Sextant: If the goal is eventually to make your way back to civilization, this might be useful. Otherwise this is just dead weight, unless it?s a modern sextant and you want to break that sucker apart to make use of the mirrors for signaling, lenses to start fires, shades to make a cool pair of impromptu sunglasses via the sun shades and nylon cord (LOL) and other parts which I would have to view to determine some use for.

Shaving mirror: This could be used as a signaling device.

25 liters water canister with water: Water is at the top of the list, but can you swim a mile with this weight? Think about it as swimming a mile with more than 25kg (55lbs + container weight). Perhaps if there is time before the boat sinks you could dump half of it out and see if the container floats easily, otherwise this weight might kill you quicker than dehydration.

Mosquito net: depending on how tough a net it is, whether it?s easily transported etcetera this is another good item. Smoke from a fire will keep mosquitoes at bay, so it isn?t absolutely necessary, but it can be used as shade if the material is dense enough, or even possibly to corral (maybe weir) fish in or net fish with. This depends on size and quality of course.

1 box of army survival supplies: I have no idea what is in the box, how big the box is, what country?s military put it together or anything. This is very vague. Assuming it?s a modern kit, small, and one put together for general use I?d guess it has some invaluable time tested equipment within and so might well be worth keeping. I hope there?s at least a knife (or cutting tool) in there... LOL

Nautical Map over the Pacific Ocean: Once again, unless your goal is to get back to civilization, this may not help. Depending on size and ruggedness I can think of a number of other uses for it other than what it was intended, but...

Floating device (Approved by US Coast Guard): Again, this is vague. Are we talking a life raft, life ring, or a life jacket? Eh... Take it anyway. It?ll keep your head above water while you?re swimming a mile with gear.

10litre canister with oil based gasoline: Who put together this test? What information are we missing? How are you going to swim a mile with this and the other equipment? I mean I guess it?s useful if you want to start a signal fire, but once again, you?re swimming a mile.

Small transistor radio (with sufficient batteries): I?m not familiar with the use of a transistor radio in the sense of whether or not it can be used for signaling somehow, whether it contains useful equipment if broken apart, etc. I guess with patience you could start a fire with its batteries, wiring and the gasoline. In the end, I?d have to admit that I don?t know about this item.

Shark Powder (fending off sharks): I seriously thought this stuff was a myth and that only some of the newer electronic defenses worked against sharks. Is this that concoction made from Lemon Sole Fish?

2.5 square meters of nontransparent plastic cloth: I?m going to assume this means tarp, and if so it would be handy for shelter, making a solar sill, wrapping around vegetation to get water through transpiration (terminology?), etc.

1 liter of Puerto Rican rum (80%): Is Rum flammable? Is it alcohol capable of use as an agent to prevent infection? I don?t know.

3 m nylon line: 9.8 feet of line is excellent for tying up the plastic sheeting for shelter, to use to make a fire bow, etc. Keep it.

2 chocolate bars: Short-term energy is good, especially after swimming a mile.

Fishing equipment: This is good for acquiring food, obviously...

That's all off the top of my head. I could be wrong...


Whoever prepared this boat for the sea probably was not thinking seriously about it sinking. There?s no mention of an actual life raft. Small emergency desalinators are not too expensive these days (Katadyn Survivor 06 and Survivor 35 as examples), lightweight, and offer the ability to acquire more water from readily available sea water, than the heavy container on the boat.

Then again, a pot to boil water in when used with the plastic sheeting to catch, condense and channel to something capable of holding the new fresh water in will do the same thing. Even a towel to catch steam will work if you?ve used the plastic sheeting for shelter (Don?t burn your hands wringing out the towel LOL)

There?s no Emergency Distress Beacon mentioned.

No Flares are mentioned.

Was a successful SOS with accurate position made prior to sinking? At that point it might be better to take the time to make sure of positioning and getting the message across that land was very definitely in view rather than lug 55 pounds of water above deck if contact was established. LOL

Where?s Wilson?

Did I just pull an internet faux pas and help out when we were somehow being made fun of? LOL

Malpaso stated a good starting point as a means of making a list of importance from these items, and I?d only add fire (even in a tropical climate) and first aid to it.

And seriously... As alluded to by CK, I have a question. When was this quiz put together? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />