A ditch bag is the grab-and-go bag you take when you have to abandon ship — everything you need to survive, signal for rescue, and get found.
Most ditch bag lists were written when rescue could take days or weeks. That’s changed. With an EPIRB, a satellite communicator, and the network of Starlink-connected cruising boats that now monitors distress alerts, rescue times have compressed dramatically — even offshore. What you actually need in the bag has changed with it.
The priorities are the same regardless of where you cruise: communication and signaling first, first aid second, survival supplies third, documents last. But the specifics matter, and they depend on where you’re going and what your realistic rescue scenario looks like. After 17 years of living aboard, here’s how I think about it — and exactly what’s in our bag.
I hope we never need any of it. But if we do, I want it to be right.
The Bag Itself
Before thinking about what goes inside, the bag needs to float, close securely, and be easy to grab under stress. We use an ACR floating ditch bag (Amazon) — it has built-in flotation rated for 25 pounds of gear, plus external pockets and attachment points that make organizing the contents easier. Note that the current model is slightly redesigned from the one in the photo above. A waterproof dry bag or a sealed 5-gallon bucket also work.
Keep the weight manageable. Twenty-five pounds is about the maximum — if you can’t move the bag quickly, it won’t help you. If your gear weighs more, split it into two smaller bags and keep both accessible.
A few things that live in the bag and don’t fit neatly into the categories below:
- Lock & Lock waterproof containers (Amazon) and this size (Amazon) — Keep small items organized and dry inside the bag. The trapped air also adds flotation.
- Stainless knife (Amazon) — Must be stainless so it won’t rust in the marine environment.
- Small waterproof binoculars (Amazon) — For spotting rescuers or identifying what’s on shore. A lower priority if you’re watching the budget.
- Waterproof crank/solar flashlight (Amazon) — Make sure it’s truly waterproof. Tied to the outside where it’s the first thing you can reach. Emergencies happen at night.
- Spare glasses — If you need them, they go in the bag.
- Duct tape — As much as fits. Wrap some around a pencil for a small emergency roll.
- SOLAS Reflexite reflective tape (Amazon) — Put it on the outside of the bag and on any critical gear. The SOLAS tape is much more reflective than other so-called reflective tape. If something goes in the water at night, you want to be able to find it.
- Swim noodle chunks — Cut a swim noodle and stuff chunks into every gap for extra flotation beyond what the bag itself provides.
Store the bag where you can reach it in a hurry. The best ditch bag in the world is worthless if it’s buried in a locker when you have 90 seconds to get off the boat. See our article on where to store the ditch bag for specifics.
Communication and Signaling
This is the most important category. Getting found depends entirely on your ability to alert rescuers and help them pinpoint your location.
Getting the distress call out:
- ACR GlobalFix V5 AIS EPIRB (Amazon) — When activated, your GPS position goes to the Coast Guard via the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite network. Register it with NOAA so responders know who they’re looking for and how many are aboard.
This model has AIS, which simultaneously broadcasts your position to nearby AIS-equipped vessels via VHF — triggering an alarm on their chartplotter.
It also has Return Link, which sends a confirmation back to the beacon that your distress signal was received by SAR. That’s a meaningful improvement over older EPIRBs where you had no way to know if anyone got the message.
One thing to know: this is a manual release bracket, not automatic. You grab it and take it to the life raft. It won’t self-activate if the boat sinks fast — a trade-off worth understanding before you need it.
Beyond the official SAR system, EPIRB activation information flows quickly to cruising organizations, which relay it to boats underway — via SSB radio nets historically, and now much faster through Starlink-connected boats monitoring cruising forums and group chats. People have been found within hours mid-ocean, rescued by another cruising boat that got the alert through this network. - Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus (Amazon) — Two-way satellite text messaging from anywhere on earth, using the Iridium network. No cell towers, no dead zones.
Where the EPIRB signals that you need help, the inReach lets rescuers talk back. They can tell you help is on the way, ask about injuries and provide first aid info, and coordinate their approach. You’re not just a signal — you’re in a conversation.
The Mini 3 Plus has a color touchscreen with a QWERTY keyboard, so you can compose and send messages without your phone. It has a more powerful antenna than earlier models, and voice messaging capability — speak a message and it gets transcribed for the recipient. The solar charger below keeps it topped up.
Do you need both an EPIRB and an inReach? Yes, if you can. They reach different systems — the EPIRB is purpose-built government search and rescue at no subscription cost, the inReach is a private satellite service requiring a monthly plan. If you’re choosing just one, reasonable people disagree about which matters more. We carry both. - Cobra BlueBound 350 VHF Handheld Marine Radio — Handheld VHFs are limited to about 2 miles of range by their nature, so this won’t summon help from a distance. What it does is let you talk to rescuers as they home in on your position — a Coast Guard cutter, plane, or helicopter in the final stages of rescue.
This model is one of the most powerful handhelds available. It floats, is IPX7 waterproof, and charges via USB-C — the same solar charger that powers the inReach and phone handles this too. The white color makes it easier to find in the dark. - Solar charger with cords (Amazon) — Charges the VHF, phone, and inReach. Electronics with dead batteries are dead weight.
- Phone in a waterproof case — Backup GPS, texting, and calling if you have signal.
- Handy VHF Reference — Waterproof quick-reference card for VHF channels and emergency calls. Worth having in the bag alongside the radio.
Once you’ve gotten the distress call out, your job is to make yourself visible.
- Sirius Signal electronic flares (Amazon) with extra C batteries — These have replaced traditional burning flares in our bag. As bright or brighter, no expiration date, no burning slag, and they work in rain. We carry 12 extra C batteries beyond the 3 that come with the unit.
- ACR C-light strobes (Amazon) — Battery-powered waterproof strobes designed to be spotted at distance on the water at night. These are not the small LED strobes on PFDs — they throw significantly more light and are meant to be seen from a rescue vessel or aircraft scanning for you.
- Cyalume light sticks (Amazon) — Bend to activate, work even when submerged. Useful for marking yourself or gear in the water at night.
- Whistles (Amazon) — The kind rated to work when wet. Simple and useful at close range.
First Aid
Fire, explosion, or a serious collision are the most likely reasons to abandon ship. The injuries that follow tend to be burns, major bleeding, and broken bones. This is what I call the “oh shit” first aid kit — not a full medical bag, but the life-saving essentials for the hours before rescue arrives.
Most of this gear is part of our full first aid kit aboard anyway — it lives in the ditch bag so it’s always ready to grab, but it’s not an extra expense on top of outfitting the boat. Adjust for your crew’s needs and any known medical conditions.
- QuikClot (2) (Amazon) — Clotting sponge for serious, life-threatening bleeding. Fast and effective.
- Rhino Rescue 6″ Compression Bandage (Amazon) (2-pack) — A heavy-duty pressure bandage for serious bleeding, the same type used by military medics worldwide.
- Telfa pads (Amazon) — Non-stick wound dressings.
- Cohesive elastic bandage (Amazon) — Sticks to itself without adhesive, holds bandages on a wet person, and doubles as compression for sprains and fractures.
- WaterJel (Amazon) and Second Skin Burn Pads (Amazon) — For burns, which are a real possibility if fire is the reason you’re abandoning ship. Both cool the burn and protect the tissue.
- Bacitracin (Amazon) — Antibiotic ointment, especially effective for burns.
- SAM splint (Amazon) — Lightweight, moldable splint for fractures.
- Regular, extra-large, and butterfly bandages
- Aspirin — a few, for cardiac events
- OTC pain meds
- Strong prescription pain meds
- Prescription muscle relaxant — broken ribs and strained backs happen in knockdowns and collisions
- Epi-pen and steroids for anaphylactic reactions
- Mylar emergency blankets (5) (Amazon) — Retain body heat, provide shade, and can be used for signaling. Five is not too many.
Survival Supplies: Water, Food, and Sun
We plan for 72 hours. With an EPIRB and inReach, we expect to be found well before that — but three days is what we provision for.
- Water — Four ounces per person per day is the recognized emergency minimum. In tropical heat that’s honestly not enough; I suggest you carry more. Skip the expensive individual emergency pouches and use 12-ounce water bottles from any grocery store — cheap, easy to rotate, and they work just as well.
- SOS Emergency Food Rations (Amazon) — 1,200 calories per person per day, 5-year shelf life, and formulated not to increase thirst.
- Sunscreen — Not the first thing on your mind when abandoning ship. But severe sunburn on top of an emergency worsens dehydration and makes everything harder.
- Sun hats (Amazon) — White to reflect heat. Wet one with salt water and put it on your head for real cooling effect.
- Daily medications — A 5-day supply, rotated monthly so they’re never expired in the bag.
- Water dish and food for pets — If you have a pet aboard, plan for them too. We carry a small amount of food for our dog Paz and a silicone water dish sized for her. A muffin cup works for a small dog; larger dogs need something bigger. Don’t forget their medications if they’re on any.
Documents and Essentials
If the boat is lost, you still have to get your life back together once you reach shore.
- Copies of passports and driver’s licenses
- Health insurance cards (copies) — you’ll likely need medical care
- Boat documentation and insurance (copies)
- Credit card copies, or a spare card from your issuer
- Car keys if you’re coastal and have a vehicle accessible
- Cash
Maintaining Your Ditch Bag
Building the bag is step one. A bag with dead batteries, expired medications, and untested gear is almost as bad as no bag at all.
When to check: Before any major trip. Full inspection at least once a year.
What to do:
- Pull everything out and inspect the bag — zippers, seams, flotation.
- Test all batteries and replace anything that’s aging.
- Check expiration dates on medications, food rations, and flares.
- Verify all electronics power on and function.
- Check against your master list and replace anything missing or expired.
- Re-apply or replace reflective tape on the outside of the bag.
Do the float test. Every year or two, put a line on the bag and throw it in the water. You want to confirm two things: that the bag doesn’t sink, and that the bag and any containers inside are truly waterproof. Better to find out at the dock than in an emergency.
Revisit your contents. Your cruising plans change and your bag should change with them. An afternoon sailor in protected water needs a different bag than a Bahamas-bound cruiser. Use each annual check as a chance to ask whether what’s inside still matches where you’re actually going.
Your PFD Is Part of the Picture Too
Hopefully you step from the boat directly into the life raft. But in a real emergency that transfer can happen fast, in the dark, in rough conditions — and you absolutely want to be wearing your PFD when it does.
A PFD you find uncomfortable is one you won’t be wearing when things go sideways — and then you may not have time to put it on with everything else you’re dealing with in an emergency. For any offshore or open-water passage work, the TeamO PFD with BackTow is worth a serious look — 170N offshore-rated with a ProSensor automatic firing head, and comfortable enough to actually wear through an entire watch. That’s the real test.
More Info
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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.
Karen Ulakovic Drass says
Great article. Thanks!
Jim Allen says
What would be different for an offshore ditch bag. Seems you have everything you would need???
The Boat Galley says
Ability to “create” water — either a hand watermaker or a solar still. More food and fishing gear. More medical. If crossing an ocean, maybe a satphone in waterproof container. Even if signalling works perfectly, I’d assume it could be longer than 3 days to be rescued.
Amy says
Is there a brand of the handheld water makers that you prefer. Trying to put together my first ditch bag and would like you input please
Carolyn Shearlock says
The only one I’m familiar with are PUR (now Katadyn/Spectra — these three companies have consolidated into one) and I never had to actually use it in anything other than test mode. The Model is the Survivor 35. Note that you have to refresh the biocide (pickling) every year or the membrane will go bad. There are usually several available on eBay and even if you have to replace the membrane can be a significant savings over a brand-new one.
Ron says
You never mentioned DSC? It is available in handhelds. It automatically transmits your position, identify and nature of distress to every vhf that picks up the signal, often beyond the range of voice transmissions.
Monique Bordeaux Wilson Labarre says
Steve Labarre
Frances Liz Fernandez says
Excellent article. We’ve had to modify from recent offshore to inshore needs. Extra glasses was a good take away.
The Boat Galley says
Even if you don’t wear glasses, a pair of polarized sun glasses would be a big help.
Relinda Ted Broom says
Don’t forget to have a copy of your pet(s) paperwork in the overboard. The one other thing we do is to check the dates on any batteries used and to keep batteries separate if we can.
The Boat Galley says
Thanks! I’d forgotten Paz’s rabies cert. I plan to do a post on *packing* the ditch bag, but we use lithium batteries (10 year shelf life) and put them in several different containers so that if one gets flooded or lost, we haven’t lost all our batteries.
The Cynical Sailor & His Salty Sidekick says
Fantastic article! This is one of the projects on my to-do list and this is a great resource for thinking it through.
Jenn Cole says
I always enjoy your articles. Theu help me think through so many things, thanks 🙂
Alex says
Awesome, as usual. Where do you keep your original passports and DL? I wouldn’t want my passport to go down with the ship, as I was born abroad, I can’t easily prove my citizenship with a duplicate birth certificate. (Hint, you can have an extra original driver’s license if you “lose” one and get a replacement. This can be done online in many states now that photos are digital.)
Carolyn Shearlock says
Funny that you mention that. Dave and I were just talking over breakfast and saying that maybe we should put the original docs (passport, boat docs, etc.) in the ditch bag and consider that as their regular home. If we need them for something, it’s just as easy to get them out of there as out of a file drawer on the boat. Obviously, we’d keep them all in a waterproof Lock & Lock box.
Wanita Meed says
I had the original passports in the ditch bag and forgot they were there when we left the boat on the hard for winter. They had slid down to the bottom when I removed things that would freeze over winter. Took our copies to the government office and was told they were not worth the photocopy charge. We would have to purchase new ones like we never had one before.
Paul says
Brilliant article. We are moving aboard next spring, and this article will help us sort out our own “Grab Bag” as it’s called in UK.
Keep up the good work.
Paul & Jan
SY Nourishment
kyla says
I know you mentioned sunscreen and hats, but how about something to create some sort of shade? I wonder what could be packed but still be small…
Alex says
The mylar blankets could be good for that. Maybe light folding tent poles for support.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Yep, Alex is right — that’s one of the big purposes of the 5 Mylar blankets that I have. No poles — that baag is pretty heavy as is!
Mary Mathisson says
Thanks for the article! I was thinking of adding a flash drive with various documents saved there, e.g. passports, photocopies of credit cards, etc. I like the tip about housing the actual passports/docs in the ditch bag too.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Instead of (or maybe in addition to) send an email to yourself with those document scans. Good idea!
Hugh Otterburn says
Carolyn
LOVE your website.
Apart from the galley info the Marine articles are so very useful
Carolyn Shearlock says
Thanks Hugh!
David mauney says
Thanks for a great article. I am modifying my bag now to add the electronic flares and copies of documents. I also added several survival tricks that are very cost effective that can be purchased at Walmart. Such as water purifying and camp survival tools.
Steven Zang says
Great article!
I would consider adding diphenhydramine (benadryl) as your epi-pen effects will wear off fast. I would also consider swapping your quikclot for something similar but not exothermic (i.e. celox). http://amzn.to/2g7ilg2
Thanks again for all you do. I really enjoy the articles and feel connected as I lived near you growing up. My uncle actually lived at Lake Mattoon. I hope to follow your footsteps when I retire.
Kim Young King says
Ken King
Vanita VanFleet Fowden says
Great list! Thank you.
Cheryl Nelson Bourg says
Do you always have this packed? If there are items you use all the time (handheld BHF, etc), do you get extras of these items?
The Boat Galley says
We do keep it packed all the time and the things that we use daily we simply keep in the ditch bag when they’re not in use (or, as with the VHF, being charged) and double check before we get underway that they’re in place.
The Boat Galley says
I should have added that by using those items on a regular basis, we keep them charged and know they’re working. We also try to go through the whole bag and check items about a month before we’re going to leave on a major trip (that is, when we were leaving the US for the Bahamas, not every leg of the time in the Bahamas) — while we’re in a place with access to stores and online shopping — to make sure everything works, everything is there, batteries are up to date, etc. Meds and documents are especially important to check.
Greg Banks says
You should include water making equipment and fishing stuff. It is easy to go from “off shore” to “out to sea” in a bad storm.
The Boat Galley says
Ours is a coastal cruising ditch bag. If we were doing more open water stuff, we would add that. I think those are two of the biggest differences between a coastal and offshore ditch bag, along with obviously needing more food and medical supplies.
Debbie Silck says
Stay safe….tie down in the Cay…wish you the best
Laura Ann says
Hi Carolyn,
Great article and website! My husband and I are new to cruising and REALLY appreciate your experience and tips.
I have a couple of suggestions for your medical kit. I taught trauma medicine in special operations for 10 years (served 26 total), husband did 16 years in SOF (3 wars, 600 combat rotations) and were both in a SMU – the only reason I give that background is to substantiate my comments.
Quick clot “pads” are not as effective for stopping bleeding as something like Combat gauze (or a torn up t-shirt). Without going into a whole trauma lesson, “pads” cannot get into all the nooks and cranny’s that traumatic bleeding typically comes from. Packing (pressure) is what stops massive hemorrhage. The chemicals applied to these dressings are nice but not necessary – and they are expensive!
Cohesive elastic bandage is great on dry land but doesn’t stick well after it gets wet (water or blood). It also becomes impossible to work with after it has been “squished” into a go-bag. So we got rid of it completely and started using 3″ Ace bandages entirely. Two great things: it can be reused and repositioned multiple times and works well when wet. One tip, throw away the metal clips that come with it, they never stay and usually end up in a knee, just tie the ends to itself to secure it.
Sorry this got so long winded, I’m passionate about trauma medicine and “making do”.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Thanks for the insight. Extremely helpful. So now I may change a few things . . .
Gretel says
Great publication!
Amanda Searle says
We have a couple of those cooling towels in ours. Takes up no room and are a godsend in the heat. Can be used with any water at any temperature, even sweat. We use ours all through the summer and for the ladies with menopause hot flashes….they are your best friend. This is not where I got mine but it gives you a good idea of what I’m talking about.
http://amzn.to/2uwrb9p
cyndyy says
In reading this and preparing my bag I was wondering; your list contains “strong pain medications”. With doctors reluctant to give pain meds for major surgery, where did you find a Doctor that understands the need for these and willing to write a prescription??? [email protected]
Thanks!!
Carolyn Shearlock says
We’ve usually had some left from am injury, dental procedure or surgery. We’ve had the opposite problem of doctors being overly willing to prescribe!
cyndy says
I have to find new doctors! I have some Motrin (Ibuprofen). I had a root canal – through a crown – and I got Motrin. I had bladder cancer and got 20 pain pills (not enough!) I have severe migraines and get 25 Tylenol #3 to last 90 days.
Go figure…
cyndy says
Hello again. The links to the first 2 items in the Lock and Lock section no longer work. Could you update with new links please? I am helping a couple of other boats get their bags ready and made this mandatory reading (also I know that linked through your page helps the boat kitty)
Thanks again!!
Carolyn Shearlock says
Those two seem to be unavailable now but there are some new sizes — exactly which ones work best will depend on the bag used. I put a new link to all the ones available on Amazon. Thanks!
Carolyn Shearlock says
Thanks. It seems that those particular sizes are not being made any longer. I made the links more generic to show what is currently available.
Morgana says
I love your blog and your practical outlook! A change for your ditty bag, though. Those mylar blankets are useless in this situation and usually cause more deaths than they help prevent. Instead, get mylar “ditty bags” or sleeping bags. Strip out of your wet cotton clothing in hypothermic conditions and have bare skin next to the reflective surface. Bear in mind that your cotton boat clothing is a killer in cool, wet conditions. Acrylic sweaters are good, long enough to cover your core. Merino wool is the best. Death from hypothermia can arrive in 3 hours, Death from dehydration in 3 days, food in 3 weeks. So your first danger is being cold and wet. At a minimum have wool socks and hats in your bags and some inexpensive acrylic sweaters. Use those mylar blankets to collect water condensate to drink.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Good point for cruising in cooler climates. Where I am in the tropics, the Mylar sheets will be mostly for sun protection, not warmth.
Wanita meed says
Thanks for this – cruising Eastern Canada
Ann Beardsley says
This is inspiring me to get ours done! Can you give me an idea of how much space all this takes up? We are limited. A five-gallon bucket (or, for us, a kitty litter container) is about all the space we have… There’s so much on the list, I’m wondering if it will fit… Now that I type that, I guess there’s only one way to find out! Thanks for the push!
Carolyn Shearlock says
All that’s in our bag would probably take at least two 5-gallon buckets. Whatever you do, make sure they’ll float. I added extra foam to our bag. In an emergency, it’s so easy for the bag to go in the water instead of in the liferaft — you don’t want to have it sink!
Cindy says
Hi Carolyn,
I live in an OTG yurt in the woods of N.H. Still, your podcast and blog are one of my favorites! So much good, relevant information for anyone choosing to live closer to nature. Without all the whistles and bells of the first world – one button push away.
Reading through these fire onboard posts this morning, I’ve decided to store a good selection of my camping gear in a metal trash can – away from the yurt – along with other supplies. (Unrelated, also ordering a fire blanket for the yurt!) And need to order your living wo/refrigeration book. 😀. I’ve learn some great tips just from the blog, but sure there is much more to know. (Right now it’s more about keeping things from freezing solid! 5 degrees here yesterday morning. Lol.)
Thanks for all you do and share! Really feels like a good, old-fashion, people helping people space. All the best. – Cindy
Jerry Gotts says
Carolyn, These are great ideas presented here. A little off the track here but what made you guys buy a catamaran ?
I’m sure it is more stable and more room inside. Are there other reasons? These are probably dumb questions but I’m rather new to this stuff.
Thank You, I really like your site.
Jerry
Carolyn Shearlock says
This particular catamaran has a draft of only 2.5 feet — perfect for the shallow waters of the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. It’s also a fairly light boat and moves quickly with smaller sails than our previous boat, a heavy Tayana 37 monohull. That’s important as we bought it when Dave was 76 and I was 54. Smaller sails, smaller anchor, etc. made it easier to keep sailing as we grew older. The rear steps on a catamaran also make it easier to get into and out of the dinghy. The living space is good. The trade off is that the Gemini catamaran is not suitable for extended ocean passages — it’s just too lightly built. But for what we’re doing, it’s perfect. Read more about our decision here.