"The more things change, the more they remain the same." My gear list in 1976; 1st generation Mustang Float coat, authorized substitute for Kapok life preserver unchanged since WW2 ( and some smelly enough to be that old.) Battery powered strobe light pinned to same. Knife, ordered to " have a knife by monday" after reporting to MLB school, Columbia River L.B.S. Puukko from Alaska, later a Linder sailor's tool with marlinespike and lanyard hole. I used a length of paracord scrounged from a cargo chute for lanyard. Penflare in case with 6 flares. After actually making a friction fire for a party surviving a capsizing acquired a military match safe and filled with strike anywhere matches. 2 Icarus flares 'borrowed' for supplemental signalling. Saint Elmo medallion and whistle on dogtags.