Ditch Bag

Looking at various ditch bags I wondered how many boaters actually have one and...

What's in it?
How big is it?
Where do you keep it?

Did you buy a prepackaged one, make your own or a combination?
I've looked at several online and they all seem to have something others didn't.

Do you rob from it?
How vigilant are you about keeping it current?

Mine just consists of important papers and electronics, PLB, and a couple strobes, flashlight. I should add a first aid kit.


But that is a ICW ditch bag.


Many places and more offshore legs would include a bit more.


I go under the premise... stay within USCG helo range, operate in good weather and you should be in a 4 hour rescue window.


Venturing out of that comfort zone and it would grow to one of the more standard ones full of water and survival equipment...such as the PNW venturing up the inland passage.

I have a floating ditch bag, which I stocked myself. I change out the perishables and things that expire annually. I keep flares, orange smoke, a flashlight, water, first aid kit, and a few clif bars, and a waterproof floating sleeve for my phone in there. I also keep my floating handheld vhf close by, on the charger. I really should get a plb, but haven't yet.

I'm rarely out of sight of land. The farthest I've been from the nearest coast guard station is probably 30 miles.

Our boat came with an 8 person Avon life raft that had all the basic essentials in it, which were checked and refreshed when recertified. In addition, when headed offshore, had one separate with another mirror, EPIRB, water, handheld vhf, some food bars, additional sunscreen and small first aid, flashlights, etc.. Also took this with me when heading out on expeditions on the Whaler. Depends on where you are going to be.

My ditch bag was put together initially for my 4.4m fishing boat which i regularly went outside 15-30nm solo in. It now get swapped between it and my Riv depending on which is being used (epirp is registered to both boats).

Epirp
Torch (+spare set of batts)
mirror
2 x inshore flare kit (each has 2x smoke and 2 x night time flares)
2 x packs of 2each parachuteflares
4 x dyepack
V-sheet

I don't rob from the grab-bag. I test Epirp and torch every few moths.

I mainly cruise through the ICW and generally no more than 10 miles off the coast. We keep a range of supplies in the various pockets of our Type III life jackets. Each jacket contains the following: two small parachute flares, glow stick, dye pack, LED flashlight, whistle, 10' cord, mirror, and a multi-purpose knife/tool. I keep my handheld VHF in a water tight bag and in easy reach on the galley counter.

I go offshore so, besides the obvious I have:

Handheld VHF
Watertight place for Cellphone
Hand held GPS

Lots of water!

Add some cash, spare glasses and passports (or copies)

Pretty much the same gear as the rest for close inshore travels on a power/sailboat.

I have another which is strictly designed for use on our airboats. The contents are similar but different due to the environment in which we operate. I wrote an article on the ditch kit for the airboating community, which was published in one of the major airboating magazines a couple of years ago.

Always believe in being prepared.

OD

We've got a ditch bad in addition to the life raft and its contents. I don't know the exact list, but it includes first aid, VHF, PLB, flares, mirror, food, water. It's basically an extension/expansion of what's packed in the life raft, focused on things that are too big to pack in the raft (like a VHF), and things where you would want larger quantities if you were in the raft for a long time.

In addition to the excellent comments of what should be IN the ditch bag. I suggest actually practicing with the signal mirror. On a sunny day, make arrangements with a fellow boater who will be several miles away and try to flash each other. It is a learned art on actually hitting the target. The bigger the mirror the easier chance you have to make contact. The actual bronze (chrome plated. ) 3.5" X 4.5" with the beveled hole in the center for aiming are the absolute best and beat the pants off the cheapo plastic ones

Be advised that seeing a flash from a signal mirror will not necessarily attract the attention of rescuers unless in the middle of no place.


Within 100 miles of the US coast...there are enough boats where windshield reflections distract rescue crews continuously.


If they left a search area every time they saw a flash, an accurate, completed search would be tough.


If you do flash...make sure it is about as NON-random and quick as possible to really get someone's attention.


In high traffic areas you might attract attention...but my experience is that non-rescue units rarely go too far out of their way unless pretty sure there is a confirmed emergency.


Counting on a few flashes is a bad bet.


My theory on a ditch bag is...fill it with survival gear for the long haul...or fill it with EPIRBs and PLBs to ensure a reasonably quick rescue.

That was sort of why I said practice with a mirror. It is possible to pretty much keep a signal ON a target up to several miles away IF you practice with it first. Trying to gain proficiency while in a raft, after you've lost your glasses makes it really difficult to learn how to aim a signal mirror.

We have a fairly large one. It has flare guns and other signalling devices, waterproof first aid and survival manuals, first aid kits, a few basic tools, a waterproof handheld VHF radio, etc.

I have most of the things listed above by others and I have them all in watertight plastic jars or bottles.


One thing not listed above is I got a prescription for some Hydrocodone, a strong narcotic pill to throw in the bag just in case someone gets badly injured or burned.

I started doing that when I lived in AK. We would go off road on hunting trips and be several days away from a doctor or hospital. I also got some when I helped take that boat to CA two years ago. I've never taken any of them, but they're nice to have in case of a broken bone, etc.

I have an extra wallet with cash and a credit card in case I am not able to grab (find) my wallet. I also have in addition to a VHF an aircraft handheld (an older one replaced when I got a new GPS/VHF Navcom).

I picked up a prepaid throwaway cellphone for less then 50 bucks that I have in a waterproof bag that uses AA batteries and figured why not as finding my cell might be a problem if time is short.


You may only have 2 min.

Read this...

The Marine Installer's Rant: One hundred and twenty seconds

Lots of good input.
Thanks everyone.

That article has caused me to rethink some of the procedures I'd put in place. Thanks for that link.

GFC said:

That article has caused me to rethink some of the procedures I'd put in place. Thanks for that link.

Click to expand...

It did with mine as well, my bag may be all I get my paws on so it has been augmented with items as stated above, it is kept front and center while underway.

I also added 2 manual PFD's inside for my wife and I as well as an automatic PFD wire tied to the outside in case I need to toss it ahead of me.


I have rethought my plan of untying and launching the dingy as now a luxury if I have time.

We cruse coastal, always within sight of land (admiral's orders)


Fire could chase you over the side very quickly as well.

I agree with most of the suggestions, although I'm surprised at the number of people suggesting wallets, cash and credit cards.

Does King Neptune take payments in any currency?

AusCan said:

I agree with most of the suggestions, although I'm surprised at the number of people suggesting wallets, cash and credit cards.

Does King Neptune take payments in any currency?

Click to expand...

No but the bar does when you finally get your sorry butt back to the beach. Speaking only for myself a double scotch would be in order after having my boat sink.

Maybe not but everyone that is truly not a SAR resource might have their hand out. 5 minutes after hitting dry land and being escorted out of the rescue facility....you are on your own to a point in many places.


All you might have is the dripping wet clothes on your back without even cab fare.


Now I have seen all sorts of kindness out of rescuers going off duty and local people/businessmen that have put out a lot of free help...but I would never count on it.

The place where the accident took place in "The Marine Installer's Rant" was right in the ICW, very inland and in sight of land. Note the key thing that saved the day, and at least one life: a real life raft. If you are counting on your dink to substitute, read the article again. If you are counting merely on your PFD, I hope you are in really warm water.

AusCan said:

I agree with most of the suggestions, although I'm surprised at the number of people suggesting wallets, cash and credit cards.

Does King Neptune take payments in any currency?

Click to expand...

Amazingly, this tug (Morton Bouchard) sunk in cape cod canal years ago. Everyone got off, out fine. But the only fatality was.... The Cook. He ran back in for his wallet!

AusCan said:

I agree with most of the suggestions, although I'm surprised at the number of people suggesting wallets, cash and credit cards.

Does King Neptune take payments in any currency?

Click to expand...

The bag is assuming you don't meet Davy Jones.

Did you read the article I posted? Having ID and a CC and a bit of cash could make the next few days more comfortable if your boat sunk or burned up.

This has been a very interesting thread (front to back) for me since I just finished my "survival preparations."

I have a 6 man Coastal Commander (new), a ditch bag with a 406 EPIRB with a new battery, a hand held VHF, portable water maker, first aid kit, food, signaling devices, etc, etc, etc. I'm now writing laminated lists (2) of "Abandoning Ship" procedures which will be prominently posted on the fly bridge and the salon. I sold my dinghy months ago as we don't use it and I don't consider the dinghy to be a life boat. (Besides, it was mounted on the bow and was a bear to launch.)

Lots of good suggestions in this thread, and as many have said, the contents should be tailored to your cruising area.

I prefer to outfit my own bag. I can tailor it to my needs and make seasonal adjustments to the contents. I like the Seal Line Wide Mouth Waterproof Duffle. SealLine® WideMouth™ Duffle Bag

Leave a little air in it so it will float.

I want to emphasize correct storage of the ditch bag, everything you need in the bag as opposed to near by and don't rob the bag.

Keep your bag where it is most likely to be within arms reach in an emergency, not tucked away in a locker somewhere. Don't plan on grabbing the hand held VHF or any other goodies on the way out the door. You may not have the time or be thinking clearly enough.

I second the suggestions for a wallet etc. Having been in a pickle and not had any access to money once safely ashore it's not fun. Fortunately someone loaned us a cell phone and local business took credit card #s from family over the phone. Had we been further from home ID would have been important too.

I highly recommend a PLB. Minutes can turn into hours and can turn into days if rescuers can't locate you. Even in well traveled areas. If things go south very quickly you may not have time to get a distress call out.

Cell phones are handy, but they are short range, short battery life and fail when wet.

Extra clothes are a good idea. It can be a long wet cold night even in summer.

Hmmm. All I have is a PLB, but it's usually not handy-- not in a ditch bag. Obviously I need to put together a ditch bag. How long will a waterproof VHF stay charged up in a ditch bag?

What if you tow your dingy? I would think the chances of getting in it would be much higher that way. I do keep a sharp knife handy to cut lines.

cardude01 said:

Hmmm. All I have is a PLB, but it's usually not handy-- not in a ditch bag. Obviously I need to put together a ditch bag. How long will a waterproof VHF stay charged up in a ditch bag?

What if you tow your dingy? I would think the chances of getting in it would be much higher that way. I do keep a sharp knife handy to cut lines.

Click to expand...

Clip one of these to the hand of the ditch bag...

Jens Carabiner - Titanium |  Kershaw Knives

The handle makes it easy to latch stuff to (line on tender / liferaft) and the hook on the end is a good (very sharp) line cutter. with three small wrenches on the other end.

I also have a multi-tool with saws, wrenches, etc.

Nice to have would be a kershaw axe
Tinder |  Kershaw Knives

I wish they would put the line cutter edge right near the shaft of axe head...

Now all I have to do is cure arthritis and find a boat

Stu

Put my own ditch bag together. We are never more than ten miles off the east coast.
VHF hand held with lithium battery. Stays charged for more than a year, never leaves the ditch bag.
EPIRB.
Hand held GPS.
Hand held air horn with fresh can of air. Horn is not screwed to the can of air yet.
Whistle.
Waterproof very bright flash light.
In date flares.
In date smoke flares.
Two bottles of water.
First aid kit.
Two sun shade hats.
Bottle of sun screen SPF 50.
Leatherman tool.
Toilet paper in a zip lock bag.
The plan is, if the boat is going, down everything gets thrown in the RIB.