More about the famous Kon Tiki expedition:
Thor Heyerdahl was so convinced that the Polynesian Islands were settled by people from Peru, South America, that he needed to prove his theory. He organized an expedition of six men, built a primitive raft of balsa wood and bamboo that had a small shelter, named it Kontiki and on April 28, 1947, left Peru on a voyage full of adventure, hoping the prevailing wind and ocean current would bring them to Polynesia.
To prove his theory, Heyerdahl decided to build a replica of the Indian balsa wood rafts. In 1947 he set off on the 1st KonTiki expedition, finally making a landfall just as the raft was sinking - it had become waterlogged. He thus successfully proved that Indian balsa wood rafts were able to cross the Pacific Ocean. Later in 1961 another raft was constructed and the KonTiki legend continued for others to enjoin.
For communications the two radio operators Kurt Haugland and Forstein Raaby used a National NC-173 amateur radio receiver. This was powered by batteries and a hand cranked generator that the crew continuously cranked when on the air. Their call letters, LI2B were familiar to many who daily kept in touch by amateur radio. (KH and FR had been in the Norwegian underground and had used a small radio set in sabotage work against the Germans in World War II)
Tuna, bonito, shark and dolphins were in abundance and provided their steady diet. Sailing 50 to 60 miles a day in the Humboldt Current and prevailing easterly wind, the raft could only go forward, towards Polynesia. A heavy storm sent 15-foot waves over their raft, severely damaging the cabin and the large steering oar. A cry of "man overboard" had all hands struggling to rescue radio operator Forstein, who narrowly escaped death.
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