Ditch Bag

J

JeffR

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I boat in Lake MI, mainly near shore, but with the occasional crosssing a couple times a season, want to put a ditch bag together, and have some basic questions.

First of all, are there actual "bags" designed for this pupose, or do you just use a standard dry bag?

What do you recommend for contents without overdoing it (if that's possible)?

I intend to take the ideas here, look at what I already have and what I need, and start building my "need to buy" list.

Thanks.
 
WOW!! 750+ reads in about a half hour...NOT!

What the heck is up with that?
 
Jeff, we carry one and I bought it, but I suppose any would work. It does float! It has a compartment in the end for our EPIRB, and I also have a handheld VHF with a GPS in it. Regular things from there,,heating silver blankets,,water, ganola bars,,first aid kit. Being from the med field, I do carry other things like an IV set up etc. but overkill!! I put together for some offshore runs, but not all that necessary here on the chesapeake. Signal mirror, a couple flares etc.
 
"are there actual "bags" designed for this pupose, or do you just use a standard dry bag?"

Yes. Use the bag that best suite your situation.

What is in the bag will vary with where and how you use the boat, and if it will be in conjunction with a PFD ( only ) or raft, or dinghy.

Firmly keep in mind the purpose: To keep you healthy ( enough ) and to get found.

Everything about survival involves things being a consumable, including your health. ie: If you do not take drinking water with you, then you are limited to how long you can function without drinking water.

As a generic statement, you want signaling devices. This will include ( all or some ) a strobe marker, pyro signals, such as smoke/meteor aerial flares and/or HH flares, waterproof HH VHF, mirror, flashlight(s). Lung powered whistle(s) and horn, a compressed gas horn.

What you place in the first aid section is arguable, but DO include at the minimum the highest SPF, most waterproof sunblock.

I'll likely post more later. Let's see what others are doing...

-edit-

I never had an official ditch bag. What I DID have was often referred to as "a Captain's Bag". I and many around here often travel on other's boats, some of whom are still in the "learning" category, and we each carry our own Captain's Bag with us... So I had almost everything in the bag that was required by law to make a small recreational vessel "legal", such as my personal inflatable PFD, maps, HH plotting GPS, VHF, flares, horn, whistle, compass, a long sleeve shirt, Sunblock, ball cap, flashlight, personal EPIRB. Old pair of 'script sunglasses. Leatherman. 6way screwdriver. pliers.

In theory, except for lighting, the presence of that bag covered almost all legal requirements, and certainly would have provided enough for good navigation as well as survival tools. And it weighed "less than 70 lbs" ;)
 
( Offtopic... "750+ reads in about a half hour...What the heck is up with that?" Simple answer: your thread title is likely similar to frequently used Gargle search terms. You are getting a lot of hits from folks ( who can't spell ) seeking something else entirely. )
 
Landfall Navigation makes a really good ditch bag. It's what is on my vessel. It's highly rated, very waterproof, and has excellent bouyancy. It's not cheap though, but sometimes ya get what you pay for.

The contents of the bag are equally important. Not everybody's needs are the same, but what's inside should be well thought out.
 
Probably any kayak outfitter can fix you up with a waterproof "dry bag"... the size depends on what you want to put in it. IMO I'd at least have a handheld VHF and GPS (or combo), flashlight, flares, mirror, and other signalling apparatus. Drinking water is a good idea but doesn't necessarily have to be IN the bag, just attached to it. From there on the sky's the limit.
 
While doing a trip I also put all my personal items like credit cards, ID, money, things that are a pain to replace when lost.
 
I use the 5gal orange bucket that Home Depot sells. Together with the lid, it holds plenty, floats, and has a lot more uses than a bag.
 
We purchased a bright yellow soft sided cooler bag for our "ditch bag". Floats great, canvas tuff texture but not internally waterproof, so anything that needs to stay dry needs to be in good plastic bages. We started with a "dry bag" but were so worried about popping a hole in it that we rarely took it. Cooler style gets thrown in the dinghy every journey we take. Wallets, cards, Handheld GPS and VHF, strobes, light sticks, candy bars, water bottles, etc..... Packed for what we do and where we go. It is always stored on the side of the Captains chair, ready to-go. It gets frequently tested for bouyancy as I do "Man-overboard" drills with it when other people are driving. I toss it and yell MOB.....
 
I got a Floating Bag with one of my shotguns, it works great and so far it holds most of what we need
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Go down to your local home repair chain store such as Lowe's. They will have 2 inch wide yellow construction tape like you see at construction sites or even the crime shows on TV. Get a 500-1000 foot role and put in your ditch bag. It only costs about $10. The stuff floats and when trailed out behind you, it will easily mark your whereabouts to any airborn rescue patrol.
 
Thanks for all the feedback...just what I was looking for.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Crossroads

Go down to your local home repair chain store such as Lowe's. They will have 2 inch wide yellow construction tape like you see at construction sites or even the crime shows on TV. Get a 500-1000 foot role and put in your ditch bag. It only costs about $10. The stuff floats and when trailed out behind you, it will easily mark your whereabouts to any airborn rescue patrol.

Click to expand...


Hey great idea. I'm gonna steal it and give it a try this summer.
 
Hey guys...another helicopter pilot related tidbit....Most rescue crews today search with the aid of Night Vision Goggles...if you buy Light Sticks, please buy any color other than blue or green...these colors are nearly impossible to see through the goggles...red is the best color to allow you to be seen by crew wearing goggles!

Ryan
 
If you like, you can look at the classifieds and I have a complete ditch bag with epirb for sale or email me at sgmc08723rb2@gr5tyahoo.com. Steve
 
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