What should be in a ditch bag?

[MrHunters]

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.

[likwid]

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

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)