Your ditch bag and medical kit are critically important on your boat. Where you’re going really dictates how extensive each one needs to be – going out for afternoons in reasonably protected water with other boats and Coast Guard nearby is vastly different than crossing an ocean. But in either case, you need to be prepared.
I’ve provided detailed lists of what’s in our ditch bag and medical kit and how we arrange it. I suggest using those as a starting point and then add or subtract depending on where you’ll be and any known problems that your crew has. And to make it even easier for you, we’ve set up a Ditch Bag category in our Amazon Store. It’s a simple way to see just what we include in our ditch bag and what it’s likely to cost.
Beyond that, though, is the need to periodically re-check both. We check before any major trip; I make sure to check the first aid supplies at least twice a year and the ditch bag once.
- Take everything out.
- Is the bag or box still is good shape?
- Check that each item is in good condition, works, and is not past any expiration date. Be sure to check batteries and expiration dates on medicines.
- Be sure that you know how to use each item.
- Check everything off against your master list of what should be in the box or bag.
- Replace anything needed.
- Spend a bit of time thinking if you need anything else, or if there are items that you don’t need.
For your ditch bag, add or replace reflective tape on the outside. Test that the bag will float and that everything inside is sufficiently waterproof. Don’t just guess — put a line on the bag and throw it into the water. Yes, it’s a pain if it sinks or if anything inside is ruined by water. But better to know now, when you have access to stores and can replace items, than in the middle of an emergency!
I hope you never have a major emergency but if you do, it’s good to be prepared.
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
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