It incorporates an inflatable survival canopy which encloses the occupants to reduce exposure. In addition, it is supplied with a compact sloop sailing rig with a daggerboard and rudder. This rig, plus conventional oars, allow the Tinker to be sailed or rowed reasonably well so that its crew might be able to reach land or travel to shipping lanes where the chance of rescue is greater. This test was conducted in the open ocean, in an area NW of the Golden Gate of San Francisco Bay known as the Potato Patch Shoal. While the ship channel is dredged to about 10 fathoms, the shoals to the north and south of this channel are very rough due to the shallow depths of around 4 fathoms.
Waves frequently break during storm conditions, especially during an ebb tide.
Due to the strong currents and constricted entrance at the Golden Gate, short wavelength and steep sided chop is abundant, along with the longer Pacific swells. Whitecaps were present all day long. The primary support vessel was a Garden 51 fiberglass ketch, Sea Star . In addition, a Tinker 10' dinghy was used to ferry participants between the life rafts and Sea Star. West Marine provided six associates, most of whom had extensive offshore sailing experience.