What would you put in YOUR cruising kit

[Chief Engineer]

Keeping in mind that you would put it in a waterproof plastic ammo type box?

[rebel heart]

Like in a ditch bag?

- manual water maker with spares
- fishing stuff
- a ton of sun block
- some spare sun glasses
- signal mirror
- parachute flares
- epirb / sat phone
- handheld vhf w/ lots of batteries
- strobe w/ lots of batteries

Give me all that and a life raft (Portland Pudgy!), and I think I could live. Wouldn't be too comfy, but I could live.

[Hud3]

Good list, RH. I'd add one of those folding knives with a serrated blade and a rounded tip (so you don't puncture the raft by accident), some energy bars, and maybe a couple of smoke canisters.

[mdfixitman]

Don't forget the seasick pills. Its not about comfort, its about dehydration.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Chief Engineer

Keeping in mind that you would put it in a waterproof plastic ammo type box?

It appears that if I was visiting the States that ammo might be useful

If this is just for stuff to keep onboard which you would NEVER want wet (or lost), then for me that would be several hundred Ciggarettes and a few spare lighters. and then some Cash and (if abroad) my passport, probably throw in a spare handheld GPS (with Batteries!) and maybe a spare set of keys.....disturbingly I can't think of much else, and I feel I should have a longggg list.......(albeit lots of things I suspect could be useful, depending on the actual circumstances).

Of course bobbing around in the ocean blue would change my priorities slightly

[Boracay]

How about including a hat and a waterproof poncho, just in case you end up sitting in an open boat for 40 days?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

If this is just for stuff to keep onboard which you would NEVER want wet (or lost),

Yes, I wondered if that was what the question is.
What I want to keep dry is some extra sox, undies and neck towels I wear under my foulies.
When the weather has been crap for ages and nothing seems dry then you can break out the dry stuff!

if the question is about the grab bag, then I want to include an Instant Yacht. Just add water.

[Chief Engineer]

I am talking about cruising spares...not a ditch bag

[Ex-Calif]

"I am talking about cruising spares...not a ditch bag"

Interesting question

Stuff I don't want to get wet.

- Money
- Passport
- Cell Phone
- Camera
- Marriage Cert, Birth Cert, etc.

Stuff I don't want in a box that's easy to steal and lift off the boat

- Money
- Passport
- Cell Phone
- Camera
- Marriage Cert, Birth Cert, etc.

[Zach]

I'd put my multimeter, dwell meter, and timing light in there... along with an assortment of micrometers and dial indicators. Plus some manifold gauges and stuff that I wouldn't want to get beat up/wet.

Besides those, maybe a spare set of charts for the area I'm cruising.

My boat doesn't have an inboard engine, so as far as engine related spares go... I'm planning on dropping a spare outboard in the cockpit locker. I'd think that bagging a cosmoline coated part would be all thats required for engine parts...

[Pblais]

I am talking about cruising spares...not a ditch bag

I'd get a few more boxes. Note that the box probably won't be humidity proof. So if it can get damp it's probably as good as already wet given enough time. It's more like minimizing the damage.