For liferafts, if the punctured hole is too small to fit sealing clamps, carefully enlarge it with the floating sheath knife (or jackknife) so it is equal to the ___.

Prepare for the Water Survival 929 Test. Use flashcards, multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations. Get water safe!

When repairing a puncture with a liferaft sealing system, the hole must be widened to match the width of the oval sealing clamp. This ensures the clamp can sit evenly around the hole and compress the patch and fabric securely to form a watertight seal. If the hole is not the same width as the clamp, the clamp won’t seal properly and leakage can occur because the sealing surfaces won’t meet the fabric edge cleanly. The other dimensions—like the raft’s length, the fabric patch, or the hull seam width—don’t determine how the clamp seals a puncture. The clamp’s width dictates the correct size of the opening to achieve a reliable seal.