Survival
What Is a Grab Bag on a Boat? What to Pack and Where
Published · Last checked October 2026
A grab bag (or ditch bag) is a waterproof, buoyant, brightly coloured bag of emergency kit kept ready near the companionway, to take with you into the liferaft if you have to abandon ship. It supplements the raft's own pack. A typical grab bag holds a waterproof handheld VHF, a PLB or EPIRB, flares, a torch, water, a first aid kit, seasickness tablets, sun cream, spare glasses and copies of passports.
Why carry a grab bag
A liferaft's equipment pack is basic, especially in a coastal raft. If you have to abandon ship, there will be little time to collect things, so the essential kit must be ready in one bag. The skipper should assign one crew member to take it.
What to pack
| Category | Items |
|---|---|
| Communication | Waterproof handheld VHF with DSC, PLB or EPIRB, spare batteries, mobile phone in a waterproof pouch |
| Signalling | Red handheld flares, orange smoke, torch, whistle, signalling mirror |
| Survival | Drinking water, energy bars, seasickness tablets, thermal protective aids, sun cream |
| Medical | First aid kit, personal medication, spare glasses |
| Documents | Copies of passports, boat papers and insurance in a sealed bag |
| Tools | Knife, tape, cyalume sticks |
Where to keep it
- Near the companionway, where it can be reached quickly in the dark.
- Secured so it does not fly around in rough weather, but easy to release.
- Shown to all crew in the safety briefing at the start of a trip.
Checking and maintaining it
Before each season, check battery dates, flare expiry dates (see how to use a flare), water and food dates, and medication. Test the handheld VHF. The bag should float with its contents; check by testing it in the water. More on emergency kit in the Day Skipper safety equipment lesson and on abandoning ship in what is a liferaft.