I'm making a shopping list for the Seattle boat show in Jan.  One of the things I need to do is complete the abandon ship bag.  I have a 2nd EPIRB, GPS, VHF, basic medical kit, forever flashlight, misc tools and fishing gear.  The most important thing that's missing is a watermaker.  I'm wondering what kind of personal watermakers other skippers have bought for their abandon ship bags?  I see the PUR Survivor 35's run about 2 grand.  Is this what most of you are using?  It's a big ticket item for the abandon ship bag, but I realize without water your dead in 7 days.  Thanks!

Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle Wa

As usual, Keith has found a great resource. But I do
have a couple questions:

The Landfall Navigation list is very comprehensive
(though I wonder what I'd do with a compass, pilot
charts, and almanac - not sure how to 'navigate' a
drifting liferaft. I do like the idea of credit cards
and cash just in case I wash-up up near a palapa bar
with ice cold beer). But is there a different list for
coastal cruising versus ocean crossing? For example,
is a liferaft necessary, or is a dinghy adequate in
some situations - if so, when - or does it depend on
the dinghy? Would DSC be an adequate substitute for
EPIRB in any situation? When does a handheld
watermaker make sense versus pouches?

I guess the real question is how long should you
prudently plan to be adrift in various scenarios.
Crossing to the Bahamas is different than crossing to
Hawaii. Warm water cruising is different than cold
water.

Another question is how quickly should you be prepared
to evacuate. I've never had a boat sink-out from
beneath me (knock-on-wood), but it seems most take a
few hours to do so. Fire is probably the most likely
fast-evac scenario, though there are cases where a
catestrophic breach foundered a boat in a couple
minutes. But when planning for worst-case scenario, is
it always necessary to plan for the absolute worst of
the worst case scenarios? For example, when is a
dinghy an adequate 'liferaft' instead of a
purpose-designed liferaft?

BTW - I saw an on-the-water demo/comparison of flares
by West Marine's Chuck Hawley several years ago. don't
bother with the little 'USCG' flares - they are little
better than a Bic lighter from 1/2 mile away. And
SOLAS flares are horribly expensive. Does anyone know
what happened to the mid-range flares - I think they
were called "PinPoint" or something that West Marine
used to carry? A quick peek at manufacturers info
shows the standard Orion USCG red flares have 700
candellas, the SOLAS ones have 15,000 (Weems makes a
20,000 candella unit).

Peter
www.SeaSkills.com

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=====  partial reference item  ===============
is a life raft necessary, or is a dinghy adequate in
some situations - if so, when - or does it depend on
the dinghy? Would DSC be an adequate substitute for
EPIRB in any situation? When does a handheld
watermaker make sense versus pouches?

---===

The term "coastal" is subject to important interpretations.

A DSC radio may be alright at 10 miles or even 100 miles but it depends on
where the nearest Coast Guard Station is (assuming your interest is US
waters)
I have had a very clear signal from Cape May 200 miles away, but I have also
relayed messages for a coast guard cutter that was only 20 miles from the
base he was trying to call.

The value of a life raft vs. dinghy depends more on the sea state than the
distance or type of dinghy.  If there are 10'+ breaking waves an open dinghy
is not a very useful vessel because it will quickly be upside down. It
probably is less useful than a good life preserver since you don't have to
'hold on' to the life preserver.

A handheld water maker is useful if you are concerned that your stay in the
life raft will exceed the amount of fresh water you have with you, which
should be enough for a couple of days for each person as a minimum. All
approved life rafts come with equipment inside. Check your manual for
included supplies.

John Harris
World Odd @ Sea

Life rafts et al

I think you understand the questions of balance, and each person must make
his own choice.

There is one other fact to be added.  Upon approaching Bermuda and before
you are given permission to enter the channel you will be asked the
registration number; size; and date of last certification for you life raft.
I don't know the consequences of negative answers.

John Harris
World Odd @ Sea

<< I understand all of the risk-mitigation products and
devices available, and I understand the worst-case
scenario. But is that the only solution? Are there
different solutions for different cruising
itineraries? >>

I never liked the idea of floating around on a small raft out there, waiting
helplessly for the authorities to come and rescue me.  The alternative I
chose was to include full foam floatation in the hull of Winnie the Pooh
during the rebuild process.  If my calculations are not too messed up, Pooh
will float with the waterline around 6" below deck level, were he to become
holed beyond the ability of the pumps to keep up.  This gives me a 46'
liferaft, equipped with months of food and water, along with tools, etc., to
try and effect a rescue, or perhaps even to patch, pump out, and continue
under sail (we carry 300 sq ft in the steadying sail and hank-on jib).  Fire
is still a risk, of course, but we have engine room suppression and far more
and larger extinguishers than the CG requires.

I know this choice isn't for everyone, but am surprised that no trawler
builders have gone this route (to my knowledge, anyway).  The space given
over to foam is mostly in useless, inaccessible areas anyway, like outboard
of fuel and water tanks, and the awkward bottom triangular corners of
lockers.  The cost of the foam (mostly two-part pourable urethane) is less
than a liferaft, and no re-packing is required.

Mark Richter, Ortona, FL