Ditch bags are pretty important should you need to abandon ship in an emergency and hopefully I’ll never need to but in any case here’s what Papa has in his bag.
I spotted this ACR bag on Craigslist for $25 and with it received a flashlight (no batteries required) some flares outdated no doubt and a waterproof jacket for the VHF radio, so yeah pretty happy with that purchase. Anytime I don’t have to visit those robber barons at Westmarine I am definitely saving money. Kathie gave me the VHF radio for Christmas and I purchased the PLB (Personal Locater Beacon) online. Anyway these are some of the important items that I’ve chosen to bring along but am always open to suggestions.
Hi Jim: Here is my list for a Ditch Bag
EPIRB (cause the USCG like everyone else only uses computer these days)
PLB (cause the Coasties think only one emergency beacon is a false alarm)
Streamer (to float on the water so they find your body)
Life jackets (t keep the ditch bag floating – and you)
Flares (for a false sense of security)
Laser flare (to actually signal someone)
VHF radio (in a bag, to call for help)
Cell phone (hopefully you have time to grab it and put it in a dry bag)
WX radio/world radio (To listen to music while trying to survive)
GPS (to know what no one else knows – where you are)
Water proof bags (for each piece of electronics)
Water bottles (for that life saving liquid – rum)
Food bars (cause its bad to drink on an empty stomach)
Head lamp (to find the rum, and signal the Coastie who is busy texting on his cell phone)
Signal mirror (to blind pilots and boat operators)
Exposure suit (to keep your skin from getting all wrinkled)
Strobe light (to keep beat with the music at night)
Batteries (cause all the ones in your electronics will most likely be dead)
Bailer (to keep your dinghy dry – if you remembered to untie it from the boat before it sank)
Hat (Cause sunburn sucks)
Sunglasses (might as well be comfortable)
Sunscreen (shark repellent)
First aid kit (for the boo boo you got when you abandoned ship)
Long pole or expendable pole (to poke sharks or retrieve stuff that floated away)
Snorkeling mask (to see what is nibbling at you, or the EBIRB or VHF sinking in to the depths)
Water shoes (to walk home across the coral you hit)
20 feet of 3/8″ (to tie your wife or other valuables to you)
Four 6 foot 1/8″ lines (to tie stuff together so you don’t need the long pole)
Crab pot floats (to tie to stuff that might sink – like everything in the bag when you open it)
Cash (Cause if you are lucky enough to be rescued, you’ll need cash to get home)
A bathing suit (Cause clothes are heavy and have other uses in emergencies)
LMAO!….gosh, lots of great ideas Eric, especially the crab pot floats and since you mentioned sharks I’m a little freaked out. I’ve nothing in my bag for sharks and am afraid “a long pole” will leave me wanting more. Would an RPG be overkill?