When making long-distance voyages across miles of open water, you must think about the worst-case scenario you might encounter and plan against it. Knowing that your boat is dialed-in and all systems are in working order goes a long way to preventing miscues, but if something ever happens where you have to abandon ship, carrying the right gear might just save your life.

First-off let me say this, before giving the order to abandon ship, make sure you have exhausted every possible avenue to stay on board. Getting into the water should be your last resort.
 
On our boat we did a lot of extensive research and turned to some of the world's most experienced captains to put together a "ditch bag" that is always ready in case we ever need to abandon ship. No one ever wants to face that situation, but if you do, you better have your ship together.

Several companies make great bags designed to carry the appropriate gear for an abandon-ship emergency. One of the nicest we've seen is the Rapid Ditch Bag from ACR, the Florida safety company well known for their EPRIBs and other safety gear. The brightly colored, Hi-Vis-Yellow Rapid Ditch Bag is made from water-resistant fabric with a coated nylon exterior and interior. Sandwiched between the inner and outer skins, a layer of buoyant, closed-cell foam allows the bag to float with 20 pounds of gear — something not all ditch bags offer and a statistic you should take a hard look at when making a purchase. 
 
It's hard to imagine a calm and orderly abandon-ship scenario, and the chances of the emergency taking place in great weather are even more slim, so you need a floating bag that might just pop to the surface if you couldn't get it overboard in time. The Rapid Ditch Bag boasts several external pockets that allow instant access to the EPIRB and a handheld GPS, as well as an easy-fit attachment for another EPIRB or indicator light. ACR finishes off the bag with a self-repairing zipper and a shoulder strap tether that lets you keep equipment close by without impeding the use of your hands when in the water. 
 
Although the Rapid Ditch Bag stores easily, you need to remember that the bag needs to be readily accessible at all times, not just during a long haul. You might not have time to dig for it when things start going south.
 
When making long trips on Briar Patch, we keep our ditch bag, throw ring with lanyard, floating cushion and enough hi-seas lifejackets for all aboard out on the bridge seat forward of the helm. This places everything within reach and also allows all the gear to float out should a major disaster occur. 
 
For smaller boats with limited storage, ACR also offers the Rapid Ditch Express Bag, a smaller version of the Rapid Ditch. The Express is also buoyant and water resistant, with plenty of pockets to hold critical safety elements including a dedicated EPIRB external pocket as well as a tether strap.
 
The Survivor Abandon Ship Bag by Revere represents another great option. Made of waterproof PVC fabric with welded seams and a water-resistant zipper, the Survivor floats with up to 40 pounds of gear. This bag also features internal pockets to hold parachute flares, smoke canisters, mirrors and a host of other survival gear along with an external EPIRB pocket that is large enough to hold a unit in its manual bracket, eliminating the chance of accidental activation from water spray. Revere's Survivor also sports a webbed shoulder strap, grab handles and comes in hi-vis-yellow so you and rescuers can spot it from a distance. 
 
Pains Wessex, a company that's been in the safety-at-sea business for a long time, developed their SOS Grab Bag to aid boaters in distress. The SOS is a large, hi-visibility polyurethane bag that features a spray and splashproof rolled closure system with Velcro straps and an adjustable handle. Capable of carrying flares, distress beacons, VHF radio, some rations as well as personal survival gear, the SOS Grab Bag offers a great solution for smaller sportfishermen and center consoles.

Plastimo makes one of the larger ditch bags on the market, the aptly-named Safety Equipment Bag. Boasting a 23-gallon capacity, the bright hi-vis, water-resistant PVC-coated bag can carry most of your safety gear and a couple of lifejackets. This bag features large inner pockets for lifejackets and smaller pockets for safety equipment including flares, mirrors, dye markers, strobe lights and the like. Large webbed handles and loops at either end allow you to attach the bag to the boat or life raft. 
 
We also use dry bags, commonly found in whitewater rafting and other outdoor sports, to stow safety gear. Dry bags offer a totally sealed and waterproof container for protecting electronic survival gear like a handheld VHF, GPS, flashlights, lightsticks, extra batteries and even a change of clothes. These bags come in various sizes and colors and are readily available at retail sporting goods stores. 
 
Knowing what to put in the bag is just as important as having the right place to put it. We always carry more SOLAS flares, including handheld, gun, parachute and rocket flares than required by regulations. We also keep dye markers, streamers, air horns, a whistle, signal mirrors, lifejacket strobe lights and drinking water in our ditch bags. We also place a suitcase life raft, similar to those found on small planes, on the bridge with our gear in the event of an emergency. Even though we inspect our life raft annually and keep the securing hardware greased and current, we still travel with a spare in case of a failure during deployment or anytime after we hit the water. 
 
You can't put a price tag on the life of your crew or guests, so be sure to do your homework and get quality, reliable gear, and purchase enough of it to make a difference. Getting into the water with an ill-equipped ditch bag can be a horrible mistake if you aren't fortunate enough to be found quickly. So captains, don't let your price-conscious owner take your life in his hands by being cheap. Personally, I don't look for bargains when it comes to the raft and safety gear. And owners, be sure to provide your skipper with the proper tools and budget to keep your boat afloat and in proper working order — it just might save a life.

Manufacturers' Websites
Pains Wessex, www.pwss.com 
ACR Electronics,
www.acrelectronics.com
Revere, www.reveresupply.com
Plastimo, www.plastimousa.com