Core principles before you pack

• Waterproof, float, and label. Use a high-visibility, floatable dry bag with shoulder strap. Label with vessel name, MMSI, and contact.
• Duplicate what you can’t afford to lose. Assume you may be separated from the yacht and even the life raft.
• Inspect on a schedule. Batteries, rations, and flares expire. Tie checks to your quarterly yacht maintenance routine.

Communication & Signaling (be seen, be heard)
What to pack

• Waterproof, floating handheld VHF with spare power.
• EPIRB with valid registration and battery/service dates.
• Compact PLB per crew member if possible.
• Signal flares (handheld, parachute), smoke, mirror, whistle, waterproof flashlight/headlamp, strobe.

Common problems & fixes

• Problem: Dead batteries, expired flares, unregistered EPIRB.
• Solution: Schedule an annual electronics audit with a Boka Bay yacht service team. We test outputs, replace consumables, and handle EPIRB registration updates.

Navigation & Position (stay oriented off the grid)
What to pack

• Handheld GPS and paper mini-charts for your route.
• Labeled compass and basic plotting tools.
• Pencil, waterproof notebook with mayday templates and key frequencies.

Technician tip

• Calibrate handheld compasses and verify GPS lock during pre-departure checks. At yacht repair Tivat, we validate accuracy and waterproof housings as part of safety refits.

Water & Nutrition (small, dense, reliable)
What to pack

• Minimum 3 liters of sealed water per person in individual pouches.
• High-calorie lifeboat rations (SOLAS/USCG compliant).
• Water purification tablets and, for ocean passages, a manual or hand-operated desalinator.

Common problems & fixes

• Problem: Bulky bottles, spoiled rations, missing purification backup.
• Solution: Switch to pouch water and vacuum-sealed rations with staggered expiry. Our yacht technicians can source compact desalinators and mount brackets inside your ditch bag.

Medical & Protection (treat, insulate, protect)
What to pack

• Waterproof first-aid kit: trauma dressings, antiseptics, pain relief, seasickness meds, antihistamines, antibiotics as prescribed.
• Thermal blankets/bivvy sacks, sunscreen, lip balm, spare prescription meds.
• Compact PPE: nitrile gloves, masks, eye wash.

Technician tip

• Personalize per crew (allergies, prescriptions) and store duplicates of critical meds. We build custom offshore kits at our yacht service Montenegro facility and vacuum-seal them by module.

Survival Tools & Repairs (fix, secure, improvise)
What to pack

• Multi-tool, fixed blade, heavy-duty duct tape, zip ties, sail repair tape, paracord.
• Fishing micro-kit, collapsible bailer/sponge, compact tarp.
• Fire-starting kit: waterproof matches, ferro rod, tinder tabs.

Common problems & fixes

• Problem: Corroded tools, random odds-and-ends with no plan.
• Solution: Stainless or treated tools only, and pack by task (fire, repair, shelter). We inventory and replace rusted gear during scheduled yacht maintenance stops in Tivat.

Clothing & Identity (dry, warm, documented)
What to pack

• Vacuum-packed thermal base layer, socks, hat, gloves.
• Copies of passports, boat papers, insurance, and an emergency contact list on waterproof cards and encrypted USB.
• Personal strobes clipped to PFDs; spare whistles and light sticks.

Technician tip

• Assign a named pouch per crewmember for ID and meds, color-coded to their PFD. Our team audits PFD lights and attachments as part of pre-season checks.

Power & Lighting (keep devices alive)
What to pack

• AA/AAA lithium spares, power bank with solar/crank option, short cables in zip bags.
• Small panel or hand-crank for multi-day rafting.

Common problems & fixes

• Problem: Power bank dead on day one.
• Solution: Rotate charge cycles monthly. We add a simple QR checklist to your bag and include date seals during Boka Bay yacht service visits.

Packing blueprint from our technicians

• Layer 1 (Immediate use): VHF, EPIRB, flares, knife, headlamp.
• Layer 2 (Sustainment): Water pouches, rations, first-aid, thermal blankets.
• Layer 3 (Nav/Tools): GPS, charts, compass, repair kit, desalinator.
• Exterior: Whistle, mirror, strobe lanyard; attach to bag webbing for instant access.

Maintenance schedule that actually gets done

• Monthly: Visual check, power bank top-up, test headlamp/VHF.
• Quarterly: Full contents audit, replace any compromised seals, update checklists.
• Pre-passage: Verify dates on EPIRB/PLBs/flares; crew briefing on bag location and contents.
• Our yacht technicians in Tivat tie ditch-bag checks to your routine yacht maintenance so nothing slips.

When to call the professionals
If you’ve inherited a mixed bag of gear, refitting or preparing for an ocean crossing, bring your ditch bag to yacht repair Tivat. We’ll:

• Test and register EPIRBs/PLBs, program MMSI, and confirm VHF waterproofing.
• Replace expired rations, water, meds, and flares.
• Build compact, labeled modules for fast access in the dark.
• Train your crew on deployment and emergency comms—on dock or onboard.

Final word: Your lifeline deserves pro care
A ditch bag is more than a checklist—it’s a system that must function under stress, salt, and darkness. Keep it light, waterproof, and inspected, and pair it with professional support so it’s always mission-ready. For a full safety audit or a custom offshore ditch bag, contact YachtService.me—your trusted Boka Bay yacht service partner for yacht maintenance and emergency preparedness in Montenegro.
Call to action: Ready to upgrade your ditch bag before your next passage? Book a safety inspection with our yacht service Montenegro team in Tivat today.