How to Secure a Life Raft

Securing a life raft to a boat is an essential safety measure that may save your life. The trick to tying a standard life raft into a secure position is to keep it safe so it will not blow away, but effortless to unsecure in the event of an emergency. Tying a mooring-hitch knot with the rip cord is an ideal way to keep your raft both secure and positioned with a trouble-free release mechanism.

Things You'll Need

  • Quick release straps (2)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sit the raft on its side --- in a vertical position --- against the inside wall of the boat. Snap the pelican hook on one quick release strap to the side bar handle on the hull of the boat. (The hull is the body of the boat.) Wrap the strap under the body of the raft and clip the opposite end to the side bar handle on the hull. Repeat with a second strap, if necessary, to secure the raft into place. Purchase quick release straps at your local nautical or boating store.

    • 2

      Tie a mooring-hitch knot with the free end of the rip cord. A mooring hitch holds fast under intense conditions and releases quickly with one pull on the free end of the cord. Wrap the free end of the rip cord under and over the side bar handle on the hull of the boat. Hold the free end of the cord in your hand.

    • 3

      Slip the free end of the cord behind the portion of the cord that hangs over the handle to form a loop on the left side.

    • 4

      Reach through the loop. Pull the portion of the cord hanging behind the handle through the loop. You have now formed a second loop.

    • 5

      Bend the free end of the cord --- now to the right of the first loop --- to form a third loop. Push the third loop to the left and through the first loop.

    • 6

      Hold the free end of the cord and pull the third loop until the knot tightens against the side bar handle. Pull the free end of the rip cord to undo the knot.