If you want a true account of survival at sea, I highly recommend Adrift [0] (the book, not the movie). The author's boat was holed by a collision with an unknown object, which he suspected to be a whale, but was unable to confirm. He then proceeded to spend 76 days surviving in an inflatable life raft. I suspect it influenced the premise and plot of the movie somewhat.
Yet it plays well, and I think really shows off his talent. I'm not sure many other actors could handle such a role.