What are the three different types of liferafts?

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Liferafts come in forms that fit different vessels and ways of getting them into the water, so you’ll often see three main types: inflatable, rigid, and davit-launched. Inflatable liferafts are the standard lightweight units that stow compactly in a canister and inflate when needed, providing buoyancy and a floating platform once deployed. Rigid liferafts have a hard hull that stays buoyant and self-righting, offering durability and stability in rough seas, though they’re heavier and require different storage and deployment considerations. Davit-launched liferafts are defined by how they are deployed—lowered into the water from a ship’s davit—and these are typically inflatable units designed for quick drop-off from the vessel, though the key distinction here is the launch method itself. Together, these categories reflect the three distinct ways liferafts are built and deployed on ships.