There is never a guarantee that taking to a raft across the coast of Baja will blow to the beach. There are occasional storms which will blow out of the South--and occasionally winds off of the beach. But....you have to cross the sea of Cortez/ to mainland Mexico--and that could easily present a survival situation. There are also the political winds--which can mandate that you stay more than 50 miles from Central America, if we had another shooting war down there--and it can happen. Some areas are notorious for drug issues, and you don't want to land there. Also a Papagayo wind might even blow you many miles off course and we have seen boats miss Costa Rica entirely because of this in times past. Then there are passages to the Islands of the western Caribbean--and some areas you don't particularly want to go ashore in (most specifically westward of Mesa Luna reef, Mosquito cay or that part of Nicaragua Coast. Lastly, getting back to the US from Mexico--either to the Dry Tortugos/ Key West. As for the Coast of Mexico--it is fairly well inhabited, and you would be found in fairly short order--but in some parts of mainland Mexico (specificially in Chipas) you may be found by some banditos... As for the two Epribs vs water maker--we have made that decision three times and always gone with two EPRIBS.....plus our 10 gallons of water. I'll also remind the group, that there have been any number of boats lost in Mexico--and other places near a beach--where the crew was never found. The largest boat which comes to mind was the 161' schooner "Goodwill"--where the ship and boats were found on Sacramento Reef (Baja), but all crew members were lost--a relitatively short distance from the beach. (incidently there is a web site about the Goodwill, which has a number of errors in it--thus it is hard to sort out fact from fiction) As to floatation--there are air bag systems which have been available for some time to give floatation to any boat (if you wanted to spend the money). I disagree somewhat with Dave--having dove on a number fairly fresh wrecks--and examined a large number of boats sunk in hurricanes. There are a number of useful items for survival in these boats. Again, I can cite a number of boats which were abanadoned, and found floating some time later (years in some cases)--which would have been good survival platforms. In rough weather, the inside of a tumbling life raft is not a good place either..... But step back--and think--why do boats sink? Generally with a well built and designed glass or steel boats it is some operator error. For example--I know of stabalizers which have caused sinking in several occasions--breaking loose, and putting a hole in the hull. Not taking proper precautions/securing the vessel, proper course in heavy weather is another frequent cause. Weather routing to avoid that typhoon which will pitch pole the boat...etc--prevention remains key. With the older wooden boats (and poorly built or maintained glass/metal boats)--springing planks, hitting whales, debris etc were causes of sinking. But in a proper yacht--even these items often will not cause sinking. Repairs can be made, and the boat kept afloat--especially if there is a plan and appropiate gear/floatation. A boat is much easier to find than a raft. But we pays our money and takes our choices. What is the chance of a well planed voyage and well fitted boat ending with a sinking at sea? (Remember I have been on a boat which hit a container and didn't sink) Bob Austin