As someone said on JackJ's thread: "What do you think a ditch bag should contain?"

I'd like to hear some thoughts from all of you. This story has inspired me to have a plan to say the least.

I'm researching what my bag would need for the fishing I usually do. It would need some additions for when I do take my boat out to the Bank, which is rare. But might consider it even when going on others' boats...

Start here for some thoughts Making a Ditch Bag – What to Put in an Abandon Ship Bag (http://sailing.about.com/od/equipmentgear/a/AbandonShipBag.htm).



Emergency preparedness: whats in your ditch bag - The Hull Truth - Boating and Fishing Forum (http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/363737-emergency-preparedness-whats-your-ditch-bag.html)

Thanks Fishing Fool for starting. Tomorrow after work I plan to hit Bass Pro for some items specific to a ditch kit. First and foremost a handheld VHF that is submersible and floats! The model I intend to get also has a strobe light on it. I have a great VHF with dsc on the boat but what good is it if you don't have time to use it. I was also thinking of just putting all saftey gear on the boat, in it and make sure it is easily accessible. I will also get a replacement bilge pump and the required connections that if I don't replace the original, (due to time or crazy seas), I can make it work on its own. Also interested in others ideas.

Good stuff in the links above.

this stuff is pretty cool.. I guess it's more for the "before the ditch bag, bag" ..

‪Stay Afloat Promo‬‏ - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=888wQhRcmjQ)

Some other items that were recommended to put in the bag included bottles of water and energy bars, something to keep you going in case you're out there for a little while...

I would say the key items are:

VHF
PLB
Flares (smoke, parachute, hi-vis, all SOLAS)
Strobe/glowsticks
Signal mirror
Whistles
Food/Drink

Probably somethings I am forgetting. All placed in a waterproof, floating bag that's on deck where it can float free. Doesn't do any good if it's stowed away.

Besides all of the necessary stuff listed above. I would pack red bull and snickers. Those two combined can keep you going for a while. Not even joking. And NO you don't crash from drinking a red bull. If I had to float around for a while I'd definetly enjoy one with a snickers after I was well hydrated.
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It's a good idea to keep a spare bilge pump with 10' of wire with alligator clips to connect it to the batteries and enough hose to get the water over the side. It' a quick fix for a seized bilge pump. I had my pump freeze up this year but caught it on the pre-season check out.

Communication and signaling equipment is the key to rescue and survival. If the search doesn't start until you're reported missing, it's not likely you'll be found if you find yourself in the water like what JAKK posted.

Don't waste space in the ditch bag with food - use that space for more water. If you are able to stay with a boat that is partially afloat, water will keep you alive a lot longer than that food will. Most ready to pack food is also loaded with sodium which is not your friend when you have limited water.

I see many people replying about an extra bilge pump.

Any boat bigger than say 17' should already have at least 2 permanent pumps installed. Then not as much worry if one fails.

I'll be putting a little floatation bouy on my little handheld, waterproof but i don't think it floats.

2 perm install auto

1 heavy duty manual

Carrying around a wired spare is for the most part, completely pointless, yes you can replace that burnt out auto on the fly, but what are you going to do if your batteries give up the ghost? Rub the wires together? :D

Lifejackets should be equipped with these:
http://www.landfallnavigation.com/sa3959.html

Along with having reflective tape on them to improve visibility at night.

As said before, food/junk/etc is pointless. You need water, not crap.

If you have inflatables, its time to start thinking about moving over to Hydrostatic releases instead of the bobbins. Much more reliable and won't go off on you at stupid moments. Even though its completely hilarious. :hihi:

Dual Electric bilges, wired to separate batteries, with the float switch on the higher bilge pump also triggering an audible alarm. You will likely get warning long before you are in that spiraling loss of options.

1 manual handheld, several milk jugs (bottoms cut), and I'm liking the link to the manual pump Likwid posted.

Agree on the Ditchbag needing to be free on the deck. Even inside a hatch that will pop open only works if the boat has not turned turtle.

This is a great response thread to JacKK's story. I started shopping for the VHF handhelds right after I read it. I'm going to put a bag together for my uncles boat for a B-Day present. And hopefully it ends up like my dental floss, owned, but never used. <rim shot!>

Any tricks on stashing it on the deck in a manner that would allow it to float but stay secure while cruising to another fishing spot?

Besides all of the necessary stuff listed above. I would pack red bull and snickers. Those two combined can keep you going for a while. Not even joking. And NO you don't crash from drinking a red bull. If I had to float around for a while I'd definetly enjoy one with a snickers after I was well hydrated.
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the caffeine would make me freak out even more! I was thinking of including a fifth of jack or jim beam, it might calm me down

Nevermind all this happened right after shark week, I was on the water and was watching my back constantly after all the great white footage.

Seriously, this is an amazing thread and thanks to JackK, I will be building a ditch bag. Your story knocked some sense in me and I will take action

I agree. Takes balls to show your mistakes/misfortunes/luck. I just extended my budget this year because of this thread, and to be honest, slightly embarrassed I did not do this when I got the boat. It's different when you see first hand how fast chit can go wrong. I hope never to use any of it.

Just ordered:
ACR RapidDitch Express Bag
ACR AquaLink™ View PLB-350C (epirb next year)
Standard Horizon HX290 Floating Handheld VHF Radio
that "goo" from West Marine
adding a high water alarm
and a hand operated bilge pump.
Strobe Light, air horn, whistles, reflectors, mirror, new life jacket ditch bag pack.
All that plus what I have now, flares, first aid, etc, is going in the bag.

All this for under 1K which the lives of my friends and loved ones is certainly worth more.

I've been fortunate enough to have "handmedowns (aka: an excuse for my dad to buy the latest and greatest liferaft/epirb/etc)" that are still within spec and date, but most of the gear, there just really isn't any excuse to NOT have it.

Whats the price of staying alive?

Type 2 lifejackets can easily be retrofitted with sticky back reflective tape. Police/fire supply has it MUCH cheaper than marine supply.

Here's the basic, $1300 LRSE coastal ditch bag: ProductBotDetail (http://www.lrse.com/abandon_ship_coastal_kit.aspx)

Throw in a first aid kit (is that in there?), lifejackets, and a few other things, and you're EXCEEDING the CG safety requirements.

And those flares are freaking amazing (pains wessex)

If you have inflatables, its time to start thinking about moving over to Hydrostatic releases instead of the bobbins. Much more reliable and won't go off on you at stupid moments. Even though its completely hilarious. :hihi:


got a link?

Carrying around a wired spare is for the most part, completely pointless, yes you can replace that burnt out auto on the fly, but what are you going to do if your batteries give up the ghost? Rub the wires together? :D

Same thing you're going to do when the batteries give up and you actually have dual pumps - not much you can do except watch her disappear...

My bilge is to small to fit another pump with the live well pumps and existing (way oversized) bilge pump. I can clip on the alligator clips and toss the extra pump in the hole - doubles my pumping capacity while I head for the beach. I agree - avoiding the crisis is always better than being prepared to react to it. Doubles as a washdown when the bluefish puke all over the deck too...:rotf2:

OK with all this talk of being prepared I went out today and invested in a handheld radio from West Marine. It is both/all of a VHF, GPS, navigation, DSC radio... When I got to the store my intent was to purchase a ARC PLB (ResQLink) and a VHF radio, at least that is before I saw the VHF/GPS radio at the price for the ARC alone. I bought the Standard Horizon HX851, here is the review: The Standard Horizon HX851 floats, has an internal GPS, can navigate, make DSC calls, and display a strobe light. That is a bunch of functionality in a small package and probably explains why this is such a hot selling radio. Thoughts?

I'm charging it up now and hope NOT to have to use it tomorrow!

got a link?

Life Raft Survival Equipment - Abandon Ship Equipment (http://www.lrse.com/mustang_hydrostatic_inflatable_pfd.aspx)

Found these to be super comfy. (Almost as nice as the Spinlock, but the USCG seems to ignore European regs which are MORE STRICT)