BOAT (Bug-Out Altoids Tin)

[DarkHydra]

I'd suggest against a breakable seal because it's likely you'll be opening and closing the tin during the course of using it. A breakable seal will leave the contents vulnerable after the first use.

[TheRodfather]

This is exactly what I have:



Purchased from eBay. From the factory, the kit is very good, and it has space for some additions. Some of the items(ie:knife) are not great quality but would be better than nothing.

I have replaced the small crappy knife with a leatherman S4. I also replaced the book of matches(15 matches) with two books of MRE matches(total of 40 matches and takes up less space). I added some thread, safety pins and buttons to the sewing kit and 5 bandaids. There is still room in the kit so I want to add cottons balls as tinder, more fishing line and maybe more hooks.

The kit is carried in a small nylon pouch that has a belt loop on it that I was issued at work to carry latex gloves. Inside the pouch I also have a full size lighter and a 2AA maglite with thin nylon rope wrapped around the handle. It's at least 15' of rope, but I wasn't really paying attention to the amount as I was wrapping. I have a small eye drop bottle in there also. I want to fill the dropper with kerosene as fuel to start a fire.

I also have the slightly larger version of this kit which comes with more quantity of basically the same stuff. The tin is about an inch or so longer in both directions. Replaced and added as necesary to that kit also. That kit stays in the car.

[AEnemia]

-I don't carry a condom: sorry dudes, just can't bring my self to use it for water I figure I can find an empty pop bottle in a ditch or trash can.

YUCK! Sorry, but I'll trust my condom over your discarded pop bottle.... ESPECIALLY if said pop bottle is from a ditch. You never know what kind of critters have nested in that bottle, or what it was last used for.... But I know that my condom hasn't had ANYTHING in it (unless it's used, in which case it'd be discarded anyway).

[DarkHydra]

Or just follow the advice of carrying a 1 gal baggy. Fits more water then both the condom and the pop bottle.

[groundskeeper willy]

-I would recommend getting rid of any paper matchbooks. Get the NATO/British Lifeboat matches or at least the wind and waterproof type sold at the local Walmart or camping store. Probably cost $3 and in one pack you get two boxes with maybe 25 matches in each box.
They have MUCH more ability than any paper crap or common kitchen wooden matches. They put everything else to shame.
To me, firestarting is #1 priority followed by navigation (compass).
In my area its damn cold most of the year.

The wind and water proof matches have the "match" part going nearly halfway down the wooden stick, versus a normal wooden match which only has a tiny amount. They are also varnished/coated to resist water.
If you only buy ONE quality item for the tin, get good matches.
I like them better than a lighter. Sure, a lighter can start more fires but I have sh*tty luck with them and everytime I go to use one nothing happens. Just like stupid pens!Arrrgggg! Thats why I always use pencils.

[DarkHydra]

Or make your own waterproofed strike anywhere matches. I made some by dripping candle wax over diamond strike anywhere wooden kitchen matches. They tested okay. I'd suggest that when you use them rub a bit off the end so you can get to the striker part easier. They kind of flash suddenly through the wax when first lit. They're getting harder to find though. Only one grocery store in the town I live in still carries them, but you can buy a good number to practice with cheaply enough.

[TheLastRifleMan]

My Dad has been using Altoid tins for primitive flint and steel tinder boxes. He uses a wire brush on a grinder to clean the paint off and give them an old time tin box look.

Nice idea, though. Altoid boxes have multiple uses. Enjoy the mints, use the boxes!

[DarkHydra]

Yeah and they're small enough to slip into your cargo pants pocket. Make it part of your routine everywhere you go. Fill it so it doesn't rattle too much. Something like this is nice for an urban survival kit. Plus it's an item that people will see and pay it little attention though they might think your greedy for never offering altoids from it.

[groundskeeper willy]

This is exactly what I have:



Purchased from eBay. From the factory, the kit is very good, and it has space for some additions. Some of the items(ie:knife) are not great quality but would be better than nothing.

I have replaced the small crappy knife with a leatherman S4. I also replaced the book of matches(15 matches) with two books of MRE matches(total of 40 matches and takes up less space). I added some thread, safety pins and buttons to the sewing kit and 5 bandaids. There is still room in the kit so I want to add cottons balls as tinder, more fishing line and maybe more hooks.

The kit is carried in a small nylon pouch that has a belt loop on it that I was issued at work to carry latex gloves. Inside the pouch I also have a full size lighter and a 2AA maglite with thin nylon rope wrapped around the handle. It's at least 15' of rope, but I wasn't really paying attention to the amount as I was wrapping. I have a small eye drop bottle in there also. I want to fill the dropper with kerosene as fuel to start a fire.

I also have the slightly larger version of this kit which comes with more quantity of basically the same stuff. The tin is about an inch or so longer in both directions. Replaced and added as necesary to that kit also. That kit stays in the car.

What's that silver skeleton key looking item?
Throw in some wind and water proof matches. But nice kit though.
me likes

[Ivan]

Its a fire steel. Its attached to a small metal striker with a bit of nylon cord.

[TheRodfather]

Its a fire steel. Its attached to a small metal striker with a bit of nylon cord.

Yeah, what he said.

And the idea about wooden matches with wax on the tip does work. Like he said, dip the head of wooden matches into wax, and when you need them, just scrape a little wax off and voila, water proof. Now, wind proof, you can use a propane lighter for that.

[doc66]

I haven't gone through all the posts yet, but I didn't see duct tape.... A small bit of duct tape (duck tape) will act as many things, sealant in a fix, a bandaid, mole skin for blisters, and a myrid of other things that I can't even think of I'm sure....

Doc

[Famine]

Currently I am using a Sucretes (saved my damn life once) container for my bug out box. Currently it holds the following:

2 pieces of guaze surrounded by plastic wrap, taped to top of box.
2 saftey pins taped to top of box.
1 Razor blade taped to top of box. (Top of box = inside lid)
Tiny bit of salt and pepper inside seran wrap.
6 Viatmin E tablets inside of seran wrap.
3 Bayer brand asprin inside of seran wrap.
1 P-38 I got in the mail from the Reserves.
1 pair of collapsable scissors. They have folding stocks!
1 pocket knife with it's gadgetry.
1 mini LED flashlight. Lights up the whole room.

I'm adding more before memorial day weekend.

Cheers,

Kevin

[Burncycle]

I'm another user of the larger sas style tins

[aswrg7]

Bump and tag, for some mighty good info. I'm gonna build one of these myself shortly.

[Solid_Snake]

Great bump; haven't thought about this one yet, and will make one soon.

[Politenessman]

Here is mine. I carry this ever day and I use it on occasions. Just recently, at a gathering of freinds, someone needed some claritin and a couple weeks ago at the range, one of my buddies required a band aid because his gun bit him.

Here is the Altoids tin. You can see a piece of Duct tape on the top - that holds 4 quarters. There is the same on the underside of the box. The rubber band is obviously to stop the whole thing bursting apart in my pocket. I usually carry it wrapped in a bandanna.


Open the lid and there is everything packed inside. The black out job was because I'd left the emergency contact card print side up and you could read the phone numbers.


And here is everything:

You can see the following (Going clockwise)

Imodium x 2
Small bag with Asprin, Advil, Benadryl, Claritin
Large Band Aid
Small Band Aid
Antibiotic cream

Small bag with $20 bill and emergency phone list

Mini Bic lighter
Small bag with Cotton/Vasaline tinder
8 lifeboat matches
4 candles (the 2 reds are novelty relighting candles)

Large piece of Aluminium foil
Chlor Floc tabs for water purification
Hard candy
Packet sugar
Packet salt

Screw in eyelets
Safety Pins
Compass
P38
Knife
Whistle

This is a project that is probably never going to be finished. I've recently ordered a small otter box in an effort to be able to get just a little more in. I'd like to add some para cord too, but I don't want to wrap the box in it as I do use the contents from time to time.

[DarkHydra]

Nice, I like it. Really like the knife. I'll have to post mine. I have the pictures of it already just never posted them.

[Jamie]

ahhhhhhh...

Just noticed this thread for the first time...I'll be going home to work on something along these lines after work today...

I like the idea of tiny emergency kits...I can spread them out in more places...

nfa

[CutterJeff]

I've got one in my belt pouch.... Long story, but I've got a no-longer-made LL Bean pouch with a holster for my Glock19 in it - this lets me have a comfy holster on the belt and still have the weapon concealed.

Anyway, there's this little space between the holster and the rest of the main compartment of the pouch, and I slipped an Altoids tin in.

I used the Ziploc seal stuff to wrap the whole tin as an extra layer of water proof protection, so I'm not going to open it to list everything inside. Just a few that come to mind that aren't already in your list:

$50 bill, $5 bill, 2 quarters for making phone calls

2 threaded needles, with the thread (about 10') wrapped around the needle. One's white thread, the other black.

Very small plastic vial (bio-sample vial) full of ground-up hex fuel tablet. Goes with the matches for making fires.

fish hooks, sinkers, dental floss

little ziplock bag with salt, pepper and sugar packets in it

A "sportsman's wipe" - sort of like the wet-naps at resteraunts, but this one has gun oil instead of "lemon fresh scent"

[Ricky Romero]

Thanks for the bump. I'm going to build one of these. Pics soon.

[1776]

Remember,you can polish the hell out of the inside of the lid--instant signal mirror.

[Ricky Romero]

My car just got stolen with all my BOAT stuff in it. Back to square one.

[PlatonicPimp]

Ah, wow. That really sucks. Sorry man.