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Who has a ditch bag?
LaRea
Member, Moderator Posts: 7,555 mod
Lately, we've talked a lot about safety and ways to "manufacture good luck." I'd be interested to hear who keeps a ditch bag, what's in it, and where you store it.
A ditch bag is, literally, a bag that you can grab when your boat is sinking and you have only moments to abandon ship. The contents help you and your crew stay afloat, stay alive and get rescued.
I'll confess, in 20+ years I've never made one. It's on my list for this year. It'll be pretty simple, and nothing at all like the ones used by distance cruisers. Flotation, VHF, signaling devices, basic first aid. For now I'll skip the EPIRB, considering the beating my budget has taken this year. I'll have to find somewhere in the cockpit to store it, with a way to keep the VHF charged.
A ditch bag is, literally, a bag that you can grab when your boat is sinking and you have only moments to abandon ship. The contents help you and your crew stay afloat, stay alive and get rescued.
I'll confess, in 20+ years I've never made one. It's on my list for this year. It'll be pretty simple, and nothing at all like the ones used by distance cruisers. Flotation, VHF, signaling devices, basic first aid. For now I'll skip the EPIRB, considering the beating my budget has taken this year. I'll have to find somewhere in the cockpit to store it, with a way to keep the VHF charged.
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State law requires a 1 throw pillow or ring and life jacket for each person on board at hand length all times in boat, children under 16 i think are required to wear them so there are always life jackets on the backs of seats and on dash for quick access. I also keep a pool noodle or two beside the seats in case i need to grab one to snag a struggling swimmer. They can grab the noodle and calm down before i assist them.
In the cabin there are extra life jackets under both sides of the bed as well as pool noodles...just in case i need easy access quickly.
Always a sharp pocket knife and lighter in the cubby hole by the drivers seat. Whistle hanging under steering wheel. Small set of tools in the cubby hole with the battery switch. Jumper cables stowed in the engine hatch. Gallon of engine oil, spare alt and ps belt. 1qt of atf.
First aid kit in cubby hole right inside cabin door, water proof carrying case.
Spare case of water under v berth.
Air horn in cabinet at sink.
Pool noodles in the aft cabin and my son has his own led head lamp.
I don't believe in putting my eggs all in one basket so i have several areas i store things in case of break down, emergency or assistance to others whether it be repairs, emergency, etc.
exes! :-)
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
Ditch Bag Contents:
https://www.thehulltruth.com/10670991-post46.html
In a pinch a wash rag and 5200 will stop up a hole in the fiberglass hull
Charleston is less than 5 hrs from me. If i did go i would need all coast coast guard safety items just to launch. Where i boat isn't regulated by the coast guard, there are no coasties on any of the upstate lakes ive been on, only D.N.R. whistle or horn, paddle, fire extinguisher, throw pillow and approved pfd for each passenger are all you are required for safety equipment up here.
I have a porta potty so my boat i don't think is even compliant with waste regulations lol
The rest of the requirements are fairly common sense. Flares, nave lights, life vests (to include throwable), fire extinguishers and working blowers (move air, not just make noise).
The other items are less obvious like covers on the positive battery terminals, clean backfire flame arrester, proper vessel registration, placards regarding trash and oil.
Odds are if you are compliant with the local DNR you are close for CG.
2002 FV 342 on Lake St. Clair - Past Commodore SHC - Vessel Examiner USCGAUX
Am i also required to have boots over the pos. terminal or is a fully enclosed battery suitable? I feel both is redundant but the costies may want redundancy.
Im under 26 ft so place cards for oil/trash dont apply but i do have a waste place card in the engine hatch of all places
No, self-fusing silicone tape, I have plenty of foam and beeswax for the hull. rasbury said:
Yeah, there's a small weight penalty and most of the 20+ year old ones I've fired have worked in some capacity. We did a CG drill here a few years back - coordinated with them in advance, went out on the boat someplace conspicuous, the CG made the Security call about our flares, and we set off about a dozen for "practice".
We burned holes in a few gloves - so I added a set to my Ditch kit (not listed). Ever since I've more or less decided to carry whatever is legally required, plus a bunch of marine rescue smoke flares. They're smoke trail is visible on nightvision a ways and by FLIR for miles (as opposed to a 30-sec streak of light). No dripping slag.
Also correct about the <26 foot not needing the signs. I'd expect the oil sign in the bilge, not trash.
In many cases if you are boarded by the CG and get a ticket, you can correct the issue and have a VSC done then send the passing VSC form in with the ticket to the address for the ticket. Helped out a local with that a few years back. He forgot to put a throwable on his fishing boat and got boarded.
2002 FV 342 on Lake St. Clair - Past Commodore SHC - Vessel Examiner USCGAUX
2002 FV 342 on Lake St. Clair - Past Commodore SHC - Vessel Examiner USCGAUX
Boonie cap = wide-brim floppy hat for sun protection
Spare Air = single-use scuba tank