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Old 06-09-2017, 14:29   #1
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food for life raft

we are preparing for a trip to BVI in november - seeking advice on food for ditch bag - 5 crew - suggestions?? thanks, livbysea
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Old 06-09-2017, 14:40   #2
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Re: food for life raft

How much weight & volume can the food take up, & what kind of shelf life are you looking for? Obviously caloric density would be an important factor. Along with ease of digestion, & nutrient absorption.

Jerky, heat stabilized chocolate, concentrated survival rations spring to mind. But it's worth doing some research on the topic too, regarding what works best to keep the body & mind going in such a situation. And tailor it around my above asked questions. Along with the "planned" length of time before rescue.
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Old 06-09-2017, 14:49   #3
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Re: food for life raft

Thanks. Had your questions in mind. 6 person life raft- been looking on line and hoping for ideas from those with expertise
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Old 06-09-2017, 15:04   #4
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Re: food for life raft

If you're not going to the Southern Ocean, and if you have an EPIRB plus PLB's, food in the life raft is not going to be a big issue.

We carry granola bars and carp like that, vacuum packed. Rotated out, eaten and replaced every other year.

Water is a much more important question -- don't skimp on that.

My life rafts (2x Avon Ocean, four man), quaintly, came with fishing gear packed inside.
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Old 06-09-2017, 17:40   #5
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Re: food for life raft

Granola bars, energy bars, protein bars, take a look online or at a store, but at what is IN them versus how you want to balance a diet, i.e. carbs or protein or whatever you think is the right balance. There are also a lot of "shakes" like Boost, Ensure, and organic and "less chemical" shakes available in 10-12 ounce bottles or cartons, which have the advantage to supplying water to you as well. And all can be re-purposed after the trip, of course. The SAR guys will come quicker if you have a bag of Snickers bars.(G)

Or you can do the old standby, hardtack and pemmican.(G)
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Old 06-09-2017, 18:09   #6
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Re: food for life raft

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Granola bars, energy bars, protein bars, take a look online or at a store, but at what is IN them versus how you want to balance a diet, i.e. carbs or protein or whatever you think is the right balance. There are also a lot of "shakes" like Boost, Ensure, and organic and "less chemical" shakes available in 10-12 ounce bottles or cartons, which have the advantage to supplying water to you as well. And all can be re-purposed after the trip, of course. The SAR guys will come quicker if you have a bag of Snickers bars.(G)

Or you can do the old standby, hardtack and pemmican.(G)
Thanks!! Helpful suggestions. Clearly water is key. Raft included some. Extra is s good plan. Cheers, livbysea
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Old 06-09-2017, 18:10   #7
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Re: food for life raft

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Thanks!! Helpful suggestions. Clearly water is key. Raft included some. Extra is s good plan. Cheers, livbysea
Like the protein shake idea! Nutrition balance makes sense. Thanks!!! Livbysea
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Old 07-09-2017, 06:40   #8
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Re: food for life raft

Not for the palate but a case of MRE's packs a whole lot of heavily waterproofed, shelf stable, ditching ready food. Click image for larger version

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Old 07-09-2017, 06:42   #9
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Re: food for life raft

Have seen similar products. Thanks!!
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Old 07-09-2017, 07:02   #10
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Re: food for life raft

Standard lifeboat rations have some advantages:
  • They have a very long shelf life
  • They're compact
  • They taste lousy, so you'll have little problem maintaining calorie discipline.

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Old 07-09-2017, 07:10   #11
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Re: food for life raft

I wonder if any brand is a bit more appetizing. I noted, to my surprise that carnation has a high protein drink. Also wonder whether the protein drink, granola bars, nuts and dried fruit. Would be adequate. Less shelf life, but perhaps enough?
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Old 07-09-2017, 08:44   #12
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Re: food for life raft

WATER, then more water, then more water. You can last a long time without food but water..........
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we are preparing for a trip to BVI in november - seeking advice on food for ditch bag - 5 crew - suggestions?? thanks, livbysea
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Old 07-09-2017, 09:09   #13
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Re: food for life raft

Typically, food is a lower priority than other things, but if you can get the Army MRE Chili Mac (MRE Genuine US Military Surplus Meal Ready to Eat, Chili and Macaroni), I can verify they taste as good as such a meal can, they last a long, long time, and they are jam-packed with calories. Some of the other MRE meals are truly and sincerely terrible (I know from long experience), but Chili Mac is good. I would not take more than one or two per person, depending on how far from land you will be. Also, a fishing kit is not a bad idea. I also have an emergency five gallon jerry can of water in addition to what the life raft contains, and I would attach an extra pfd to that and secure to the life raft tether (along with ditch bag) in case of ditching.
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Old 07-09-2017, 09:30   #14
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Re: food for life raft

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Originally Posted by anacapaisland42 View Post
WATER, then more water, then more water. You can last a long time without food but water..........
Bill
Thanks. Any thought on amount/ person and numbers of days for a crossing from Virginia to BVI?
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Old 07-09-2017, 09:33   #15
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Re: food for life raft

Water
Peanut butter (Calories)
Whey (Protein)
Multi-Vitamins

Not a pleasant diet, but most bang for the volume and maybe the buck too.
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