Necessary Dinghy Safety Gear

What safety gear do you carry when you head off in the dinghy? That was the question that I got from some new cruisers who had a bit of a scare when their dinghy engine quit. The tide was taking them out, and they realized they didn’t have oars, an anchor, or any way to call for help. Luckily, they were in an area with lots of other boats. Someone saw them and towed them back to their boat.

Here are the basics of what Dave and I carried, in addition to anything we needed for our planned activities.

Legal Requirements

Everywhere has slightly different rules, but the bare bones usually include (check laws that may apply to you):

• Life jackets (PFDs) for each person
• Sound device
• Registration
• If motorized, a fire extinguisher
• Lights if you’ll be out after dark (the light requirements vary considerably from state to state and country to country, so be sure to check whenever you change locale)
• Bailing device – many states have size requirements but, if not, one to two quarts is usually a good size; cut the bottom out of a detergent or water bottle
• Some places may require flares or other signaling devices.

So that keeps you legal. In places that may not have laws, it’s a good starting point. But you really need a few other things, and the more remote the area you’re in, and the fewer other people nearby, the more additional gear you’re wise to carry.

Basic Dinghy Safety Gear

If you run out of gas or have engine troubles . . . and the tide/wind are going the wrong way . . . what’s to keep you from going out to sea? What if you fall out of the dinghy?

• Engine kill lanyard (and wear it!)
• Oars
• Anchor and plenty of rode (we love our easily stowed Mantus dinghy anchor and rode)*
• Waterproof, handheld VHF; possibly a cell phone in a waterproof case (we love the ugo waterproof cases and sell them in The Boat Galley store). Remember, a handheld VHF has a range of no farther than two miles.
• Way to get in the dinghy from the water – don’t just assume you can pull yourself in. It takes more upper-body strength than you think, and some dinghies (particularly hard dinghies) can be very tippy. Try your setup in a safe place before you really need it! And if you’re going to use a ladder of some type, make sure you can launch it from the water – should you go overboard accidentally when alone in the dinghy, you have to be able to get back in by yourself.

NOTE: To effectively row, you need a seat in the dinghy. Many cruisers, as we did, take the seat out of the dinghy to make it easier to carry “stuff.” In this case, the oars work better as paddles – one on each side. Or if you’re alone, paddle at the bow, alternating sides.

Additional Safety and Security

• Cable and lock in places where there is a theft problem. You may have to carry more things ashore to keep them safe.
• Bow line – and we like having a stern line too, as sometimes it’s helpful to tie up bow and stern.
• Water bottles (if your motor conks out or the current is too strong for you to row, don’t compound the problem by getting dehydrated)
• Sunscreen (ditto with sunburn)
• Roll of duct tape – it can make an emergency patch and an emergency bandage.

Before heading out in the dinghy – particularly for a longer excursion – be sure to check your gas level and that the VHF is charged.

Nice to Have

Each cruiser has their own list of items to bring. JB includes a plastic shoebox for rinsing his feet so he doesn’t take sand onto the boat. Pets can bring lots of sand aboard in their fur. If you’re cruising with furry crew, you might find a paw cleaning cup (Amazon) useful. They don’t take up much room and can do a lot to keep the mothership clean.

If you’re headed off for more adventurous activities, or going farther from your boat, Terry H. recommends a basic first aid kit (Amazon). The small ones come with a carabiner, making it easy to attach to your day pack or belt loops.

Ernie L. sewed an anchor bag to protect the bottom of his dink. He made a cylinder bag sewn from Sunbrella. He added a grommet to the bottom and a shock cord or a line closure on the top. Run the rode through the grommet and tie an overhand knot on both sides of the grommet. Stuff the anchor and the rode in the bag and leave it in the dinghy. When you want to use it, pull it all out; stow it when it isn’t in use.

Karolyn S. plans for any contingency by always bringing snacks, bottled water, a blanket, and a good book. Hillie M. agrees. She packs a couple of energy bars, SlimFast/Ensure, Gatorade, moisture-wicking socks, an airline fleece blanket, poncho, small AM/FM radio, and pet food. It gets really chilly, especially overnight, if showery, even when over 70F. In a really remote anchorage, she’d also bring a solar charger.

Jonathan C. stores a Rubbermaid Action Packer (Amazon) under his seat (from the look of it, it’s sturdy enough to be a seat). In addition to the items on my list, he includes:

• a space blanket
• dinghy oarlocks
• a spare dinghy drain plug
• a dry bag
• Dinghy registration and boating license in a waterproof carrier
• the outboard lock key, and
• a small set of repair tools, including a spare spark plug.

Finally, cruiser Rob A. suggests Cyalume glow sticks (Amazon). If you tie the light stick to spare line, you can swing it in a circle to attract attention if you need assistance.

Don’t Get Caught

It’s always smart for cruisers to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. It’s worth packing more than you think you’ll need. If you have an emergency when you take a dinghy excursion, you won’t complain that you’ve packed too much.

*FULL DISCLOSURE: The Boat Galley earns a bit on Mantus purchases through the links here. However, we wouldn’t have used Mantus products if we didn’t think they were the best. After all, our lives literally depended on our anchor choice!

Some links in this article (including all Amazon links) are affiliate links, meaning that we earn from qualifying purchases.