Personal always-carry offshore safety kit

[GeoPowers]

Hi everyone,

Going as crew on a friend's boat in a couple weeks for an offshore jaunt. He "highly recommended" getting a water-resistant pouch with MOLLE-type build style that attaches to your harness, containing:

signal mirror
knife
mylar-type sleeping bag
strobe, if not already on PFD
"pencil" flare, kept in a shortened toothbrush holder
marking dye

Both he and his wife carry the same pouches/mini-packs. I did get a pouch myself, if for nothing else it's his boat, not mine, and I could tell it was important to him. Also, I do see the merit of everyone having the same personal safety gear (though I also have a PLB added to the pouch). Somewhat akin to DIY for divers but not nearly as anal .

Anyway, I was just curious if anyone else carries a similar pouch/pack and if so what do you carry?

Frank

[FSMike]

[QUOTE=GeoPowers;1373528 ---
mylar-type sleeping bag
----[/QUOTE]

Huh? On your harness? Why?

[GeoPowers]

I didn't say that!

Kidding aside, I think it's obvious that it would be for a situation where you enter the water without the luxury of the life raft and ditch bag...

[FSMike]

It might be obvious to you, but I'm having a hard time with the practicality of it. Different strokes,etc.

[simonpickard]

I still think the first company to combine a..

Handheld VHF, PLB, and AIS device in one unit will make a killing. Having that with you at all times would be amazing.

[GeoPowers]

Originally Posted by FSMike

It might be obvious to you, but I'm having a hard time with the practicality of it. Different strokes,etc.

Ahh, I see you edited your first post and were referring to the emergency bag. Yeah, I question its practicality also, but it takes little space, is lightweight, and it cost all of 2 bucks, so I went ahead and added it to the pouch.

I question whether it would actually retain any body heat in water, I doubt it myself. This is the type of thing I would only have in my ditch bag if it were my boat.

Frank

[GeoPowers]

Originally Posted by simonpickard

I still think the first company to combine a..

Handheld VHF, PLB, and AIS device in one unit will make a killing. Having that with you at all times would be amazing.

Agree, especially with the first two. Kinda drifting, but I also wonder why they don't combine fixed DSC VHF/AIS with built-in GPS. All the ones I have seen are VHF/GPS or VHF/AIS, but not all three. I wonder if it is a regulatory thing.

Frank

[Teknav]

With the exception of a common power supply, the circuitry would be a challenge to design. Power consumption would be a nightmare, when everything is working at the same time; very low battery life. And, one more thing...if this multi-purpose marine transceiver is damaged or lost...His Majesty Murphy The Great, will not be too kind to you.

Mauritz
The devil's in the details.

[simonpickard]

That would still be better protection than most people carry.. i.e. zero.

Battery power could be managed.

VHF when needed.
AIS when activated.
PLB when activated.

If my iPhone can play HD 1080p video for 10 hours don't tell me modern day devices couldn't combine these into one unit effectively.

[LakeSuperior]

Just more claptrap to mess with. Do you want this stuff hanging on you as you move around and are enjoying life on the ocean.

As a concession to safety, we tucked a strobe and whistle inside our inflatable jackets with integrated harness. I think the whistle was probably useless but it was invisible.

Eventually, we (our yachts) will sink under the weight of "stuff." Whereas our checking accounts will be so light they will float to the top of the atmosphere.

[John Drake]

Too much stuff is bulky and, at some point, detracts from safety.

I always had attached to my harness:

Strobe
Whistle
Knife
Waterproof marine VHF radio! [great for telling those coming to get you...hey...I am on your PORT side...etc]

To me, the above is the minimum. I would add a pencil flare and marker die.

Someone should make an inflatable PFD with outer pockets. THAT would sell.

Best

J

[TeddyDiver]

Vigors Black box..

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by simonpickard

I still think the first company to combine a..

Handheld VHF, PLB, and AIS device in one unit will make a killing. Having that with you at all times would be amazing.

Originally Posted by GeoPowers

Agree, especially with the first two. Kinda drifting, but I also wonder why they don't combine fixed DSC VHF/AIS with built-in GPS. All the ones I have seen are VHF/GPS or VHF/AIS, but not all three. I wonder if it is a regulatory thing.

Frank

Agreed, 'cept they'd sell less "product." Bummer.

[Jammer Six]

Originally Posted by Teknav

With the exception of a common power supply, the circuitry would be a challenge to design. Power consumption would be a nightmare, when everything is working at the same time; very low battery life.

I thought you were a pharmacist-doctor-navigator.

Man, you're an expert at everything!

I'd carry a Startrek communicator, so I can be locked on and beamed home.

[Teknav]

Hiya Jammer! Maybe you should take a min to read my profile! Let me elaborate a little bit...before going to a professional school to become a doctor or a pharmacist, you have to go to an undergraduate school; usually 4 - 5 years. During the undergraduate years you can be pre-med/pre-pharmacy engineer/mathematician/chemist or anything you want to be, as long as you take the required pre-med/pre-pharm courses and pass the MCAT/DentalCAT, with high college grades, among other requirements.

Therefore, you can be an engineer and a medical doctor or a pharmacist as the same time. A good example of that is Michael Debake, M.D. who is a mechanical engineer and a world renowned cardiologist practicing in California. Yes, it is unusual to find these kind of folks, but they do exist. To add to the intrigue, if your hobby is flying and kept on adding ratings including a commercial pilot license... By now, you should be getting the picture. If you still don't, it's OK... Some folks are nerdy by nature and do not need to prove anything to anyone! Take care!

Mauritz
gEEk, inc. - Knowledge is Power!