to use a liferaft if disaster strikes!

It looks like the verdict of the jury is the 'life raft' many thanks to all who replied - with regard to the Sea Survival course - I agree it should be compulsory for all sailors both cruising and racing - my experience of getting into the life raft was the sheer difficulty of actualy climbing in (and that was in a calm pool) - has anyone any recomendations on makes and model which include a semi rigid boarding platform / ladder and internal straps (without blowing the boat account budget!)

There's quite a few out there to choose from, mine is an 8 man Avon. I'm not aware of any with a semi rigid ladder though. I don't know how urgent your requirement is Howard or where you are located but you could do a lot worse than go to the next boat show and look at as many as you can in the flesh. Most exhibitors will give a boat show discount even if you don't actually buy it on the day. That means that you can go away and think about it for a little while before you make up your mind.

If you requre any details on marine safety equipment please contact me.

London Boat Show is in January and if you got on the last day you should be able to pick up a nice deal. Rope ladders and internal straps come as standard on most, not ridged though as it may puncture them and would make them harder to fold into small packages. I would make sure you buy one that is built to ISAF specifications.

I would never buy a liferaft,companies like Premier do an excellent deal on an annual basis. It saves all the hassle and cost of getting your own tested and overhauled.

I haven'#t heard of anything like that before Brian, but it sounds like a novel idea. How much does it cost to rent one?

For years we hired a liferaft , at first just for holidays, then for the whole racing season, then eventually we decided to bite the bullet and buy one. I think it broke even after five years, bearing in mind annual servicing costs on top of purchase cost, compared with annual hire for the same period. Now we have had it for 12 years, and it is still in good shape, so it has been quite a bit cheaper than hiring in the long run.
Hiring annually avoids tying up capital, but I think it is worth weighing up the options carefully, especially as some of the newer lifrafts have longer service intervals, and therefore lower "running costs."