Inflatable lifeboats were initially invented for use military, as a raft of survival for the crew of the aircraft shot down in World War II. Today, the descendants of these early life rafts are used by those whose work or hobbies take them to heaven or the waters in boats or aircraft. Most of the light aircraft that fly over the water now carry these life rafts, as well as most of the fishing boats and ocean crossing. Sailing boats entered that they participate in races must carry rafts lifeline by order of regulation, and the coast guard indicates that inflatable liferafts are mandatory for commercial boats that civilian passenger load. Commercial liferafts usually come in three different sizes. Small rafts for pilots or aircraft under for a single passenger, medium-sized rafts to vessels with up to four people small crews, and large rafts for passenger boats or with larger crews of between six and eight people. Something that is confusing is the fact that some manufacturers of inflatable liferafts offer both models of these rafts for coastal waters of open sea.
For open sea rafts are heavier that consist of two or more inflatable Chambers and vessels that usually feature double-layer floors, also inflated, to isolate the occupants from the cold waters. Rafts for coastal waters, are generally lighter, on the other hand, because they are made of lighter fabrics and only have one layer floors. Open sea rafts are designed specifically for boats that perform extensive travel in deep waters where, in the case of an accident, the occupants can become to stay several weeks or months floating adrift before being found. Rafts of coastal waters, on the other hand, are specifically designed to be used in waters more near the line cover, where any person adrift after an accident can be found in a time lapse considerably less.