Ditch Bags?

[striperfvr]

i have a 25 ft. boat i keep ALL of my safety stuff in 2 bags about the size of a duffle bag 1 bag is the soft valise 4 man life raft 1 bag is the ditch bag.

ditch bag is water tight and will float it is labeled it is made by watershed

inside 4 type I pfd
food & water rations for 4 people for 60hrs.
flashlight & strobe
dye
extra flares
mirror
whistles
extra lightsticks
406 eprib
gps
vhf
emergency at sea hand book


First aid kit is in lift raft in addional to having one onboard vessel.

posted pics so you can my set up

in addition i have a damage control kit for my vessel

hope this helps. i am an AMSEA onboard drill instructor

Impressive display of safety/survival equipment. Thanks for sharing.

[striperfvr]

Whatever ditch bag you use or make, may I suggest two things ?

1. Never assume that if your boat goes down that the life-raft will inflate automatically. You may be in the water by yourself. This being the case, make sure the ditch bag is in a position where it can float free of the vessel and attach a flare pack to it with duct tape or similiar. If you've had the foresight to put a life-jacket in the ditch bag then you're in a better position already.

2. If your ditch-bag floats free you may never find it in rough seas. So an attached flag (small hi-flyer) is essential as well - if you're swimming it will give you a much increased chance of finding it. If you're more than 30' away from it in seas over 3', you'll probably never see it.

One thing I'd like to find is a self-inflating SMB. I think they'd be a great survival tool. Oh, and apart from all the obvious gear in the ditch bag, one of those 100-yard long ribbons so aircraft can find you easier is something to consider.

As for a ditch-bag itself, I've always used an old flare container.

The SMB is a great idea..Never thought about it floating away (what a nightmare that would be). For the ribbon, do you just use the orange ribbon that is used in hunting trail marking applications?