El and Bill
New member
We have recently received some e-mail about what to carry in a ditch bag should our boat sink when cruising in remote areas. So, this is what we carry in a small waterproof bag that snaps around my waist in rough weather.
For Survival: 3 Main Things: Fire, Shelter, Signal
Fire: water proof matches in waterproof match case. (Some folks carry 2 Bic lighters or a magnesium lighter)
Fire: wax paper, cotton balls in Vaseline in pill case -- all in small paper bag
Shelter: In case of sinking, we carry 2 lg black plastic bags, space blanket, space blanket bivy, rope, knife
Signal: signal mirror (glass), whistle, handheld GPS (to give exact location), handheld marine radio ( to contact passing or searching boats)
1st Aid: kit, also Tylenol, latex gloves, bug repellent, Neosporin, water purifier tablets
Prevention: publish your plan, GPS w/ spare batteries, flashlight, cell phone (at top of mountains), VHF radio, compass, small sheet aluminum foil to use as cook pot to make snow into water or boil water to purify. You can live (probably for three weeks) without food, but only three or so days without water. Plenty of spare batteries.
Notes: if boat is still visible from air (like on shore), stay near the boat. Plane can see that easier than people. Also, might get provisions and other stuff from boat, if accessible. Try to set up shelter, fire for drying clothes and signalling as quickly as possible -- preferably while sun is up, since hypothermia sets in super fast – uncontrollable shivering is all you’ll feel before slipping into altered mental state; use dead dry branches at bottom of trees still attached; turn off cell phone if no coverage – can call at mountain tops; wear hat at night to keep warm – if no hat use clothing (e.g., underwear); get wood for night early – then get 10x that amount and you might make it to morning, stay hydrated. We don't carry any clothes in ditch bag -- too bulky.
To make water still if in a dry area, dig 3’x3’ hole, put aluminum foil shaped as container at bottom, put large black plastic bag over top and weight edges, put small stone in middle over pot, condensation from below will occur and drip into the pot. Make 2 or more stills. In snow, don’t eat it – melt it with fire using aluminum foil pot.
Signal – fire at night, lots of smoke in the day! Call every hour on VHF, listen five minutes, turn off.
These are the clothes we wear in cold water cruising, cotton is worst for warmth – no blue jeans ever. Use smart wool or polypro thermals for 1st layer, fleece 2nd layer, shell for 3rd layer. This is the ideal for wearing, although often don't have the shell on in cold rough water if we have the stove on.
Our ditch bag is a small, waterproof bag that snaps around our waist -- whenever we wear life jackets in the boat, in really rough weather, I have it strapped on. Otherwise it is under dinette table, easily accessible.
Any other ideas?
For Survival: 3 Main Things: Fire, Shelter, Signal
Fire: water proof matches in waterproof match case. (Some folks carry 2 Bic lighters or a magnesium lighter)
Fire: wax paper, cotton balls in Vaseline in pill case -- all in small paper bag
Shelter: In case of sinking, we carry 2 lg black plastic bags, space blanket, space blanket bivy, rope, knife
Signal: signal mirror (glass), whistle, handheld GPS (to give exact location), handheld marine radio ( to contact passing or searching boats)
1st Aid: kit, also Tylenol, latex gloves, bug repellent, Neosporin, water purifier tablets
Prevention: publish your plan, GPS w/ spare batteries, flashlight, cell phone (at top of mountains), VHF radio, compass, small sheet aluminum foil to use as cook pot to make snow into water or boil water to purify. You can live (probably for three weeks) without food, but only three or so days without water. Plenty of spare batteries.
Notes: if boat is still visible from air (like on shore), stay near the boat. Plane can see that easier than people. Also, might get provisions and other stuff from boat, if accessible. Try to set up shelter, fire for drying clothes and signalling as quickly as possible -- preferably while sun is up, since hypothermia sets in super fast – uncontrollable shivering is all you’ll feel before slipping into altered mental state; use dead dry branches at bottom of trees still attached; turn off cell phone if no coverage – can call at mountain tops; wear hat at night to keep warm – if no hat use clothing (e.g., underwear); get wood for night early – then get 10x that amount and you might make it to morning, stay hydrated. We don't carry any clothes in ditch bag -- too bulky.
To make water still if in a dry area, dig 3’x3’ hole, put aluminum foil shaped as container at bottom, put large black plastic bag over top and weight edges, put small stone in middle over pot, condensation from below will occur and drip into the pot. Make 2 or more stills. In snow, don’t eat it – melt it with fire using aluminum foil pot.
Signal – fire at night, lots of smoke in the day! Call every hour on VHF, listen five minutes, turn off.
These are the clothes we wear in cold water cruising, cotton is worst for warmth – no blue jeans ever. Use smart wool or polypro thermals for 1st layer, fleece 2nd layer, shell for 3rd layer. This is the ideal for wearing, although often don't have the shell on in cold rough water if we have the stove on.
Our ditch bag is a small, waterproof bag that snaps around our waist -- whenever we wear life jackets in the boat, in really rough weather, I have it strapped on. Otherwise it is under dinette table, easily accessible.
Any other ideas?