Helicopter Rescue, what would be acceptable to take from aboard?

[a64pilot]

I’de be very careful with anything using water resistant as a term, I’m not sure that would work at all. Lately I’ve had issues with things claiming IP65, rain ruins them.
For your use, I’d assume IP67 as a min, and I’d rather have better.
Amazon has some IP68 5tb drives

[Franziska]

Your right on that one.

Thats why the 5TB drive I mentioned needs the rubber sleeve glued on.
The seal on the port looks reasonable waterproof. Guess in a zip lock bag its really low risk.

When I mounted the drive in the "Icy box" case I had that open it looks reasonably tight & they, rather cleverly, used a cable to get the actual connector out of the box. In a limited amount of time there should not be to much water get wicked through that cable.
If the external connector dies during a rescue, who cares. You can still take the drive out and mount it in another drive case.

Lets hope neither one ever needs to prove their waterproofing ;-) I have no intention to need rescue ever.

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I’de be very careful with anything using water resistant as a term, I’m not sure that would work at all. Lately I’ve had issues with things claiming IP65, rain ruins them.
For your use, I’d assume IP67 as a min, and I’d rather have better.

[a64pilot]

I know it’s more money, but I would rather have an IP 68 rated drive, than I had out a standard drive in a box.
It seems this data is really, really important so go for an actual waterproof drive.
Sealed or at least conformal coated components seem to live longer on a boat anyway.

[Rotorjoc]

As a former helicopter pilot who did some search and rescue in the military it is your life
They will be worried about, there could be weight and balance or fuel considerations that limit time on site. But I think most crews would try to rescue a pet, if at all possible. Anything else may not make it aboard.

Just started sailing, not flying but I am enjoying it!

[Icarus]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Hi,

I hope to never ever be in that situation. But, out of curiosity, say you where forced to be taken of the boat by helicopter.

Besides personal documents, are there any rules what one can take or not?
Would a 15" laptop in a waterproof float case acceptable?
Or a hard drive in a waterproof float case?

I'm getting some float cases right now in any case, but I'd like to hear from someone in the field what would be acceptable, so that I know if I better get a separate case for a separate hard-drive as it's smaller.

Thanks,

Fran

If you get rescued by helicopter there isn't anything you can take with you apart maybe your passport, credid card and a memory stick where copies of your documents and photos are stored?
Might be a bit different if you get rescued by ship and of course the specific conditions at the time.

[Icarus]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Getting wet is not the issue, hence the small float cases or waterproof drives.

Good info on the different hoisting approach.

The issue is survival at this point of time.
Depending of the situation everything else might be lost.

[GTom]

Originally Posted by Franziska

OK, I got it, and no, I would never even consider argueing with rescue personnel. Neither would I consider leaving the boat unless it's sinking or breaking apart.

I'll take 2x 2.5" drives inside the survival suit.
They are small enough to fit easily and they have 5TB space each.

Hope to never have to do this!!

Make sure they are shock and water resistant. Spinning disks don't like vibrations.

It doesn't need a helicopter rescue to make a waterproof, shockproof, lightning-proof(!) backup sensible. A dripping window-sealing or the occasional malicious coffee cup can kill your laptop and work in seconds.

[darylat8750]

Originally Posted by GTom

Make sure they are shock and water resistant. Spinning disks don't like vibrations.

It doesn't need a helicopter rescue to make a waterproof, shockproof, lightning-proof(!) backup sensible. A dripping window-sealing or the occasional malicious coffee cup can kill your laptop and work in seconds.

I'm not much of a techie but is anyone using a Spinning disk drive on a boat anymore?

[GTom]

Originally Posted by darylat8750

I'm not much of a techie but is anyone using a Spinning disk drive on a boat anymore?

I do have usb hard drives, no issues so far. Rolling-bouncing does not generate extreme forces. They wouldn't survive a drop though.

[boatman61]

Passports and Credit/Bank cards are always in my pocket.. the rest is just baggage.

[IslandInfedel]

IP ratings and certifications vastly depend on where the item is made.

A Chinese case or drive rated for IP68, I’d fully test it before I believed it.

[marshmat]

The key points having already been answered by people more experienced than I am, I'll just add a few thoughts on data devices etc.


Hardware is absolutely disposable and absolutely replaceable. This is a standard operating principle across all IT environments. Any piece of hardware can fail or be lost at any time with zero significant consequences.


Data is what's important. You protect data by having multiple backups of it, both online and offline, and by checking them periodically to make sure they actually worked.


Assuming no reliable internet connection (so you can't use Backblaze, AWS Glacier, etc. as the backup target) then your best bet is either USB flash drives, SD cards, or external 2.5" USB SSDs. You should have at least two complete sets, each in a protective case or dry bag small enough to slip into a pocket with your passports and bank cards etc. in case the helicopter needs to grab you.
When you run backups, one disk (or set of disks) comes out of its bag, gets plugged in, you run the backups, you check that they're good, you put that disk back in its dry bag and back with the passports etc. Then you do the same with the other set.
Critically, you do not keep the two sets together. If one dry pack of USB disks is always kept in the ditch bag by the companionway, the other might go in the dinghy's emergency kit - thus, if the boat catches fire while you're on the beach, one set of backups is with you in the dinghy.


It adds a bit of hassle, yes, but not much mass. You're talking maybe a hundred grams to store 5 TB, and no helicopter pilot is going to complain about you having a couple hundred grams of passports, cards, and flash drives in the pocket of your survival suit.