Dynalow, I can't imagine being in the middle of the Atlantic on something that small...no thanks. I havea book called Authors at Sea, edited by Rob't Shenk...it's all 20th century American writers who served in WWII in the Navy or Coast Guard. There are some great vignettes in the book. The first is by Sloan Wilson, and tells what happened when he reported aboard a USCG cutter, having earned his stripes by taking a 12 hour test at MIT...the man he reported to had served in the USCG for 20 years, to earn his stripes, and that man didn't see the humor in it...great book.
http://www.amazon.com/Authors-Sea-American-Writers-Remember/dp/1557507996