This is a very important topic. The problem is that many people undertake voyages without adequate experience and preparation. It is sort of "buy a GPS, read a book and go". Sorry, but that is not enough credentials for voyaging offshore. When I was practicing medicine I made up many first aid kits for voyagers leaving the West coast and one of the requests was that they were to keep in touch and let me know what the experiences were. Unfortunately some of these lost their boats. When we were cruising, we met people who subsiquently lost their boats. Some were in storms; some on reefs, some just paniced and called for help. Often when the boat was pitchpoled or rolled the life raft was lost. (score one for a below deck valise raft or a solid boat/module which is strongly secured to the boat). We found that the more experienced the crew was, the better the chances of bringing the boat home. Panic was common in the decision to abandon the boat. Yes, there was fatigue, disorientation and confusion. But what was needed was a very good assesment and a plan of action--both formulated ahead and then properly implimented. (Denny I wrote this before I read your post--and your are absolutely correct). Even though boats are found floating, they may not be habitable. For example; in the Alaska fishing vessel, there would be hypothermia even if the people stayed with the boat--there was icey water intrusion. There was the fear of the boat sinking, and the people either being sucked down with the boat--death from the reflex upon entering cold water or being trapped. How does one stay on a overturned boat--or one where the bow only is above water? There are also people who are just not suited to take voyages--and I would include in this category those who will not keep their wits about them. You do need disclipline to make the correct decisions under stress. People who single hand are at greater risk because of fatigue and lack of another set of hands to help resolve problems. People who do not plan the voyages using the tools of weather routing, have the appropiate charts, cruising guides, pilot books, light lists and communication gear, don't belong out there. Actually there is a boot camp for cruising--and that is ocean racing sailboats. After a couple of Transpacs you probably will have faced a number of the crisis which you may well encounter in a power boat. I was fortunate in that I did a lot of ocean racing before I started cruising. I had already faced comming below and finding a couple of feet of water over the floor boards, knock downs, various other crisis, including heath issues in crew. However if you cannot take the time to do races etc, then get a good delivary skipper to make some runs with you--(a couple of those on this list). Once in a storm, it is important to get as much rest as possiable. Do what can be done, and then strap yourself in so that you are not using excessive energy balancing and doing tasks. One of the problems I see with many power boats, is that there is no good sea berth or berths. A good sea berth allows you to be wedged in so that you will not roll excessively and be thrown out, even in a roll. For us this meant a bunk near the water line, no more than 24" wide (depending on the body build) and just a little longer than the person, with a good soft "Lee cloth" When the storm strikes it is important to have adequate food and hydration, without exposing yourself to risks of burning and falls. Boat Safety: there have to be relitatively small spaces that one can fall below decks, hand holds need to be frequent and strong. There should not be any sharp corners. Wear a full chest foam life jacket to protect the ribs. All doors should have posititve latches. All "furniture" needs to be bolted down and items on shelves securely fastened. We had a 90 degree roll in a storm and thought we had everything secured--wrong a 19" TV broke its bungee cords and flew across(actually dropped 12 feet) the saloon. Boat strength and design: Unfortunately there are relitatively few motor boats designed and built for offshore use. The bulheads must be glassed or welded in--simple screws are not enough--bolts are much better. I have seen some boats which are "mush" inside after sinking--and others which remain relitatively intact. Yes, cushions come adrift books are going all over etc--but with good bilge pumps the water can be removed, tarps, foam and plywood can cover the holes in the boat's deck, if they develope. If you can hang in there, and the boat does not come apart or sink, it may well float for a long time. I know of several boats found thousands of miles and as much as a year from the time that they crew panicked and pulled the EPRIB release. Read some of the accounts of survival in a life raft--the Sydney to Hobart Storm 1998, Queen's Birthday Storm New Zealand to Fiji 1994, and the Fastnet 1979 and see if you really want to spend a few days in a life raft in a storm. Once you have left the boat, it is very unlikely that you can get back aboard. Getting into a life raft under severe conditions is not at all easy or safe. Also how the boat is prepared with drogues or sea anchor--and other precautions will make a huge difference. Don't roll over or sink! Bob Austin