GRAB BAG. Biggest best watertight brand

[manawatuman]

Hi, im getting my ocean going inventory together. Im at grab bags.
What should I look for and any recommendations for brands. Buoyancy and accessories etc...
Google gives reviews but no empirical stories.
Cheers

[Delancey]

Dunno but would recommend one big enough to include a flask of rum. These Nalgene flasks are pretty handy.

[manawatuman]

Originally Posted by Delancey

Dunno but would recommend one big enough to include a flask of rum. These Nalgene flasks are pretty handy.

I need the 2 litre version, i wanna be "that guy" when they chopper me back toshore in front of the news cameras

[denverd0n]

A little clarification on terminology. Here in America, I would normally call a bag with emergency essentials, that I plan to grab and take with me when abandoning ship, a "ditch bag." A "grab bag" on the other hand, would be any bag I might take with me, for instance, to stick my wallet and camera in when I take off in the dinghy.

If you are doing internet searches and not finding what you are looking for, perhaps a search for "ditch bag" would be more fruitful.

Good luck.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

... If you are doing internet searches and not finding what you are looking for, perhaps a search for "ditch bag" would be more fruitful.
Good luck.

"Dry Bag" is another common term.
➥ https://www.google.ca/search?q=dry+b...OFBanWjwSM_qFY

[svHyLyte]

For what its worth, I have yet to see a water-tight (or "proof") ditch (or "grab") bag. There are several with flotation/insulation and what might come closest to water tight are some of the soft "ice chest" bags but only to a limited extent. Given the foregoing, everything included in the Ditch Bag should be packaged in water-tight enclosures such that all of the contents become flotation of a sort. The gear in our ditch bag is all packed in sealed vacuum bags but with not all of the enclosed air suctioned out. I tested the bag by tossing it into our pool once I thought I had it where/furnished with what I thought necessary to ensure it would float (it did) and prove the integrity of the packaging (most but not all passed). One needs give thought to the contents to ensure that really important items are included and some that might not seem necessary but have merit as well (waterproof playing cards and a small note-book) yet the weight of the bag is such that it can be easily managed. It also needs be fitted with a tether that can be attached to one's life raft when that is deployed.

On the contents, consider where you will be doing your sailing; and, how long you might have to wait for rescue in the event you have to bail out. The contents of a ditch bag for travel within 100 miles of land resources, for example, will/should be rather different than that for trans-oceanic travel where one might be cooling one's heels for several days or more.

FWIW...

[Glenn C]

Check out the sea kayaking suppliers. They often have a lot of water tight bags and containers.





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[RPZ]

I have seen a few of these ditch bags listed and have an alternative rake on the subject.

An alternative is a watertight floating case like Pelican. They are available in various sizes, bright yellow, generally come with a "pick and pluck" foam inside that can be tailored for things like epirbs, portable vhf, lights etc etc.

They are tough, and protect the contents from impact damage if they get thrown and knocked around. A lanyard with a carabinier would allow them to be secured on deck in cockpit etc for rapid transfer and securing during an abandon ship to a life raft, inflatable or dingy line, chest harness etc.

[deluxe68]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

For what its worth, I have yet to see a water-tight (or "proof") ditch (or "grab") bag. There are several with flotation/insulation and what might come closest to water tight are some of the soft "ice chest" bags but only to a limited extent. Given the foregoing, everything included in the Ditch Bag should be packaged in water-tight enclosures such that all of the contents become flotation of a sort. The gear in our ditch bag is all packed in sealed vacuum bags but with not all of the enclosed air suctioned out. I tested the bag by tossing it into our pool once I thought I had it where/furnished with what I thought necessary to ensure it would float (it did) and prove the integrity of the packaging (most but not all passed). One needs give thought to the contents to ensure that really important items are included and some that might not seem necessary but have merit as well (waterproof playing cards and a small note-book) yet the weight of the bag is such that it can be easily managed. It also needs be fitted with a tether that can be attached to one's life raft when that is deployed.

On the contents, consider where you will be doing your sailing; and, how long you might have to wait for rescue in the event you have to bail out. The contents of a ditch bag for travel within 100 miles of land resources, for example, will/should be rather different than that for trans-oceanic travel where one might be cooling one's heels for several days or more.

FWIW...

Practical Sailor said this one is watertight. Better be for $500!

http://www.landfallnavigation.com/-sabag.html

[MarkJ]

I dint see why it needs to be watertight. It sure wont be after 10 seconds. So better ti have stuff that needs to stay dry in a dry bag inside the grab bag.

Make sure it floats!

I use a free bag given at some promotional show. Its just a bag. No nesd to buy a special one.

I have a 5 litre water jug half filled tied to the bags strap so there's water and floatation.

Insude there's a wetsuit, food, epirbs, vhf (bagged), sat phone (bagged) and passport & boat papers (bagged), bottle of wine and some porn.

I dont think its something to 'overthink'... If you do see it as that complex maybe you should fix the boat and watch the weather better. ☺️


*** Why I dont think they need to be waterproof: in any ditching you are going to be wet. As soon as you open tbe bag everything inside will be wet too. Life rafts are wet. You sit and slosh around.

[hellosailor]

Waterproof zippers (as in dry suits and body bags) all seem to have limited lives. That leaves the "roll top" kayaking type bags as the more durable choice for long term, but of course that also means "all the stuff in the bottom of the bag" instead of a neatly organized case.

Unless you go with something like Pelican. Even Amazon is selling their own line of knock-offs now. Advantage to the case: Good seals. Needlessly waterproof? Ah, but that also ensure that it floats. And that everything inside is kept away from moisture and oxygen. The disadvantage is of course that it is hard luggage.

If you put your trust in multiple plastic bags and don't need waterproof...the "range bag" or "camera bag" type cases do offer a lot more variety. If you want high-vis orange, the medic trauma kit bags will offer that, and an extra liner cut from closed-cell foam will give them more protection and positive flotation.

[SecondBase]

For a bluewater solution, Get Rick Page's e book and follow his suggestions on page 45 for the Bravo 1 ditch kit. You'll get a significantly stronger and less expensive option all in one. Respectfully I submit that Page's advice tops the commercially available solutions.

[hellosailor]

Hope Is Not a Strategy: The 6 Keys to Winning the Complex Sale : The 6 Keys to Winning the Complex Sale
Rick Page
McGraw-Hill, March 2003
ISBN: 9780071418713

Interesting book but no mention of sailing or ditch bags in it.

[SecondBase]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Hope Is Not a Strategy: The 6 Keys to Winning the Complex Sale : The 6 Keys to Winning the Complex Sale

Rick Page

McGraw-Hill, March 2003

ISBN: 9780071418713



Interesting book but no mention of sailing or ditch bags in it.

Whoops ! Here's the title -- Get Real. Get Gone. By Rick Page and Jasna Tuta.

Normally I'd post exact details for a discussion in the forum here but want to respect the authors' work.

[hellosailor]

The author has no rights to the details of his work.It is called the "fair use doctrine" and the copyright laws, under the Berne Convention, expressly allow for extensive quotation and reproduction without the authors' knowledge or permission, in order to provide examples of their work and further discussions of it. In other words, publicity and the exchange of ideas.

You can get a green card without knowing that, but the Copyright Police will deport you if you fail the Copyright Exam.