Travel/Emergency Bag (and knives) for a different venue

A micro usb with the passport and any other important info scanned on them. When I traveled extensively, I put it all on a 2Gb flash drive in .pdf format. I figured a thief would not be interested in a 2GB drive.... As a mariner, the flare is king. As an Officer of the Deck, I can wish away all sorts of things, but I can't make a red flare go away. However, I can easily make a white flash be something else. So, if it's survival and rescue you seek, then a series of red flares are key. Pretty much every ship has a series of 401 EPIRBS so if you go down, the SAR folks know. However, small ship, smaller man, VERY BIG OCEAN. Signal mirror for the day time.

For land, it's mostly liberty ports and for me, with the laws and all, I opted for a Surefire E2D LED flashlight which I split with another surefire to make two flashlights that had bezels and yet didn't seem to aggressive. I carry them on international flights for what that is worth. Bottom line for me is that I cant be unstoppable; I just need to be a harder target than the other fat-white-man 10 meters further down the street.
 
A tethered Victorinox One Hand Trekker would be my EDC folder if they could get me back in the North sea.
 
What I carry in place of snack bars is a mix of peanuts, raisins and chocolate chips (1/3 mix) and it keeps for a really long time if you keep it sealed up and is surprisingly rather filling to eat as a snack while hiking or as a source of food in a more serious situation.
 
:cool: Concerning a pack that floats, I used to have a US navy combat pack that had an inflatable bladder. It was olive drab canvas, not very large but sturdy and cheap. They may still be available somewhere. Faiaoga
 
RWT said:
Extra cheap sunglasses
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*LOL*

another lucky bastid with perfect vision. ;-)
The rest I can do, however.

Weather will be mostly summerish - ship work of the type I'll be doing is usually scheduled for where the weather is cooperative. Also, we won't be operating in the winter.

The strobe is a good idea - I get what was said about flares vs. strobes, but incendiaries are usually controlled on a ship of this size, and not by me.

I'd like a coiled springy lanyard for my belt knife, yes.

An Opinel is a good idea for ashore too.
It's unlikely I'll need my knife for cutting lots of lines (no sails, most equipment rigging will be steel cable), so I'll go plain edge most likely. Not too pointy in deference to ship traditions and safety, tho in reality I'm not sure what the policy is - or if there is one.
 
Ok, I've started assembling the kit.

We have my retired blue day pack which should work well in this role.
For organization, containment, and buoyancy I'm going with plastic tupperware that has lid seals. This stuff is cheap and available. I'll get one more of the small ones, one of which will be dedicated to first-aid.

The BK-17 is currently standing in for the 'big knife' role, and may actually win the part by default.

IMG_20130310_160929-small.jpg
 
Strobes are good. 12 hour chem lights are good. FWIW, when I am on a ship, I always have a dedicated LED waterproof flashlight (usually a 2AA or 2 CR123A light), 12 hour chem light and 30 min chem light all duct taped to spot where my hand hits the bulkhead (Usually the corner of a rack) My thoughts are should the power go out, I'd grab the three, use the flashlight to find my EEBD and then figure out what's going on. Fortunately, it's always been a loss of generator... My plan is to use the 30 min high intenisity should I need it for egress. Ships get real dark when the lights go out.
 
swonut said:
Strobes are good. 12 hour chem lights are good. FWIW, when I am on a ship, I always have a dedicated LED waterproof flashlight (usually a 2AA or 2 CR123A light), 12 hour chem light and 30 min chem light all duct taped to spot where my hand hits the bulkhead (Usually the corner of a rack) My thoughts are should the power go out, I'd grab the three, use the flashlight to find my EEBD and then figure out what's going on. Fortunately, it's always been a loss of generator... My plan is to use the 30 min high intenisity should I need it for egress. Ships get real dark when the lights go out.
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That's a good idea for a sudden power outage.
I put a cheap outdoors strobe light (has an o-ring) on the pack - it's red and I'd prefer white for emergencies.

No power at night and drifting toward a reef can be scary business... Hope to skip that one again.
 
The kit is coming together bit by bit.
I'll post a layout prolly the end of this week. Three pieces of tupperware fill one of the main pockets nicely.
The passport scan still needs to be printed and laminated. Maybe CVS can just do the whole thing for me.
The water bottle(s) are going to be an issue in a pack this small.

Other folders I've seen that I like for shipboard use:
Spyderco Salt in H1 (spendy for not USA-made)
Benchmade 111H20 seems ideal, but spendy.

I just threw a Phat Bob into the river store order, figuring I can spring for $45 on a non-US-made knife and consider it disposable if I run into any restrictions. Yet I expect to like the thing pretty well. Got some dedicated paracord, iodine tablets, etc. on the way.
 
As already mentioned I would add some ready tinder and a means of water purification. I also like the idea of the dry bag but, I would get a larger ( orange ) one and place the pack inside. Strap an old PFD and a stobe ( possibly a water activated one ) to the outside.
Fair Winds
Al
 
PFD with pockets?
Sorta like a tactical vest that floats.
Funny how the old guys with the fishing and hunting vests set the stage for today's readiness.
 
Water purification tablets and 100' of orange paracord are on the way. strapping some on the outside is a good idea.
I have to keep the cost under control, otherwise I would have ordered a higher-visibility pack.
There will also be a bright orange bandana which may live on the outside, like on my (motor|bi)cycling packs.
The ship will have PFDs and probably survival suits - won't have room for a second, just the bag.
 
JSMcustoms said:
What I carry in place of snack bars is a mix of peanuts, raisins and chocolate chips (1/3 mix) and it keeps for a really long time if you keep it sealed up and is surprisingly rather filling to eat as a snack while hiking or as a source of food in a more serious situation.
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I tried that and the chocolate just melted, turning the whole bag into a greasy and messy, but delicious, ball of food.
 
MatthewSB said:
I tried that and the chocolate just melted, turning the whole bag into a greasy and messy, but delicious, ball of food.
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Common folklore suggests this was the original reason for the invention of the M&M, to solve this very problem for soldiers... been adding it to gorp for over 40 years... been a few places where melts in your mouth not your hands didn't quite hold true, but thats been the exception not the rule.

Daizee, congrats on the gig, true opportunity of a lifetime! Couple things you've probably already thought of, seal the tupperware tubs (gorilla tape, duct tape, whatever, its multi-use), especially if you can't manage a dry bag, any torsional crushing seems to pop those lids right off and once the tops are off, they lose structural integrity. Strobe on the outside ready to go (remember to service the battery). Make sure there is a way to lash the bag to you that won't hobble you, hanging on to something, even if it has positive buoyancy, in even moderate seas can get more than a little tiring.

Regular practice getting in and out of the survival suit, I'm amazed at how something that seemed so easy last time I did it can become so difficult, can't be that I'm not the same size or as flexible as last time... ;)

Enjoy the adventure! Think about a blog, Beckerheads (I'm not one, yet) seem to live vicariously through each others adventures.

Erik
 
Ok, Folks, here's the current setup.

Conspicuously absent:
orange bandana
sewing kit
water bottles
alcohol gel or some such


Three latch-top tupperware containers with gaskets in the lids (note the spare hat and tarp peeking out of the bag):

IMG_20130323_110259-small.jpg


Inside the tupperware:

IMG_20130323_110500-small.jpg
 
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