What is the service life of a life raft on a cutter?

• A. 5 years
• B. 10 years
• C. 15 years
• D. 20 years

Answer: (D)

The service life is the period the equipment is certified to remain usable and safe, as defined by the manufacturer and regulatory authorities. For life rafts on cutters, that period is twenty years from the date of manufacture. After twenty years, the raft is considered expired and should be replaced, even if it looks serviceable, because aging materials—fabric, buoyant chambers, canopies, inflation systems—can fail and jeopardize performance when needed. Throughout its life, the raft must still be kept in good condition via regular inspections and repacking per the manufacturer’s instructions and Coast Guard guidance to ensure it would function properly if deployed.