Life raft canopy for stabilizing ballast cavity

A life raft comprising:

• a base comprising a first border tube and a second border tube, wherein the first border tube circumscribes a first side of the base and the second border tube circumscribes a second side of the base;
• a first arch structure extending from the first border tube;
• a second arch structure extending from the second border tube;
• a first canopy coupled to the first arch structure and configured to extend across the first side of the base to form a first chamber defined between the first side of the base and the first canopy, wherein a first plurality of fill ports are defined in the first canopy, wherein the first plurality of fill ports are circumferentially distributed around the first canopy adjacent the first border tube, wherein the first plurality of fill ports extend through the first canopy and are configured to be open to the first chamber;
• and
• a second canopy coupled to the second arch structure and configured to extend across the second side of the base to form a second chamber defined between the second side of the base and the second canopy, wherein a second plurality of fill ports are defined in the second canopy, wherein the second plurality of fill ports are circumferentially distributed around the second canopy adjacent the second border tube, wherein the second plurality of fill ports extend through the second canopy and are configured to be open to the second chamber.

A method of using a life raft, the method comprising:

• inflating the life raft;
• deploying the life raft in water, wherein a first chamber defined between a first canopy and a first side of a base of the life raft is disposed above the water to function as a passenger compartment and a second chamber defined between a second canopy and a second side of the base of the life raft is disposed below the water to function as a stabilizing ballast cavity, wherein a plurality of fill ports are defined in the second canopy;
• and
• filling the second chamber with water via the plurality of fill ports.