Life rafts were first designed to save lives of people fighting in the air during the World War II. Those inflatable life rafts first served as survival crafts during the war. With the advancements of science technology inflatable life rafts also came in a new avatar in a more refined look and with extra safety measures. Now inflatable life rafts are necessary safety equipment on all the aircraft and boats. According to the stringent Coast Guard Regulations for survival craft on commercial vessels it is mandatory to carry the inflatable life rafts.

The term life raft is used for vessels carried by ships and planes to allow passengers and crew to escape in an emergency. Inflatable life rafts, also called life boats are always equipped with auto-inflation carbon dioxide canisters or mechanical pumps. The pressure release mechanism is fitted on board ships so that the canister or pump automatically inflates the lifeboat, and the lifeboat breaks free of the sinking vessel. The Commercial aircraft often carry auto-inflating life rafts in case of an emergency water landing.

Inflatable life rafts are called to be the last chance of survival in an aircraft or the ships in trouble. Today life rafts are available in three size one-person rafts for small-plane pilots, four person rafts for offshore boats with small crews, and six- or eight- person rafts for boats with larger crews. Inflatable life rafts are made from flexible material, usually rubber, canvas, or neoprene, and hold air at high volume but low pressure.

Generally, life rafts for private user are available in three sizes: one-person rafts for small-plane pilots, four person rafts for offshore boats with small crews, and six- or eight- person rafts for boats with larger crews. One-person rafts are of primary interest to small-plane pilots. Light weight fabric is used for the construction of inshore inflatable rafts with the single layer fabric floor. Offshore models are comparatively heavier, have two or more tubes or inflation chambers, and most have a double-layer floor that is inflated for insulation from cold water.

One-person life rafts are small package shaped with a single seat for the pilot. Four – six, and eight-person rafts come with a canvas bag called a valise, or in a fiberglass or plastic canister. The valise is designed in a way to and must be brought on deck prior to deployment with. The canister is designed to be mounted on deck and can be set up for automatic deployment with a hydrostatic release. The valise is quite economic as compared to the canister but it involves the risk of stowing things eventually and gets shoved to the bottom.

Modern motor life boats (MLB) are using engines to get more power to get in and out of the swell area. They are advanced enough to be launched in any weather and can cope with further distances out. Unlike the older life rafts they are faster and not dependent on the wind conditions or manpower. Latest electronic devices such as radios and radar are serving today’s inflatable life rafts. The Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RIB) is now seen as the best type of craft for in-shore rescues as they are less likely to be tipped over by the wind or breakers. The modern life raft is a well thought out, well-equipped, seaworthy fully inflated boat. However, if there isn’t enough air inside, inflatable boats are apt to fold in the middle. Thus, they need to be pumped up to the proper pressure using bellows.

For test inflation, inspection, repairs, and replacement of dated materials such as flares and rations inflatable life rafts should be handled to a licensed facility in order to be repaired. Inspections are quite expensive, depending on the size and type of the raft $175 for an annual checkup, $400 or more for three-year inspection are the normal charges. It can also be affected by the replacement of the machinery and other devices on the life raft.

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