SWITLIK OPR User manual

OPR
Offshore Passage Raft
OWNER'S Manual

This publication is issued as the owner's manual for the Switlik Offshore
Passage Raft, model OPR-1330-( ).
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2013 by Switlik Parachute Company, Inc.
This manual may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by any means,
without permission. For information, address all questions to:
Switlik Parachute Company
1325 E. State Street
Trenton, NJ 08609
[phone]
[phone] FAX
www.switlik.com

Table of Contents
TOC
Chapter Page
WARNINGS 1
Description 2
Launching 4
Righting the Raft 7
Boarding 8
Heaving Line 9
Knife 10
Combination Valves 11
Arches/Canopy 12
Survival Equipment 15
Servicing 18
Storage 19
Survival Tips 20

WARNINGS
1
WARNING! Read these instructions fully before use.
Failure to comply with instructions may result in injury
or death.
WARNING! This device must be used in accordance with
the instructions in this manual for maximum performance.
Failure to comply with instructions could result in a lower
level of performance or in failure of the device, which could
result in death. Under some circumstances, even if used
properly this device may not save your life.
WARNING! Do not attempt to open the raft container
except for an actual emergency. Tampering with the raft
can prevent the raft from working when it is actually
needed. If the raft appears to have been tampered with,
return the raft to an Authorized Service Center for
servicing.
WARNING! If the raft is packed in a valise, store the raft in
a cool, dry place. If the raft is packed in a hard container,
the use of a cradle is recommended, and the container
oriented with the drain holes on the bottom facing the deck
for proper drainage.
WARNING! This raft requires periodic maintenance to
ensure operation in an emergency. Do not use this raft if it
has not been properly maintained. See “Servicing” section
for additional details.
WARNING! Never use a raft that has obvious damage.
Return the raft to an Authorized Service Center for
servicing.

Description
2
The Switlik Offshore Passage Raft is a lightweight (50 lbs), twin-
tubed life raft providing a minimum of 1,330 lbs of buoyancy.
Reinforced
Ladder
Boarding
Step
Independently-
Inflated
Canopy Arches
Air
Inflation
System
Zippered
Side Door
Bright Orange
Canopy
SOLAS-grade
Reflective Tape
Exterior Light
Lifeline
Toroidal
Stability Device

Description continued
3
Features:
Convertible Canopy System.
Manually-operated, gas-inflated canopy arches are not
directly connected to main buoyancy tubes, improving the
integrity of the raft.
Canopy zippers allow for 360° visibility.
Canopy can be configured from furled to fully enclosed, or
anywhere in between.
Oral-inflation tubes, with attached deflation caps, allow the
arches to be raised or lowered as needed.
Bright orange canopy color, with strips of SOLAS-grade
reflective tape, aids in rescue.
Water-activated light on top of canopy can be seen up to a
mile away and lasts for over 8 hours.
Compressed air inflation system.
Improved low temperature performance.
Gauge on inflation valve head remains accessible, even
when packed, allowing for a quick systems check.
Four conveniently located boarding ramps make boarding
fast and easy.
Lifelines, with highly-reflective patches, located inside and
outside the raft.
Available with 4 or 8 weighted, water pockets.
Provides stability in rough water and while boarding or
disembarking the raft.
8 connected water pockets form a Toroidal Stability Device
around the entire base of the raft, providing excellent
stability of the raft even under the punishing effects of a
helo rescue.
Reduced-volume packing in a hermetically-sealed bag allows
for a 5 year service interval.

Launching
4
Rafts packed in the Valise
Remove raft from storage
location.
Open yellow ripcord cover on
front of valise.
Grab the ripcord handle and pull
out enough of the mooring line
to tie off to a secure point on the
boat.
Toss the valise overboard.
Pull on the mooring line until
inflation occurs.
If possible, pull the raft close to boat for direct boarding. To
prevent injury to yourself and others, avoid jumping into the
raft.
Use the knife to cut the mooring line only if the boat is sinking
or causing a hazard to the raft. Pull in the survival equipment
(located in the valise) before cutting the mooring line.

Launching continued
5
Rafts packed in the Hard Container
If the raft assembly is properly rigged and
includes a Hydrostatic Release mechanism, the
raft will automatically deploy when the vessel
sinks to a depth of within 4 meters (13 feet).
The Hydrostatic Release must be replaced
every 2 years.
If you need to manually deploy
the raft, or your raft does not
have a hydrostatic release, first
make sure the painter line
(coming out of the raft container)
is secured to the cradle or a
strong point on the boat.
Pull the red release cord at the front of the tie-down cables.
Lift the container from the cradle and throw it overboard.
Pull the painter/mooring line until inflation occurs. The first 3
feet of the line is a stainless steel cable, followed by red, 1”
webbing.

Launching continued
6
If possible, pull the raft close to boat for direct boarding. To
prevent injury to yourself and others, avoid jumping into the
raft.
Use the knife to cut the mooring line only if the boat is sinking
or causing a hazard to the raft. Pull in the survival equipment
before cutting the mooring line.

Righting the Raft
7
Your life raft was designed to inflate right-side up. However, wind
and waves may cause it to inflate upside down.
To right the raft, climb a boarding ladder near the inflation
cylinder on the bottom of the raft. Use the righting strap to
help pull yourself up.
While holding the righting strap, stand at the base of the
cylinder with your heels on the main buoyancy tube. For best
results, orient yourself into the wind to help pull the raft over.
Lean back and pull the raft over. It may take a few seconds to
break the surface tension between the raft and the water.
Move off to the side as the raft turns over to avoid ending up
underneath or being hit by the inflation cylinder.
Inflation Cylinder
WIND

Boarding
8
The OPR raft has 4 boarding stations, however, with the canopy
furled, the raft can be boarded at any point around the raft.
The preferred
boarding method is
to enter the raft
directly from the
distressed vessel,
staying as dry as
possible in the
process. To
prevent injury to
yourself and others,
avoid jumping into
the raft.
Water pockets, located on the bottom of the raft, keep the raft
stable allowing even a single person to board from the water
without the threat of capsizing.
Once in the raft, occupants should move away from the point of
boarding and find a place to sit, with their backs against the main
buoyancy tubes. At least one of the occupants should remain at
the point of boarding to assist others in boarding.

Heaving Line
9
A heaving line with a throwing ring is attached to the upper
buoyancy tube. Use this line to help pull in survivors having
difficulty getting to the raft.
When not in use, coil the line up and place it, along with the
throwing ring, in its holder on the upper tube.

Knife
10
The knife is located on the upper buoyancy tube, near the point of
attachment of the mooring line. It’s designed to smoothly cut line,
yet prevent accidental puncturing of the raft. Use it, if necessary,
to cut the mooring line free of the distressed vessel. If the vessel
is not on fire or sinking, it’s best to remain attached.
Before cutting the mooring line, make sure you first retrieve the
survival equipment which is attached to a point about 3 or 4 feet
down the line. The equipment is located in a pocket on the soft
valise, or in a separate bag if your raft includes a hard container.
When the knife is not in use, keep it in its holder on the upper
tube.

Combination Valves
11
Each buoyancy tube (upper and lower) has a combination valve.
These valves function both as a topping off valve, for use with the
manual inflation pump (see Survival Equipment section), and a
pressure relief valve.
After pulling the mooring line to inflate the raft, excess air pressure
may bleed off through these valves. This is a normal occurrence.
However, after boarding, these valves should be plugged to
prevent further air from leaking out, due to the movement of the
occupants or the pounding of waves against the buoyancy tubes.
The plugs are attached to the valves. They are taped down to the
tubes to prevent them from blocking the valve during the initial
inflation of the raft. Simply remove the tape and push the plugs
into the valves.

Arches/Canopy
12
Two, independent arches are used on the raft canopy. Each arch is
furled and secured with furling ties to the upper buoyancy tube. The
canopy should remain furled until everyone has boarded the raft.
When the canopy is
needed, release the
furling ties and pull the
beaded inflation
handle located on
each arch. Pull in the
direction indicated on
the cylinder cover.
Attached to each arch is a canopy side panel with a zippered
door. Open the doors as needed for visibility, ventilation or
disembarking the raft.

Arches/Canopy continued
13
The canopy top is furled to one of the arches. Release the furling
ties and close the zipper to completely enclose the raft.
There are 2 zipper pulls on the canopy top. They can be used to
make side openings in the canopy, if desired. Furling ties are
provided to hold these doors open. These openings, along with
the doors on the arches, allow for 360° visibility and good
ventilation to help minimize sea sickness.

Arches/Canopy continued
14
Each arch also contains an oral inflation tube. These tubes can
be used to add pressure to the arches when needed. Remove the
black cap and blow air into the arch, then place the cap back on
when finished.
To deflate the arch, pull the black cap off the oral tube, invert the
cap and push it back into the end of the oral tube. This will hold
the oral valve open. When deflated, place the cap back on the
end of the oral tube to prevent water from entering.

Survival Equipment
15
The following survival equipment is included with your raft:
A water-proof, LED flashlight, powered by hand-cranking or
an integrated solar panel.
When charging by hand-cranking, wind the handle about 3
revolutions per second. If charging with the solar panel, leave
the flashlight in direct sunlight for 8 hours for a full charge.
The flashlight has 3 different settings. Press the side switch
once and 1 LED illuminates. Press it again, and all 3 LEDs
illuminate. Press it again, and all 3 LEDs start flashing. Press
the switch one more time, and the LEDs shut off.

Survival Equipment continued
16
A repair clamp kit. This kit includes 2 repair clamps. These
clamps can be used to repair tears in the buoyancy tubes.
1. Loop cord around your wrist to prevent loss.
2. Dip plug in water to make insertion easier.
3. Push bottom plate through hole in tube (if hole is too small,
carefully enlarge, so the plate can be inserted).
4. Pull bottom plate back against inner tube and slide top
plate over screw, against outer tube surface.
5. Adjust plug to cover hole completely, and hold it in place.
6. Screw down wing nut firmly.

Survival Equipment continued
17
A manual inflation (hand) pump, with hose. Use this pump
to add air to the main buoyancy tubes, as needed.
When air is needed, screw the hose onto the pump outlet.
Remove the rubber plug from the combination (topping off)
valve on the buoyancy tube. Insert the end of the hose into
the valve and pump until tube is firm. Remove hose from
combination valve and reinsert rubber plug.
This equipment is located in the rear pocket on the soft valise, or
in a separate bag if your raft is in a hard container.
This list is, by no means, considered complete. It is a basic kit
which should be supplemented by the raft user. Other items, such
as food, water, a First-Aid kit, an EPIRB and/or satellite phone
should be kept at the ready in an Abandon Ship bag.