Every aspect of liferaft use, including how to maintain them and what to look out for when buying one, was covered by a recent talk given to JAC members by expert Leon Shaw.

Leon, who runs the liferaft maintenance department at SouthPier Marine, advised members to prepare for using a liferaft in an emergency by thinking through all the various scenarios in which one might need to be deployed.

He also showed members how to correctly wear and inflate a modern lifejacket, suggesting that they should be worn by fliers at all times to avoid complications that can arise when they have to be hastily found and put on in an emergency situation.

He also said that the liferaft should be easily accessible and not buried at the back of the cockpit under piles of luggage and clothing.

Members were given the opportunity to examine the contents of modern liferafts before it was time to get in the pool at the Monterey Hotel to find out just how hard it can be to get into a liferaft - even in totally calm water.

The complete article including photos can be found in  Jersey Flyer Winter 2008 (4.65 MB)