Dirt cheap emergency kit.

[FOWLER267]

DISCLAIMER: I made this kit today but have NOT TRIED it in the water.


I like the idea of an EPIRB but am still paying for the last vacation. I thought a poor mans version might be fun to build just to see if it would work.


I have a hand held GPS and a hand held marine radio and someone on here showed a home made storage tube made from sch 80 pvc.

I decided to make a cheap version of the tube. Four feet of sch 40 pvc plus an end cap and a wingnut tightened inspection/cleaning cap. Parts cost $12 at Lowes. I measured the radio and gps and cut the pvc to about a foot long. It held the radio, gps, spare battery pack for the radio and had room for trash bags, a chem light and maybe a small strobe.

I had primer and pvc glue allready so I attached the cap to the tube. The end cap tightens down by way of a wingnut. I plan to grease the threads with sparkplug anti-sieze to reduce the rusting effect of saltwater. Silicone grease might also help to maintain a watertight seal.... The nice thing about the wingnut is that you could use your knife as a leverage tool when trying to get it open when you need it.

Like I said; I havent' yet tried this out but I'm "hoping" that it can remain watertight to 100 feet. I may be way off but thats what I hope it does. If not; its back to the plumbing section to find a suitable watertight threaded end cap.

[SpearMax]

DISCLAIMER: I made this kit today but have NOT TRIED it in the water.


I like the idea of an EPIRB but am still paying for the last vacation. I thought a poor mans version might be fun to build just to see if it would work.


I have a hand held GPS and a hand held marine radio and someone on here showed a home made storage tube made from sch 80 pvc.

I decided to make a cheap version of the tube. Four feet of sch 40 pvc plus an end cap and a wingnut tightened inspection/cleaning cap. Parts cost $12 at Lowes. I measured the radio and gps and cut the pvc to about a foot long. It held the radio, gps, spare battery pack for the radio and had room for trash bags, a chem light and maybe a small strobe.

I had primer and pvc glue allready so I attached the cap to the tube. The end cap tightens down by way of a wingnut. I plan to grease the threads with sparkplug anti-sieze to reduce the rusting effect of saltwater. Silicone grease might also help to maintain a watertight seal.... The nice thing about the wingnut is that you could use your knife as a leverage tool when trying to get it open when you need it.

Like I said; I havent' yet tried this out but I'm "hoping" that it can remain watertight to 100 feet. I may be way off but thats what I hope it does. If not; its back to the plumbing section to find a suitable watertight threaded end cap.

Nice Fowler! A friend of mine named Scott did something very similar to this with PVC pipe. Good luck!

[Omerkid]

pictures??

[gumshoe]

I thought about doing something similar. I'd like to see how it winds up.

Put some rocks in it, duct tape to the anchor and drop it to, say 300 feet for 10 minutes. If it holds there, it'll be good for a long time at 100.

[gcracker89]

Standard pipe NPF fittings do not seal at the minor of the thread, they contact only at the pitch of the thread this is why you need pipe dope or teflon tape. (Typical hardware fittings)
NPTF thread is a modified pipe thread and is designed to make contact in the root of the thread as well as the pitch line this makes a seal with out sealents. This is used in military and applications where you do not want or can't have dope on the threads. High pressure, gas,ect.
On the NPT Greases and other "liquid" materials will be forced out of the gap between the Minor of the female thread and Major Dia of the male thread of the thread and water comes it. As many of us the coast have experinced 1 drop of salt water can casue more trouble we could ever dream of.
If possible the installation of a O ring that would compress with pressure makes a more effective seal.
I like Gumshoes test its simple and effective. Don't give up if the first try doesn't work you can never have enough emergency equipment.

Tony maybe in your spare time you could repost your kit. I was impressed with it and all you packed in it.
Dave

[ObieWan2bWet]

Here ya go Dave:

Link to SpearMax's Self-Rescue Kit.

http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?p=452415

[gcracker89]

ObieWan2bWet
Thank you:thumps: I tracked them down to a local Dist. The retail for $300. and would sell for $210. not a lot of money if you think what its worth if you need it, but time you outfit with gear it its the price of a new Regulator.

[Quetzal]

Bump