Updating Ditch Bag

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Squid1962

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Updating my ditch bag for this summer. Looking for your thoughts so I can ensure I am not missing anything
 
A basic multi tool -- but a decent one - you don't want to rely on a cheap one that you can't open because it rusted shut or the knife breaks in half because it cheap metal. Be sure to put a floatie on the knife!

Some carabiners with 1/4" nylon line so you can clip two people together. I also used a short length (maybe 4' or 5') of nylon line to the knife and a small carabiner so I could clip it to my "ditch" vest - I have the style that has pockets (to already have the small things in) on the front and d-rings - "CG" looking style.
 
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Consider: PLB or EPIRB better, required number of smoke and visible flares, flare gun, maybe electronic flare, water/lifesaver candy, stay afloat leak seal, 2nd flash light, small first aid kit. I have some inexpensive rod leashes to tie things together so I don't lose or tie people in pfds together or to the boat it self should it turtle. Used the double sided velcro ties to hold some things together as well and a handheld vhf.
 
bottles of water, sunscreen, some power bars. I like the idea of premaid caribeaners and rope. I have hand held vhf, plb, flare kit and such. plus water bottles and some power bars. Last year I bought a Garmin In Reach . That too is on the boat or attached to my belt loop. Also, when fishing offshore or traversing off shore ,keep one or two cleats with dock line attached. This way if the boat turtled quickly or slowly the lines are already attached. if seas state allows you can toss the ropes over the hull and use them to hold onto to odd shaped slippery hull while deploying your epirb or plb or in reach .
 
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something that always comes to mine when offshore and when the crap hits the fan, is quick clot and crazy glue, 1st aid kit stuff.
 
Looking at mine right now
Water bottles with squeezy lids not caps...(need fresh bottles)
can of pineapple juice...mmm that was good:p...need more pineapple juice....
Need fresh granola bars
small First Aid kit with usual stuff including tape , pads, & wound seal (There is another first aid kit in the cabin)
Need new bottle of SPF 50+
Flare gun & 8 in-date shells(4 expire in July21 so need more), 4 more expired shells, 4 expired hand held flares, Electronic SOS "flare"(need to put in new batteries), Orange SOS day flag, whistle, mirror, flashlight
EPIRB
PLB (will go on a gumby suit or life jacket if we ditch)
InReach (usually its out of the bag and used when underway offshore. Will go on a gumby suit or life jacket if we ditch)
Handheld VHF is on the charger now
2021 HMS Permit
2021 Tilefish permit
2020 NJ fish regs (2021 not published yet!)
Insurance card

I just got 4 gumby suits.
Need some of those premade attachment lines with clips...great idea...
Need to replace batteries in all life jacket lights.


hmm..dive knife belongs in here....
 
DennisG01 said:
Come to think of it, I think have some granola bars or something in one of the vest pockets... I wonder what their shelf life is....... Think they're good for about 6 or 7 years?
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The reason I say power bars, I mean the actual brand and thing called power bar , is they already have a funky consistency about them. They are a weird chewy texture and say you are hanging out in the water or on the top of the bottom of the boat and they get wet you won't actually know the difference other than some salt water taste . Where as granola bars and the like if they get wet they fall apart. power bars are like taffy texture. Moisture doesn't make them fall apart quickly . Hopefully, though your epirb/plb/ in reach alerted the coast guard and you will quickly be plucked from the sea and not need sunscreen,water or power bars.
 
Don't forget extra sun protection items if you are boating in Southern climes. Extra ball caps, gators, bandanas and such for expected number of crew. Sun damage to the head and neck can be serious if the rescue runs into multiple days. Water is far more important than food for the first week.
 
Like the carabiner with line idea, I have some elastic coiled tether type things that I brought back from a deployment years ago but they're not as functional as the carabiners would be.

In addition to the above, I carry the old style boonie caps in the bag as they offer more complete protection from the sun for your head, face, and neck. Every pair of free handout logo sunglasses that I've been handed as a promotional item from some company or other goes in the bag as backups if someone loses theirs. Small pair of binoculars. I've got a multi-tool but also carry a separate knife that has a purposefully round and blunted blade tip so that it won't accidentally pierce and deflate whatever it hits if it gets dropped.
 
As far as items go I think everyone that already commented has them covered.

Make sure the ditch bag has a consistent location that is very easy to access and that everyone on board knows to grab it in case of an emergency.
 
Billv said:
I used my vaccum sealer to protect some things like a knife and multi-tool from rusting. This way they stay sharp and ready
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vacuum sealing is a great idea. I bet that works for a lot of things You would keep in a ditch bag or even stuff you just want on the boat . Once you have the sealer its no biggie if you have to use something. You can re-seal again before your next trip. Exactly why I like reading this forum!
 
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