# Longest time spent in a lifeboat **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 21, 2007, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915 "2007-05-21T13:09:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/1 "2007-05-21T13:09:12Z")
Years ago I watched an A&E documentary about a husband and wife who had to abandon their boat on the high seas. They escaped on an inflatable life raft with a canopy. I don’t remember how long it was before they were rescued by a passing ship, but it was definitely more than 100 days, and possibly around a year. They had to survive on rainwater and raw fish, and had to continually pump their leaky raft with air. By the time they were rescued they were covered with sores and could barely climb aboard the rescue ship. My questions are as follows: [ol] [li]What were the names of these people, and where can I find more information about them?[/li][li]How long did they survive in the life raft, and is this the longest anyone has survived alone in a life raft or lifeboat?[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![tirial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tirial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tirial)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/2 "2007-05-21T13:23:38Z")
I’m not sure about the longest ever, but one of the longest was the result of the wrecking of the _Essex_ by a spermwhale.[BBC H2G2](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/A671492): > [@](#): > > Pollard and Ramsdell and been 95 days in an open boat, Chase, Lawrence and Nickerson 90. They had travelled nearly 3500 miles since the wreck of the Essex some three months previously. ---
**Author:** ![tirial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tirial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tirial)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/3 "2007-05-21T13:39:12Z")
A bit more digging turned up this: [Avon Inflatables](http://www.avoninflatables.co.uk/page/oac) > [@](#): > > Avon inflatables has a long and distinguished history in the design and manufacture of Life rafts, with more successful rescues to our credit than any other brand, including the longest life raft survival in history – an amazing 117 days. [“117 days adrift”](http://www.lrse.com/products.cfm?cat=009&prod=310) Author: Maurice & Maralyn Bailey ISBN: 0924486317 Are they the couple you were talking about? ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/4 "2007-05-21T13:56:23Z")
The _Rose-Noelle_ - a trimaran with four crew - capsized off the coast of NZ in 1989. It drifted for 119 days with the crew still onboard before washing ashore. Things did get a bit tense, apparently. Si ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/5 "2007-05-21T13:58:42Z")
I think Poon Lim may be the record-holder. Hell of a story, in any event: [Poon Lim - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poon_Lim) ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/6 "2007-05-21T14:19:33Z")
Her’s one from 1982, 76 days alone in a raft: [http://travel.howstuffworks.com/survival1.htm](http://travel.howstuffworks.com/survival1.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/7 "2007-05-21T14:47:59Z")
How do these people catch fish? I’ve heard of people fashioning hooks or having hooks, but what are they baiting them with? When using spears, are they just spearing passing fish? All the stories I read seem to tell of how they made hooks and caught fish. I am confused. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/8 "2007-05-21T14:54:01Z")
Another good book “The Raft”; long out of print I’m sure. Dixon, Aldrich and Pastula - Navy fliers who got lost and ran out of fuel. Plane sinks, leaving them little other than a revolver which soon rusted out, and the raft. They spent a few months bobbing around and ended up on a friendly island in the South Pacific during WWII. A must read if you like that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/9 "2007-05-21T15:01:20Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] I think Poon Lim may be the record-holder. Hell of a story, in any event: [Poon Lim - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poon_Lim) [/QUOTE] Yes, that episode came to my mind too, and it is an amazing feat of survival. Note, though, that the Wiki article is flawed in some respects. For example, “it was often a common U-boat ruse to place a survivor on a raft, making any passing ship a vulnerable target if it slowed down to rescue” is not only bad grammar (“often a common”?) but also factually incorrect for several reasons. And I doubt very much that U-boat crews used seagulls for gunnery practice. But I digress - it’s an unusual and almost incredible story, and it’s good and right that he was given such respect by the authorities, who normally would have regarded a Chinese steward’s fate and legacy as irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/10 "2007-05-21T15:03:43Z")
[QUOTE=Philster] How do these people catch fish? I’ve heard of people fashioning hooks or having hooks, but what are they baiting them with? [/QUOTE] The first time, they’d have to use whatever food they brought with them in the lifeboat, or if none, a bare hook. (Some fish will bite shiny things, like metal hooks, even if there’s no food on them.) Thereafter they can bait the hooks with pieces of fish from the previous catch. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/11 "2007-05-21T15:15:11Z")
[QUOTE=Common Tater] Another good book “The Raft”; long out of print I’m sure. Dixon, Aldrich and Pastula - Navy fliers who got lost and ran out of fuel. Plane sinks, leaving them little other than a revolver which soon rusted out, and the raft. They spent a few months bobbing around and ended up on a friendly island in the South Pacific during WWII. A must read if you like that sort of thing. [/QUOTE] I read that many years ago. Great read. The synopsis says they were adrift for 34 days, I had remembered it as 44, oh well, so much for my memory. > **[The Raft: The Courageous Struggle of Three Naval Airmen Against the Sea:...](https://www.amazon.com/Raft-Courageous-Struggle-Airmen-Against/dp/1557508275)** > > The Raft: The Courageous Struggle of Three Naval Airmen Against the Sea \[Trumbull, Robert\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. The Raft: The Courageous Struggle of Three Naval Airmen Against the Sea ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/12 "2007-05-21T15:28:14Z")
[QUOTE=tirial] A bit more digging turned up this: [Avon Inflatables](http://www.avoninflatables.co.uk/page/oac) [“117 days adrift”](http://www.lrse.com/products.cfm?cat=009&prod=310) Author: Maurice & Maralyn Bailey ISBN: 0924486317 Are they the couple you were talking about? [/QUOTE] I wasn’t sure from that brief description, but after some Googling I found this [obituary of Maralyn Bailey](http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/06/12/1023864298036.html), which was detailed enough to confirm that this is indeed the couple I was thinking of. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/13 "2007-05-21T15:54:23Z")
[QUOTE=psychonaut] I wasn’t sure from that brief description, but after some Googling I found this [obituary of Maralyn Bailey](http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/06/12/1023864298036.html), which was detailed enough to confirm that this is indeed the couple I was thinking of. Thanks! [/QUOTE] A great story - thanks. God bless the Korean fishing boat crew for treating them so well. Note to self: Stow a waterproof flare pistol in the lifeboat. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/14 "2007-05-21T16:09:00Z")
How long was Bligh at sea? I can only find April '89 (the mutiny) and March '90 (return to England.) ---
**Author:** ![tirial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tirial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tirial)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/15 "2007-05-21T19:16:17Z")
[QUOTE=Will Repair] How long was Bligh at sea? I can only find April '89 (the mutiny) and March '90 (return to England.) [/QUOTE] According to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Bligh) 47 days. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/16 "2007-05-21T21:52:55Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] I think Poon Lim may be the record-holder. Hell of a story, in any event: [Poon Lim - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poon_Lim) [/QUOTE] Darn you- I can’t believe I was beaten to a Poon Lin reference 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/17 "2007-05-21T22:43:10Z")
[QUOTE=tirial] I’m not sure about the longest ever, but one of the longest was the result of the wrecking of the _Essex_ by a spermwhale.[BBC H2G2](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/A671492): [/QUOTE] Hooray for the whale! ---
**Author:** ![What\_s\_That\_Smell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3bc359/32.png) [@What\_s\_That\_Smell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_s_That_Smell)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/18 "2007-05-21T22:54:06Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] I think Poon Lim may be the record-holder. Hell of a story, in any event: [Poon Lim - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poon_Lim) [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > He was also once spotted by a german U-boat, which had been doing gunnery drills by targeting seagulls, which didn’t fire on him or offer assistance. Just as well the seagulls didn’t fire on him! But why didn’t those feathery little bastards offer some assistance? ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/19 "2007-05-21T23:11:26Z")
[QUOTE=A.R. Cane] I read that many years ago. Great read. The synopsis says they were adrift for 34 days, I had remembered it as 44, oh well, so much for my memory. > **[The Raft: The Courageous Struggle of Three Naval Airmen Against the Sea:...](https://www.amazon.com/Raft-Courageous-Struggle-Airmen-Against/dp/1557508275)** > > The Raft: The Courageous Struggle of Three Naval Airmen Against the Sea \[Trumbull, Robert\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. The Raft: The Courageous Struggle of Three Naval Airmen Against the Sea [/QUOTE] Well, 34 days is nothing to sneeze at, guess I remembered it as being longer too. I remember Dixon relating that between the three of them, they never had in total more than one good meal, (if you consider raw fish a good meal in itself) and very little fresh water, which they obtained by soaking rags after a rain. They did manage to catch a shark and eat part of that, along with an Albatross, iirc. The very high point of the trip - one day, Tony Aldrich said “I feel a coconut”. What?? He must be mad. Then “No, I felt a coconut bump me under the raft!” This may not sound like much, but it had some oil and water inside, and meant they were likely getting closer to land. No protection from the sun, and they were all very cramped on a tiny raft. My copy was a wartime edition - cheap, pulpy paper, but it was a hardback w/ black&white photographs of the raft itself. Unfortunately the very best stories of survival and the like will probably never be told. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915/20 "2007-05-21T23:44:13Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Note to self: Stow a waterproof flare pistol in the lifeboat. [/QUOTE] Wouldn’t the most useful thing be something that would concentrate sun rays to heat up sea water and distill sea water to turn it into something drinkable? Does a portable apparatus like that exist? Also a GPS hand-held device and a satellite phone? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-spent-in-a-lifeboat/404915.md?page=2)