BOAT (Bug-Out Altoids Tin)

[lukeman1850]

I read through about three pages of these responses, and I've seen some pretty cool ideas. I've heard a lit of talk about wrapping tape around your b.o.t to waterproof it. That could be a good idea, but for me tape never seems to be waterproof after the water hits it, (I also can't afford an altoids case at the moment) so I came up with the idea of using a waterproof case for my iPod. Anyone who's heard of otterbox should guess what in talking about, they are the greatest cases ever until they fuc.. um, mess up your headphones, so ima use my old one for this. I'll post later after I've assembled it.


Edit: hooray i started a new page *Gets a warm fuzzy feeling inside*

[prepper7]

A couple of cool tips from Survival Resourses:

Reynolds oven bags can be used as sturdy, compact water containers.

If you are using the cone shaped coffee filter as a pre-filter, you'll need a way to support it in use as as the 'seam' is just crimped and will fail under stress otherwise.

[sheddi]

Which combat tin? There's two of them.

http://www.equipped.org/bcbkit.htm Its not quite complete.

The equipped.org review is based on a BCB combat survival kit supplied in 2004. The current kit list is here, and I can't see any significant differences between the two (although the official list lacks some of the detail).

Are you confusing it with the higher-spec BCB military survival tin?

[colorsafe]

im a few weeks old on ZS and the instructions said (FAQ) if the administrator has allowed "attachments" i can post images that way. otherwise, i have to pointcha to a URL where i have to upload my pics to.

so, if i am assuming "attachments" arent being allowed here, would i be correct? or am i doing something wrong? i see a lot of others who have posted pics...so i must be missing something.

sorry, i tried to answer this myself. i should probably post this somewhere else but this is where i want to share my BOAT. some killer ideas on all your's by the way.

[Squirrley]

so, if i am assuming "attachments" arent being allowed here, would i be correct? or am i doing something wrong? i see a lot of others who have posted pics...so i must be missing something.

I'm not entirely sure what 'attachments' means, since I haven't read what you read, but I'm gonna assume that its when the forum server allows you to upload images to it and it will host them for you. If that's the case, then you are correct, ZS isn't set up for that. You'll have to find a 3rd party (or 1st I guess, if you've got a web server) site to upload them to, and then link to that site in your post. Here's Gunny's walk-through on it.

[98pointsix]

I saw this post and thought back to about every survival book ive ever owned they all have some sort of tin in them. So I threw one together, havent decided if I will accually carry it or not. Its just tucked in my GHB right now
but I took some pics

[colorsafe]

my first BOAT...







every time i itemize the contents it wont post for some reason, so im not just being lazy.

[colorsafe]

for the above BOAT...

Rubber Glove
Aquamira Frontier water filter
Water treatment tabs
Bandaids
Button compass
Mini cordage
Snare wire
Twist tie
Rubber bands
Flashlight
Hurricane matches
Birthday candles
Cotton balls
Tinder fuel
Safety pins
Ibuprofen
Sleeping aids
Ephedrine
Knot tying cards
Fishing line
Mini bobber
Split shot sinkers
Hooks
Salmon eggs
Grub lures
Ball point pen
Water proof paper
Contractor bags
Parachute cord
Knife

[broylz]

i keep a Coghlins Survival Kit in a Can in my GHB. after looking at this thread, i might want to make another more useful one.

[bltjr1951]

i keep a Coghlins Survival Kit in a Can in my GHB. after looking at this thread, i might want to make another more useful one.

Did you read the review???

http://www.equipped.org/kiackit.htm

My fav part; the tab broke off, couldn't open tin.

[bltjr1951]

for the above BOAT...
Salmon eggs

Real ones???

Don't they go bad out of the jar pretty quick?

[colorsafe]

Real ones???

Don't they go bad out of the jar pretty quick?

for the above BOAT...
Salmon eggs

Real ones???

Don't they go bad out of the jar pretty quick?

no, they're not real salmon eggs. these particular ones are called "puff balls" http://puffballs.net/ . they are kind of like squishy styrofoam. i havent used them, so i cant say good or bad. i was looking for a few things that didnt require action and thought i would try and cram them in.

[colorsafe]

i keep a Coghlins Survival Kit in a Can in my GHB. after looking at this thread, i might want to make another more useful one.

Did you read the review???

http://www.equipped.org/kiackit.htm

My fav part; the tab broke off, couldn't open tin.

yea, once you've bought all the essentials, you can make three or four of them for the same price as one because of all the extra misc left over (except for the compass, flashlight, etc). i like the "quality control" factor.

im making one for my girlfriend right now. instead of duct tape im putting in "tenacious tape" http://www.ems.com/index.jsp;jsessionid=JnCfgxh2cclC2nLhN87GrS6QJVMFf3w17YTtSzSpY5gS2fF8cPwL!-389378095!-1116401820 this stuff is pretty industrial...used for tent, shoe, whatever repair.

of coarse there is always something else you want to put in your BOAT that didnt include in the last one (and now, even more since ive been checking out the other BOAT posts). thats one cool thing about making several, for different occasions (work, day hike, the cross town drive, girlfriend, mom, etc.). different strokes for differnt BOAT's. if i kept my BOB in my truck i'd always be worried about loosing $2000 ~ 2500 or so worth of stuff from thieves...not to mention my birth cert, passport, id's, ss card, etc.

[Regulator]

Ok, so I still don’t think that I personally, need a BOAT in a rural environment. However, it seems like a lot of fun to try to pack a bunch of useful things into a little box. With that in mind I have put together an Urban BOAT. These are items that, while I wouldn’t need them everyday, might compliment my EDC items in an emergency. I carry with me always a Gerber multi tool, LED Light, ink pen and a sharpie. So here’s what I came up with.





One sheet of paper. I usually have a small notebook with me, but not always.
Copy of drivers license with important phone numbers that only my cel phone has memorized written on the back
$1.75 in quarters for phone, vending, etc.
2 Bandaids
4 Tylonol
Keyring to hook other items together when BOATs opened.
Safety pin
Spigot key to open water spigots on most commercial buildings.
LED light
Handcuff key.
P-38 can opener
Spring steel door slip
Razor blade
FM radio with ear piece that can be tucked under a hat or safety pinned on.
Thumb drive with encoded documents, passwords etc.
Bic lighter

FWIW, I have survival kits similar to a lot of the BOATs I’ve seen on here. They stay with my gear and only go with me if I’m packing out in the boonies. I do appreciate their usefulness.

Ok, thoughts? Suggestions?

[colorsafe]

there are some really good ideas packed in that tin! i like the thumb drive idea. i never thought to password protect the one on my keychain.

where did you get the compact spigot wrench? and the handcuff key? if you got the key from another set of handcuffs, is there a particular set of handcuffs to buy?

what is a "spring steel door slip"?

the only things i can think of right now to add...maybe the number and pin to a pre paid calling card. wrap a few heavy duty 12" zip ties, or whatever, and then fold a hefty oven bag (in a way to help water proof it and have a H2O container, or storage) with some good rubber bands to help the seal. and something with am/fm, instead of just FM. also, if you wanted to squeeze in some more space there is an 8GB micro sd card fits into a thumb drive that's only 1/2" x 3/4"...

[Regulator]

Thanks colorsafe. A spigot wrench can generally be found at a plumbing supply house, maybe a hardware store. Make sure it fits spigots and not stops. Stops are smaller valves found under sinks and such. The cuff key is Smith and Wesson. It works on most cuffs. I have a few pair of cuffs and just have extra keys. The door slip is made to open doors ala credit card style. The hook shape allows you to go over the latch and pull back depending on how the door swings.

I just sealed mine with a couple wraps of electrical tape. 3M 33+ is the same thing I use for underwater splices so it should hold. And then put a ranger band around it, (a section of bicycle innertube), to hold it shut and protect it a little. I thought about a bag for water but decided that there would probably be containers laying around if I needed one.

I'd really like to have am too but I can't find any small radios with that option. The sd card thumb drive is cool but my files are mostly txt and just don't require much space.

[colorsafe]

where can i get a "spring steel door clip"? i cant find any info online...so far. been checking some locksmith sites too.

should i make my own, just copy yours from the pic?

[Capt Cook]

where can i get a "spring steel door clip"? i cant find any info online...so far. been checking some locksmith sites too.

should i make my own, just copy yours from the pic?

It won't do much good to have one.
They will only work on old door locks. Anything modern has a half circle piece on the front of the latch. When it is engaged you CANNOT make the other part move.
The old credit card trick only works in the old movies.

[Regulator]

where can i get a "spring steel door clip"? i cant find any info online...so far. been checking some locksmith sites too.

should i make my own, just copy yours from the pic?

I made mine out of a piece of banding strap. Not sure if you'd have any success finding one pre-made. Capt Cook made a good point also. These slips won't work on all doors. Most newer locks do have the little half circle bar that has to be pulled back and there are others that just won't open period. I use mine occasionally to get into mech rooms or service areas in the buildings where I work. My thought is that in a run and hide situation, it might enable me to get into a similar location.

[bltjr1951]

I just sealed mine with a couple wraps of electrical tape. 3M 33+ is the same thing I use for underwater splices so it should hold.

As an old cable splicer, I wouldn't bet my life on on underwater use. Seen too many drop splices rusted out and they were aerial.

[HULK17]

While not an Altoid tin, here is a kit I made for the wife.






I have another kit like this one attached to my foraging rifle in a buttstock pouch with some other items. (additional items include more 550 cord, 50 rounds of 22WMR ammo, spare mag, 55 gallon contractor grade trash bag and a quart size freezer bag for water collection)

[sheddi]

I was in two minds about whether this should be a separate thread, but since there's a few commercial survival kits here already I think these two reviews will be right at home here.

Brief Review of the BCB Combat Survival Kit and the BCB Ultimate Survival Kit

BCB International are a major UK (Welsh) manufacturer of personal equipment for the military, expedition and bushcraft market. The BCB Combat Survival Kit is one of their cheaper pocket survival kits, based on the ubiquitous 2oz tobacco tin and seemingly inspired by Lofty Wiseman's advice in the SAS Survival Handbook. The BCB Ultimate Survival Kit is a larger and higher-spec kit intended for military aircrew. Both are available in the US from BestGlide, where the Combat Survival Kit is $25 while the Ultimate Survival Kit is $90. (Prices in the UK are typically ~£15 and ~£35 respectively.)

So, what do you get for your money?

BCB Combat Survival Kit

Water resistant tin - this is a standard plated steel 2oz tobacco tin.
Vinyl tape - roughly 2' of green tape, 1" wide, initially used to seal the tobacco tin shut. Mine's been on and off the tin 3 or 4 times and it's still sticky, although it's definitely less sticky than it was the first time.
Button compass - BCB's small, liquid-filled compass, no bubbles and has a graduated card rather than the simple needle sometimes seen.
Knife - a cheap nameless lock knife, with a not-quite-2" blade. The best thing I can say is that it's better than nothing, but I'd rather have (eg.) an Opinel.
Matches - ten normal-looking book matches, without even a ziplock bag to keep them dry.
Pencil - the sort of pencil you'd get for free in Ikea.
Purification tablets - 10 Oasis-brand tablets "manufactured to an effervescent formulation containing sodium dichloroisocyanurate" each capable of treating 1 litre / 1 quart of water.
Snare wire - a length of brass wire.
Candle - a tealight.
Flint & striker - BCB's ferrocerium rod and a stamped steel striker.
Fishing kit - a small kit in a ziplock bag with monofilament line, hooks, split shot and a couple of snap swivels.
Whistle - BCB-brand lifejacket whistle.
Sewing kit - the sort of kit you'd get free in a hotel, in a ziplock bag with a couple of needles, six lengths of thread and two buttons.
Safety pins - five, in a ziplock bag.
Wire saw (finger looped) - BCB's usual wire saw, without the split rings that normally accompany it.
Survival instructions - a single sheet of paper printed on both sides with (it seems) selected highlights from a larger survival manual. The illustrations will seem familiar to anyone who has read one of the various military guides.
Accident evaluation form - an aid to assessing casualties and recording their injuries and and treatment administered.
Hacksaw blade - on the official contents list, but missing from my kit.

BCB Ultimate Survival Kit

A number of these items are identical to those included in the Combat Survival Kit.
Lightweight mini mess tin - a larger and better-made anodised aluminium tin than the tobacco tin usually used, but too big to fit in a (ie. my) shirt pocket. Fits comfortably into a cargo pocket.
Water bag - Condomi-brand unlubricated latex condom, labelled as an "ultrasound probe cover".
Nylon cord - not paracord, a thinner braided line.
Button compass - same as above.
Candle - same as above.
Flint & Striker - same as above.
Tinder - a single tampon. (I'm guessing it's included as tinder!)
Fishing kit - same as above.
Mini multi-tool - this is an interesting device. It unfolds to give you a pair of pliers, and there's a small blade plus screwdriver bits and nail file concealed within the handles. A nice idea, but you're relying on having a proper knife somewhere else in your gear.
Matches - same as above.
Sewing kit - same as above.
Purification tablets - same as above.
Safety pins - same as above.
Single edge razor - one single-edged razor blade.
Salt sachets - two small salt sachets, the sort of thing you'd get in McDonalds or KFC.
Purification Straw - seems to be a reduced-size version of BCB's water purifying straw .
Signal mirror - a bit of shiny aluminium foil to stick on the inside of the box lid. Rather disappointing.
Whistle - same as above.
Snare wire - same as above.
Wire saw - same as above, but wrapped in black plastic.
Grip lock bag - a ziplock bag big enough to hold the whole kit.
Pencil - same as above.
Survival instructions - same as above.
Hacksaw blade - again, on the official contents list, but missing from my kit.

My kit is the "USA Version" with some added extras for the USAF. These are:
Extra water bag - an additional condom, supporting the commonly-held belief that Americans get more action than us poor Brits do.
A4 waterproof paper - a single sheet (A4 is roughly the same size as "letter".)
Micro light - a mini LED keychain flashlight.
Vinyl tape - on the official contents list, but missing from my kit.

[bioboy]

Currently got a small kit like this. Good for pre-season scouting not going too long but just in case something happens. Generally I'm back within a couple of hours. Going in the middle of the day. Looking for sign not waiting for game or used as a back up for the larger kit. Carry a red 1st aid kit with me in my jacket. Gotta love that Tough Duck Jacket. This kit is still in my jacket and good to go even though I haven't used it in three years
It's got a

20 matches
Button Compass
Fishing line
Snikers
Fish hooks
Candle
Ziploc bag
Needles
Sewing needles

Needs
Flint steel (really small)
Tylenol
Water purification tablets.

[Irwin J. Finster]

I love all of you guys, but what's the purpose of this? Considering that you're smart (meaning your BOB or at least its smaller brother) are within easy reach at most times, why would you need such a thing?

Well, I see it this way, such a small emergency kit (whichever the container is), belongs in your BOB too! For if you really get into an emergency situation, you take your BOB, pull the mini kit out and put it in your pocket, so that if murphy's law strikes and you get separated from your BOB for any reason, you are not completely naked. I also have several such small kits scattered around in odd places around home or at work, the car etc.. so something is handy nearly all of the time even though a GHB at least is never far away. If I get around to it, I'll post a few pictures of my standard mini kit in a few days.