Ditch Bag

[Offshoreman]

Anyone carry a ditch bag?

I have one with many items I feel are necessary for rapid rescue, should things go bad.

Ditch bag with my boat name (Reel Time!) and boat registration number
EPIRB
Water
Flares
Smoke
Flare gun with flares
Whistle
Mirror
Back-up cell phone (Charged)
Air horn
A couple blunt knives
Multi-tool
Floating VHF
emergency Blankets (3)
Flashlights (2)
Sun screen
Sea sick pills (Less Drowsy Dramamine)
First Aid quick-guide
First aid kit including misc meds: Aspirin, Benadryl, Tylenol, etc.
Lanyard (to keep your bag of goodies nearby)

I usually also have an immersion suit for each person, (but just for far-offshore trips)

I'm certain I'm forgetting something.

What do you carry?

 

[Push&Pull]

I carry a fairly inclusive Ditch Bag along with lots of other safety gear. Plus the Ditch bag is watertight and floats. I even have blood clotting agent, lidocaine and syringes for use with a suture and staple kit.

Lots of pointy and sharp things on boats.

 

[Offshoreman]

Yes! Very good. I'm certain my list was not all inclusive, but it is very, very important to have all safety gear in one central location.

Locking that ditch bag into a secure compartment does not allow for Rapid access if something bad happens. On my center console, there's a place where it sits on the deck. In the event the boat were to overturn suddenly, or something bad would happen, it could float away, it could be easily grabbed, and it's Always In Plain Sight.

Not an alarmist, but preparation for an event is a key to surviving the event.