Erik's B.O.A.T.

[bark-eater]

Some fishermen wont eat lobster....

[IllicitDreams]

I just got thinking... using water treatment tabs like I did you could probably easily fit 4 in your kit, without sacrificing anything.they are small, and you could either lay them on the top, or bottom and be good to go.

As far as a water container goes... a Gerber bottle liner. They work wonders, sure they won't hold massive amounts of water... but they'll work in a pinch. Plus they are small enough that you could easily fit one in there even as tightly packed as your kit is.

[ninja-elbow]

I was having the same thoughts about the wire saw. I've never had good experiences with them. Of course I was trying them out on iron wood and diamond willows, but hey, if they work for you then go for it.

Ask me about ZCon 2007 and the crawfish.

-Erik

You seriously got attacked by a pissed off sewer lobster? I think it's time for story time in Off Topic.

ETA- spelling correction

I don't want to derail my own thread, but yes, I was actually attacked by a crawfish. The first full day, I managed to gouge my knee. It wasn't too bad an injury, but it compromised the skin and was bleeding. No biggie. I didn't even put a bandaid on it. Later that day, I was bathing in Manbath at the last ZCon when I felt a sharp pain right below my knee. I pulled my knee out of the water to find a large crawfish attached to it, ripping big pieces of flesh off of the wound with its claws so it could eat my flesh.

That's right, I was literally being eaten alive by a small lobster.

I ripped the thing off and tossed it back into the water. A few minutes later, fish were pecking at the wound. I shooed them away. Then, even greater pain. The crawfish was back! I ripped the thing off and scrambled out of Manbath.

Before I went back in, I was sure to have a bandaid over the wound, which was now several times larger and much more ugly. The bandaid kept the little bastards off, but I still have a nasty scar on my knee to this day.

So yes, I do have a few bandaids in my BOAT and they're staying.

-Erik

Holy crap! *vomits*

Back on topic:
Anybody have an idea of a good way to polish the inside of the tin lid? I was thinking of this this morning over coffee and thought it'd be a cool thing to know.

When I tried it I used some jewler's rouge and a couple rags. It got shiny but I was never able to get it to 'mirror-esque' or polished enough to see things like myself in the reflection.

Would the whole chocolate and a rag on a soda can ala http://wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fi ... colatebar/ even work?

[Politenessman]

I would remove the magnifying glass, and the some of the lead. Take a couple of water purification tabs, and maybe (if you think you might need them) some ibuprofen and wrap them (flat) in a small piece of saran wrap.

Definitely add some aluminium foil.

I would also replace the lighter with some lifeboat matches.
Replace the pocket knife with just a blade. If you need a screwdriver, use a dremel tool to modify the P38 to give you a flat screwdriver. The blade I use comes from a Tool Logic Ice. (See below)

(BTW - this kit in the pic has been modified considerably since this was taken)

One question worth asking is this; where are you likely to use this?
I realized that because I spend most of my time in towns, or urban areas, there were some items I really didn't need, like fishing gear. I ended up replacing that with things like more quarters. Most vending machines require ~$1.50 for water. I can get home without needing chips or chocolate, but I will need water.

BTW - the alcohol pads make great fire starters, so maybe you don't need the twine?

[Milkboot]

The chocolate trick works, but by the time you are done making it all nice and shiny you would be too tired to care anymore lol

[Dave_M]

That's right, I was literally being eaten alive by a small lobster.

You should have killed, cooked, and ate him--for justice!




great thread BTW, I'm thinking of making a boat myself now. Now, how much ammo do you guys think I can fit in an altoids tin?

[Politenessman]

9mm - 35
.308 - 10
7.62x39 - 16
7.62x54r - 8
12GA (3" & 23/4) - 2
.22 - lots.

[Erik]

I tried polishing the lid to a shine using some chrome polish, but it didn't work at all.

-Erik

[ninja-elbow]

I tried polishing the lid to a shine using some chrome polish, but it didn't work at all.

-Erik

It's why I bought the reflective tape crap from the auto-parts store. A mirror polisher I am not!

[Doryman]

LOL @ the crawfish story. For some reason I keep picturing you rushing out of the water at Manbath screaming "does anyone have a band-aid?!!" and being mobbed by people wanting to use THEIR FAK...


I want a BOAT now... may have to buy some Mints soon..

[Allen]

These Small Lighters are made to fit into a Cigarette Pack,
and may save You some space in Your BOAT.
I get them at a Store called "Dollar General", in a pack of 5 for 1.50

[2now]

Looks good Erik, comments follow:

Will the twine double as a wick?
I keep about 6” of cotton string in mine to make a lamp out of any burnable oil.

Trade a bandaid for a $100 bill.
Many problems can be avoided with a little more gas, a meal or some other piece of equipment.

Maybe a photocopy of an ID? Write a one of your credit card numbers on the back [include the exp date and the user code]
Just enough to prove you are you if you loose you wallet, and buy yourself a ticket home.

How about a single tempered steel nail?
Masonary or cobblers nails work well.

[Allen]

Looks good Erik, comments follow:

Will the twine double as a wick?
I keep about 6” of cotton string in mine to make a lamp out of any burnable oil.

Trade a bandaid for a $100 bill.
Many problems can be avoided with a little more gas, a meal or some other piece of equipment.

Maybe a photocopy of an ID? Write a one of your credit card numbers on the back [include the exp date and the user code]
Just enough to prove you are you if you loose you wallet, and buy yourself a ticket home.

How about a single tempered steel nail?
Masonary or cobblers nails work well.

In My experience, Twine doesn't make a good wick.
100% Cotton, 4 ply, worsted weight, Cochet Yarn is about the best
thing You can use as a wick. I use it in Alcohol stoves.

[Blood_Moon]

I would say ditch the p-38 in favor of some of the other things suggested.

I had one that didn't even make it through one can of pears before wearing down and bending, but maybe I just got a crappy one.

But the real reason for my suggesting to ditch it is because the B.O.A.T is something that you use when you are caught without your regular pack and lost in the wilderness. I don't know about you, but I don't normally carry cans of beans in my pockets, and after years of searching, I have yet to locate the legendary canned bean tree!

It boils down to my believing that a p-38 should be kept with the cans, or replaced entirely by a good multi-tool like the Leatherman "Wave" kept in a pouch on your belt. (which would then eliminate the need for the knife and the saw too!! Tons more space!)

Feel free to disagree with this idea... because this is currently my practice, and if there is a flaw in it, I NEED TO FIX IT!!

[tireiron]

Might try some jeweler's rouge (also called jeweler's dope) and a soft cotton rag.

[blazeben]

Erik... ditch the wire saw, it doesn't really work all that well, and will break when you need it most.

I know this for a fact. Me and a buddy went out to test some new gear and this was one of the worst things i ever came across. It snapped first try and the package said it could also be used as a wire snare but there is not a lot of wire there to use.

[phil_in_cs]

Erik... ditch the wire saw, it doesn't really work all that well, and will break when you need it most.

I know this for a fact. Me and a buddy went out to test some new gear and this was one of the worst things i ever came across. It snapped first try and the package said it could also be used as a wire snare but there is not a lot of wire there to use.

I made a bow saw out of one years ago that worked pretty well. The main problem with them breaking is that they won't pull straight when slack, and as blazeben said they will snag up. The tension from the frame fixed that. I did the same with one of the heavier slack saws; the one that's made out of a section of chain saw blade. Worked well for that too. I will see if I can find the old saws and get some photos posted.

I would note that after getting those to work as best I could, they still didn't work as well as a simple contractor's folding saw. I have the small one that uses blades for a reciprocating saw, so that I can have wood, metal, and masonry blades. Those won't fit into a BOAT though, and the cable saw worked decently with the improvised frame.

This is the type of saw I made; not a picture of what I did. I will make these again and post some photos and do some timing tests on cutting a 2x4

[the_klenzer]

Feel free to express your thoughts on this B.O.A.T. My only request is that you please don't suggest I add anything. There is simply not one scrap of room left in the entire tin. On the other hand, feel free to make a case on why I should swap something out or remove it in exchange for something else!

Hey Erik
Ok, no adding anything without taking something out?

I'd remove:
Like others, I'm going to suggest removing the magnifying glass... most of the time you'll need fire, you won't have light.

Also, I'll go with ditching the wire saw. No one has anything good to say about them.

This may be unpopular, but I'd ditch the fishing gear. Here are my reasons:
1) This is a micro emergency kit, you'd be better off with more first aid stuff, like pain killers.
2) You can go days without eating and in a worst case scenario, won't have time to fish.
3) Unless you are deep deep in the woods, there's an easier source of food somewhere, whether it is kicking open a snack machine at a truckstop or pillaging abandoned RVs.

I'd consider ditching the compass. Again, unless you live in a forest, you shouldn't have a hard time getting your bearings.

I'd add:
2+ razor blades, utility style ones. They are extremely usefull for many things and will allow much more delicate work than your pocket knife.

A couple painkillers, the stronger you can get, the better.

$20 bill (a couple if you can spare it) will get you out of many jams (edit: ok, someone suggested $100, also valid).

a few water purification tablets were previously suggested

1 condom, lubricated. For F--KING. Hey, it happens!

If you really feel a saw is necessary, pack 2 quality (1 wood, 1 metal) jigsaw blades, which with the use of your pocket knife, can be fitted with a wooden handle and will work.

[bark-eater]

Perhaps a section of this type blade:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx ... 84&p=32931

The back edge could be sharpened. Some of these saws taper to the back instead of having a set to the blades.

[Erik]

You guys are just full of great ideas. Thank you!

-Erik

[AlphaMMA]

As far as polishing the inside goes, why not try some metal polish?

Toothpaste might be an acceptable substitute.

[Indiana]

I'd keep the magnifying glass because it is a fire making method that will never run out, but maybe change for a small plastic fresnel lens. Mine is about as thick as two sheets of paper, so it takes almost no room. It's credit card sized and actually lives in my wallet.

[Dietrich]

That little knife in Politenessman's post was pretty cool, I thought. Then I ran across this

on sale at REI for $8.83, which looks cool either alone or strippable. It looks like it could fit in the bottom of an altoids tin, and has a lot of your components built in.

[Politenessman]

That little knife in Politenessman's post was pretty cool, I thought. Then I ran across this

on sale at REI for $8.83, which looks cool either alone or strippable. It looks like it could fit in the bottom of an altoids tin, and has a lot of your components built in.

The whole thing doesn't fit in an altoids tin very well, but that is the knife I have in my kit. I took a tool-logic kit like the one in your pic and stripped it.