Life Cell's 'Ditch Kit'
Boating Industry Canada
Events that lead to abandoning ship happen quickly. Most ditch kits are stowed out of the way. Within seconds, they have to be found and deployed. Once in the water, most don't provide any buoyancy. Life Cell Marine Safety's Yachtsman model will float off its included mounting bracket, stores 474 cu. in. of user-supplied emergency gear and provides flotation assistance for four adults.
David Brodie knows firsthand the benefits of being prepared with a Life Cell. Outrunning approaching weather, he and three friends were returning to port near New South Wales, Australia. During a difficult bar crossing, a rogue wave caught the boat's stern, swamped it and killed the engine; a second crashing wave flipped it. Throwing his Life Cell into the water, the four were able to stay together and swim to a nearby vessel. "I'm thankful that we had the Life Cell on board," he said. "It kept everyone together and helped us stay afloat." In a happenchance meeting with Life Cell inventor Scott Smiles weeks later, Brodie told him, "Mate, you saved my life."
Life Cell's 'Ditch Kit'
The white or high-visibility orange Life Cell Yachtsman will securely store user-supplied safety gear, such as rocket flares, flaregun, smoke, airhorn and a handheld VHF. An EPIRB can be mounted to the outside of the unit or kept inside; an external recess will hold it upright once when in use. The Yachtsman provides buoyancy when open with its compartment full of water. It has four grab handles and webbing lanyards to keep survivors together—an important element when waiting for rescue in high seas or when exhausted.
Measuring 23.2" L x 16.5" W x 6.6" D, the Life Cell Yachtsman is built from a rugged material that's UV, fire, fuel and impact-resistant. Unlike many pieces of safety equipment, it doesn't require expensive servicing. A video is at bit.ly/2iNZLW2.
In the United States, a Life Cell Marine Safety's Yachtsman costs $324 and comes with a two-year warranty. An optional stainless steel bracket for mounting on 3/4" and 1-1/4" rails costs $163.
Life Cell Marine Safety manufactures four Life Cell models. The Trailer Boat is designed for two to four adults, the Yachtsman for four, The Trawlerman for six and The Crewman assists eight.
Contact Life Cell Marine Safety, PO Box 6601, Corindi Beach, NSW 2456, Australia. info@lifecellmarine.com.au; www.lifecellmarine.com.
Originally published here.