JimH wrote:
On Jun 12, 9:30 pm, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:
What with the fun day I had, I got to thinking about my ditch bag
tonight and what I could do to improve it. Coincidently, I was also
thinking about emergency equipment and what I need to do to improve
that.

So far, I think my ditch bag is pretty much set the way I like it.
It's small and carries my EPIRB, spare VHF handheld, SOLAS aerial
flares, smoke, two each red, yellow, orange glow sticks, protien bars,
32 ounces of water, mirror, signal flag, a Leatherman Super Tool,
three space blankets, my "special" medical kit with lotion (SPF 30)
and three small towels for emergency purposes.

I think that's fairly complete for a ditch bag - anybody add anything
that I haven't thought of?

As to emergency equipment, I have a spare bilge pump that can be used
to pump out other boats or as a spare for my boat (or at least stem
the rising tide as it were), four PFDs (Type II), two Type III PFD
(auto), two throw bags, block and tackle to hang off the T-Top to get
somebody out of the water if necessary, two Type IV throwables, spare
boarding ladder (collapsable), two lined light weight jackets
(Canadian Armed Forces actually - waterproof too), 150' of 1/2 brained
line and of course extra medical supplies along with the emergency bag
with all the emergency stuff.

Have I left anything out?

I thought you boated on small inland lakes.

I've learned by experience it is far better to be a bit over-prepared
and never need it, than under-prepared and wish you had it when it
really counted.

Similarily, for years when trailering through S Florida, I carried a box
of stuff 'just in case'. Extra jack w/custom footing plate, jack stands,
flares, grease, lights, gloves, bug spray,etc. You name it, I about
had it crammed into that container.

For every trip we returned and never even opened that box, I cursed
myself for the effort to schlep it around. The one time I had a blow out
on Alligator alley, we were fixed and back rolling in less than one
hour. Makes it all seem worth it now.