I'm putting together a ditch bag for my sailboat.
Other than a GPIRB and a flashlight, what else should be added?
Thanks, Jay

Water purifier of some kind?


"just me" wrote in message
...
I'm putting together a ditch bag for my sailboat.
Other than a GPIRB and a flashlight, what else should be added?
Thanks, Jay

Unless you expect to be rescued in a few hours -- sunscreen, and energy
bars -- signal mirror, flares,

Bob La Londe wrote:
Water purifier of some kind?


"just me" wrote in message
...

I'm putting together a ditch bag for my sailboat.
Other than a GPIRB and a flashlight, what else should be added?
Thanks, Jay

Essential Survival Equipment
406 Mhz EPIRB
Handheld GPS, waterproof with fresh batteries and spare batteries
Handheld VHF, waterproof with fresh batteries and spare batteries
First Aid kit and manual
1 plastic drinking vessel
2 bottles of water per person, more if you have room
Sunscreen and lip balm
2 waterproof flashlight with fresh batteries and spare batteries
Waterproof battery container
Anti-seasickness tablets, six per person
Imersion suit or thermal protective aid if in cold climates
Signal horn, USCG compliant
Loud whistle
Signal mirror
Night distress signals
Distress SOS light
3 Parachute flares, SOLAS
3 handheld red flares, SOLAS
Day Visual signals
Orange distress flag
3 orange smoke signals, SOLAS

Highly recommended Survival equipment
Large clean sponge in a waterproof container
2-ea Safty Tin can openers
Blunt noseknife (locking)
Non-thirst provoking rations
Barley sugar or equivalent
Survival instructions
Nylon line
Large waterproof bags. zip-lock type
Toilet pater in waterproof bags

krj

Jim, wrote:
Unless you expect to be rescued in a few hours -- sunscreen, and energy
bars -- signal mirror, flares,

Bob La Londe wrote:

Water purifier of some kind?


"just me" wrote in message
...

I'm putting together a ditch bag for my sailboat.
Other than a GPIRB and a flashlight, what else should be added?
Thanks, Jay

"krj" wrote in message
Essential Survival Equipment
406 Mhz EPIRB
Handheld GPS, waterproof with fresh batteries and spare batteries
Handheld VHF, waterproof with fresh batteries and spare batteries
First Aid kit and manual
1 plastic drinking vessel
2 bottles of water per person, more if you have room
Sunscreen and lip balm
2 waterproof flashlight with fresh batteries and spare batteries
Waterproof battery container
Anti-seasickness tablets, six per person
Imersion suit or thermal protective aid if in cold climates
Signal horn, USCG compliant
Loud whistle
Signal mirror
Night distress signals
Distress SOS light
3 Parachute flares, SOLAS
3 handheld red flares, SOLAS
Day Visual signals
Orange distress flag
3 orange smoke signals, SOLAS

Highly recommended Survival equipment
Large clean sponge in a waterproof container
2-ea Safty Tin can openers
Blunt noseknife (locking)
Non-thirst provoking rations
Barley sugar or equivalent
Survival instructions
Nylon line
Large waterproof bags. zip-lock type
Toilet pater in waterproof bags

krj

Jim, wrote:
Unless you expect to be rescued in a few hours -- sunscreen, and energy
bars -- signal mirror, flares,

Bob La Londe wrote:

Water purifier of some kind?


"just me" wrote in message
...

I'm putting together a ditch bag for my sailboat.
Other than a GPIRB and a flashlight, what else should be added?
Thanks, Jay

With the exception of the obvious, most, if not all, are stored in a liferaft.

Depends if your gonna be ditching in the mid Pacific in a dinghy or in the
middle of the Chesapeake.
G
"just me" wrote in message
...
I'm putting together a ditch bag for my sailboat.
Other than a GPIRB and a flashlight, what else should be added?
Thanks, Jay

Ahoy The

If you are going offshore/overseas would suggest passport and
cash....they may not take major credit cardsg.

Also a sense of humor. "He who would go to sea for pleasure would go
to hell for a pastime." Lord Chesterfield

L'Enfant du Vent

krj wrote in
:

406 Mhz EPIRB


Make that 406 Mhz EPIRB with integral GPS receiver. Uplinks your exact
position to the birds along with your distress call. Saves the helo boys
hours to days of flight time trying to zero in on you when you're telling
them where you are within a meter....

On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 13:05:20 -0500, "just me"
wrote:

I'm putting together a ditch bag for my sailboat.
Other than a GPIRB and a flashlight, what else should be added?
Thanks, Jay

I assume you mean an EPIRB.

I am on Lake Ontario, but I have among other things hand-held flares,
a heaving line with float, a signalling mirror, a flashlight, extra
batteries, a submersible VHF and a surplus GPS. I also carry in there
a cheap multi-tool, some battery powered nav lights and a small Zodiac
patch kit, as this box is not only for the sailboat, but is also what
I throw in the RIB when I go out in the evenings for a blast around
the island on hot calm nights. I also have a litre of water lashed
into the Zodiac, although Lake Ontario is far more drinkable offshore
than it used to be. All this is in a orange, gasketed "fisherman's
box" that floats...barely...even with the relatively heavy batteries
and VHF in it.

When cruising, the Zodiac is frequently on a bridle unless it's
blowing past 20 or so, so it's the de facto "life raft". In actuality,
when I suffered an engine failure in windless conditions, I lashed it
to the side and powered home at 4 knots with the Honda 9.9
four-stroke.

In an ocean situation, I think the ditch bag contents would be part of
a liferaft situation, and that means compact food, liquids, medical
kit, some drugs even, and maybe mylar tarps, a solar still or a
hand=powered watermaker. You have to have a Plan B offshore that takes
into account exposure to the elements, whereas a daysailer is
primarily concerned with contacting the authorities over in-water
survival.

YMMV
R.

"just me" wrote in message ...
I'm putting together a ditch bag for my sailboat.
Other than a GPIRB and a flashlight, what else should be added?
Thanks, Jay

Lots of other stuff you should have, which others have listed in
detail, but for the eternal miser such as myself...
Throw in an old CD - makes a good signalling mirror - plastic, light,
tough.

I wouldn't cheapskate on survival gear generally, but this one is as
good as the "real thing" available from your local chandlers.