Assembling a 'Simple' Ditch Bag?

[JoLin]

I boat almost exclusively in semi-protected waters, within sight of land, and I'm not particularly concerned about being immersed for very long if the worst happens. Hell, I'll probably drift to shore in an hour. My main concern would be going overboard in nighttime or foggy conditions and making sure I can be seen/heard. Lin and I have auto-inflate PFD's equipped with whistles and strobe lights. I just want to raise my level of preparedness a bit. Here's what I've come up with for the bag...

- My hand-held VHF
- An extra strobe light
- Extra whistle(s)
- A shiny mirror or CD and a few flares.
- A length of small diameter rope in case Lin and I need to lash ourselves together or tie up to the boat.
- My leatherman tool
- Couple small bottles of water (beer might be better? )

My cell phone is usually in my pocket so I can expect that to be useless once I hit the water. All the stuff above should fit into a smallish bag. Is there anything obvious that I've overlooked?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Assembling a 'Simple' Ditch Bag?

A personal locator beacon or do the Jaws thing and get a bigger boat!

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Assembling a 'Simple' Ditch Bag?

I have a floating ditch bag but I still put all the survival items in potective bags that I get at West Marine. These have grommets that can be used to lash them together and they float when sealed. I carry a USCG emergency kit with everything required by law including flares. I also carry a space blanket, a couple of MRE's, water purification tablets, a handfull of Bic Lighters, a multi-tool, a survival knife, first aid kit and and adult size inflateable pool ring in the unopened package. My VHF has an emergency button that transmits my location and vessel ID but my floating hand held is always in the drink holder. My cell phone goes into a waterproof bag when I get on the boat and the GPS locator function is enabled. I don't like to open my ditch bag unless it's an emergency, that way I know what was in there when I put it together is still there. Things that need charging like a cell phone or portable VHF stay close and ready. If for some reason I don't have time to open the hatch and grab the ditch bag, I might still be able to grab the radio and phone and I know they're charged and will give me maximum use time.

I also have inflateable automatic pfd's and I wear mine all the time but I also carry a spare that I can grab. And then there's that inflateable pool ring that I can blow up after I'm in the water. I've been through survival training on various levels and just having something to hang on to can make the difference between making it to shore and not.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Assembling a 'Simple' Ditch Bag?

Some cell carriers accept 911 calls from non-activated cell phones.
You could keep an older charged one in a ziplock.

 

[Don S]

Re: Assembling a 'Simple' Ditch Bag?

I boat almost exclusively in semi-protected waters, within sight of land, and I'm not particularly concerned about being immersed for very long if the worst happens. Hell, I'll probably drift to shore in an hour.

Not sure how cold the water is where you boat, but that hour comment was scary. might want to watch the first video in this tread.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=523454

 

[JoLin]

Re: Assembling a 'Simple' Ditch Bag?

Not sure how cold the water is where you boat, but that hour comment was scary. might want to watch the first video in this tread.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=523454

Don, I've lived on Long Island all my life. A full survival suit and life raft are overkill for what I do, where I go, and the size of my boat. I'm already better equipped than most of the boaters I meet. In the event I had a problem during the summer I wanted to be prepared with just a little bit more than my DSC-equipped VHF radio, my hand-held VHF radio, my auto-inflate PFD's, whistles and strobe lights.

I think some cyalume light sticks would be a good addition, too. Just thought of that.

Thanks.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Assembling a 'Simple' Ditch Bag?

These are great ideas. I wonder, though, if we're all assuming we will get some warning we'll be headed into the drink. I'm not sure in that split second before a collision or other like event rummaging around for the bag is going to cut it. At least those are the conditions I imagine it taking to get me into the water when I don't mean to be heading that way.

For that reason I think a small flashlight looped through the pfd would be a good idea. When I was boating Lake Ontario at night I'd actually have a flarepack on my belt. Got me some funny looks at the ramp on a balmy summer evening but I figure at least then when I come to my senses bobbing amongst the wreckage I've got half a chance of finding that bag or at the very least, have some kind of light emitting devices on me.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Assembling a 'Simple' Ditch Bag?

These are great ideas. I wonder, though, if we're all assuming we will get some warning we'll be headed into the drink. I'm not sure in that split second before a collision or other like event rummaging around for the bag is going to cut it. At least those are the conditions I imagine it taking to get me into the water when I don't mean to be heading that way.

For that reason I think a small flashlight looped through the pfd would be a good idea. When I was boating Lake Ontario at night I'd actually have a flarepack on my belt. Got me some funny looks at the ramp on a balmy summer evening but I figure at least then when I come to my senses bobbing amongst the wreckage I've got half a chance of finding that bag or at the very least, have some kind of light emitting devices on me.

Yup, the amount of time one has before leaving the boat is a concern. If I was boating in the ocean or Great Lakes, I'd be equipped to a higher level, with Mustang offshore PFD's for instance. Those have a bunch of pockets, straps and D-rings to hang equipment from. That isn't where I am, though. I don't want/need to wear a PFD that's bulky and loaded with stuff. I use WM's coastal series auto inflatables. There's a zippered compartment for my strobe light, and a strap for my whistle.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Assembling a 'Simple' Ditch Bag?

...I use WM's coastal series auto inflatables. There's a zippered compartment for my strobe light, and a strap for my whistle.

I'd say that's about perfect Jo -

 

[dingbat]

Re: Assembling a 'Simple' Ditch Bag?

SPOT
http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=102

 

[JoLin]

Re: Assembling a 'Simple' Ditch Bag?

SPOT
http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=102

SPOT is a neat idea and potentially handy in some circumstances, but I wouldn't want to stake my life on it. If it made sense for me to have a personal locator beacon my choice would be an EPIRB, hands down (I'd also be building a more comprehensive ditch bag).

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Assembling a 'Simple' Ditch Bag?

You can get the military spec cell phones that are waterproof for a certain depth and time. Mine is waterproof up to 3 feet for 30 mins. and it's alway in my pants pocket, if I go in the drink and don't think I can get out it'll be the first thing I use.