What is a Ditch Kit?
A ditch kit is something you pray you never have to use but it better be ready if it ever comes time to abandon ship. An abandoned ship bag, also known as a ditch kit, is a positively buoyant bag or box that is filled with items that could save your life in emergency situations. Below is a ditch kit checklist to help you design your own kit.
Choosing a Ditch Kit
Life Cell Ditch Kit
We opted for the Life Cell Trailer Boat Kit because it is a combination of a ditch kit and a flotation device. The Life Cell is bright orange and easily seen, comes with lanyards to tether yourself to it, and it can hold all the necessary safety items including an EPIRB. This kit can be mounted in an easily accessible spot and is small enough to not be in the way.
What to Pack
Communications:
Handheld Waterproof VHF (preferably battery operated)
Handheld GPS (battery operated)
Flares
Flashlight
Survival Gear
Knife
Fishing line and lures
Duct tape (wrapped around a pencil)
First Aid Kit (with emergency blanket)
Sea Sick Medicine (to prevent dehydration caused by vomiting)
Food and Water
High Energy Survival Foods (protein bars will do)
If you have a pup on board pack a small bag of dog food and a small bowl
Personal Items
Copy of Passports, Boat documentation, and Banking Info (in a ziplock)
Currency
Any necessary medications
The ditch kit checklist above is here to guide you in building your own ditch kit. The size of your kit and the number of crew will determine how much you should and could bring. Make sure you mount your completed kit in a place that is easy to access in an emergency.
What is in your ditch kit?
I hope you never have to use it!
Thanks for reading:)
Sierra
Lmfao now that’s funny
Hi Sierra, Billy, and course, Jetty –
I saw that the items listed above were linked to Amazon. Would using the links on this page take me to Amazon the same way your link in your YouTube videos do, so that you get a commission from Amazon? (for others reading this question, I understand this commission does not increase your purchase cost)
Hi John 🙂
Yes the items listed above take you through our Amazon affiliate link.
As for the batteries we keep flashlight batteries, gps batteries, and all extra batteries in a ziplock bag 🙂
Thank you for the questions!
Another question for you guys, this one about batteries. Do you store the batteries in or out of the device? I have have lost a few flashlights the last few years to batteries that swell and leak electrolyte. I would hate that to happen to an EPIRB or GPS.
Very well organized list! I just found your site, and I am unable to stop reading. Stylish, brief, and to the point.
I would add a rechargeable desiccant, helping to keep all materials fresh(er) in the watertight case(s). Long storage life batteries in a very durable “seal a meal” bag will minimize leaks i have found better than zip locs. And though it defeats the all in one ditch bag, I am a believer in a new 1 gallon metal paint can with electronics stored inside, giving pretty good insurance for lighting strikes. Maybe I will tether them together tomorrow, way more exciting than cleaning!