Thoughts from experienced skippers please

[malbert73]

I think going offshore even coastal without an EPIRB is difficult to justify. For coastal- interested in the thoughts of others- but why a life raft?
Coastal with weather forecasts rough weather/storm is extremely unlikely to be mode of sinking
But- fire, failed through hull, collision- are all possible. Mostly likely in relatively settled water. And I just mistrust rafts.
So I prefer an easy to deploy already inflated RIB.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by GopherBaroque

I would appreciate a comment from a professional Captain what legal/professional requirements apply for safety equipment on the proposed voyage. Would lack of EPIRB or liferaft (or something els) represent a dereliction of duty for a licensed Captain under hire?

I’m a commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster

For offshore I would insist on a liferaft and an EPIRB as a minimum.

However when I did deliveries I had to carry my own PLB and in many cases a big battle was had to get a life raft . On many occasions all we had was a deflated dinghy and our own PLB.