Rule 91
Every inflatable boat shall comply with the following requirements:—
1. The overall length of the boat shall be not less than 3·8 metres and the boat shall be of such form and proportions as to have ample stability in a seaway when afloat in the empty, laden or swamped condition. The boat shall be suitable for the accommodation of at least six persons.
2. The boat shall be of sufficiently robust construction to survive when fully loaded, without such deterioration as would involve any loss of seaworthiness, for 30 days afloat under extremes of temperatures (60°C to minus 30°C) and in weather likely to be encountered at sea anywhere in the world.
3. All materials and components used in the construction of the boat and its accessories shall be able to withstand the worldwide seagoing climatic conditions referred to in paragraph 2 above. The boat and its accessories shall be resistant to the effects of humidity when stowed on board a vessel and all fabrics, cordage, webbing and thread shall be rotproof. The boat shall be so constructed that it is not adversely affected by oil or oil products.
4. The boat shall possess a sufficient margin of durability to ensure that its performance will not be affected after 24 months' stowage on board a vessel in a weather deck stowage with a minimum of additional protection.
5. The main buoyancy chambers forming the boundary of the boat shall on inflation provide at least 0·17 cubic metres of volume for each person the boat is certified to accommodate. The diameter of the main buoyancy chambers of single tube boats shall be at least 0·43 metres.
6. The main buoyancy chambers shall be divided into at least two compartments along each side and one compartment in the bow, making a minimum total of five compartments.
7. In boats of more than one tube the volume of either tube shall not exceed 60 per cent of the total volume.
8. At least one thwart shall be fitted so that the boat can be rowed satisfactorily.
9. The floor of the boat shall be waterproof and shall provide an efficient working platform.
10. A transom which shall not be inset by more than 20 per cent of the overall length of the boat shall be provided.
11. A bow cover of a highly visible colour and extending for at least 15 per cent of the overall length of the boat shall be provided.
12. A non-return valve shall be fitted to each buoyancy chamber for manual inflation.
13. A safety relief valve designed to operate at a pressure not exceeding 125 per cent of the designed working pressure of the buoyancy chamber shall be fitted in each buoyancy chamber. Means for deflating shall be fitted in each chamber.
14. The boat shall be provided with the following equipment:
(a)a painter of adequate length and size;
(b)a grab line secured round the outside of the boat and a grab line fitted round the inside of the boat;
(c)a drain plug;
(d)a crutch or steering grommet in the transom;
(e)hand-holes or straps for the purpose of righting the boat from the inverted position;
(f)a sea anchor attached to the boat by a line of adequate strength at least 9 metres in length;
(g)an efficient manually operated bellows or pump;
(h)two buoyant rescue quoits each attached to 18 metres of light buoyant line;
(i)at least two buoyant oars and two buoyant paddles;
(j)a safety knife;
(k)bridle slinging arrangements to enable the boat to be lowered into or raised from the water;
(l)a bailer and two sponges;
(m)a repair kit in a suitable container for repairing punctures in buoyancy compartments;
(n)one waterproof electric torch suitable for morse signalling together with one spare set of batteries and one spare bulb in a waterproof container.