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jonoester
senior member (61)senior membersenior member
  
02/28/2011 01:07PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Three part question here. Do you keep a ditch-kit with you at all times? What do you keep in it? and finally Does it double as your daypack/extra pack?

I double it up. I keep a survival kit (poncho, space blanket, fire starting material, fishing gear, candle, small multi-tool, cards that double as survival information or tinder all inside a metal water bottle that I sawed in half and duct-taped together with 50 foot of para-cord wrapped around the outside of the bottle) inside the daypack at all times along with a first aid kit with quikclot. I keep the pack within arms reach 95% of the time. It is all kept with my daypack items as well.

what about you?
 
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02/28/2011 04:26PM  
Ditch kit inside a nalgene water bottle - someone gave it to me as a gift and I enhanced it with what I need... AND daypack with lunch and sundries as well.

Water bottle is carabinered to canoe or day pack and with me MOST of the time but maybe not 100% (don't take it to the latrine, etc.).
 
02/28/2011 04:41PM  
My ditch kit is in the pockets of my PFD. It is not in my daypack which could be lost in a capsize. Everything could be lost in capsize including your canoe and everything tied to it. The PFD I'm wearing so I know I'll have it.
 
02/28/2011 05:19PM  
PFD pocket here too. in one pocket, the only one it has.

2 space blankets.
bic lighter.
small fire steel/treated cotton balls.
advil.
2 - 1qt. glad freezer bags.
compass/whistle combo.
small, single AA flashlight/spare battery.
10 marlboro lights. :)
small folding gerber knife.
30ft. cable lacing. (really strong, flat "cordage")
2 - 1/8oz jigheads.
4 - 3" powerbait twister tails. (yellow)
6" steel leader.
30' of 10# trilene xl.
one of the larger heat pads.
a few bandaids.
almost forgot. my PLB is always on my belt.

i always wear my PFD when im on the water so the above mentioned items are always on my person....so, yeah....what bannock said. :)
 
02/28/2011 06:28PM  
I could only fit about 2/3 of my ditch kit in my PFD pockets so I bought a new PFD this year.

I don't recommend fastening your ditch kit to the canoe. The main way you'd get stranded is if you lose your canoe, either by capsizing or having it blow away.

Mine is always in my PFD pockets so except around camp it's with me.
 
02/28/2011 06:30PM  
In my PFD pockets are:
small folding gerber knife
gallon freezer bag
black garbage bag
whistle
a tiny flashlight (uses a watch battery)
and a Survival Kit in a Sardine can

The last item looks silly, but it fits in a pfd pocket perfectly. I got it as a gift and thought it was silly, but it has some great, useful stuff and is very compact. Actually, I hope it is all in there and in good condition because, obviously, I haven't opened it.

If you like the concept, but want to make your own, you can make an Altoids Tin Survival Kit. That's what I'm going to do if I ever open the sardine can or figure it's time to replace it.
 
SevenofNine
distinguished member(2472)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/28/2011 06:37PM  
Deer skin, Knife and flint. What more does a man need?
 
02/28/2011 06:50PM  
quote SevenofNine: "Deer skin, Knife and flint. What more does a man need?"

Just the knife. The flint and deer skin is already out there. :)
 
02/28/2011 06:56PM  
quote Bannock: "
quote SevenofNine: "Deer skin, Knife and flint. What more does a man need?"

Just the knife. The flint and deer skin is already out there. :)"

well, the knife is too....
 
jonoester
senior member (61)senior membersenior member
  
02/28/2011 07:58PM  
I guess i never really thought of having my ditch kit in the pockets of my PFD! Gotta downsize a bit.. what about purifying water?
 
sleepnbag
distinguished member(706)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/28/2011 08:51PM  
quote jonoester: "I guess I never really thought of having my ditch kit in the pockets of my PFD! Gotta downsize a bit.. what about purifying water? "


A lot of people don't purify anyway, so that would likely be pretty low on my list of concerns.
I suppose you could include some purification tablets??
 
Savage Voyageur
distinguished member(14414)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished membermaster membermaster member
  
02/28/2011 09:18PM  
quote jonoester: "I guess i never really thought of having my ditch kit in the pockets of my PFD! Gotta downsize a bit.. what about purifying water? "



You drink right out of the water, after all it is a survival situation and any sickness you might get won't show up until two weeks later. You will be rescued by then and back home.
 
02/28/2011 09:32PM  
agree. thats the least of your worries at that point. to comment more...a ditch kit is only a ditch kit if youre wearing it...as many have already stated.
 
02/28/2011 09:36PM  
PFD
and the stuff in it

butthead
 
Rich11
distinguished member(624)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/28/2011 11:01PM  
I always take my day pack every where but it make alot of scence to have stuff in your pfd.
 
03/01/2011 08:24AM  
quote butthead: " PFD
and the stuff in it

butthead"

What are the two green things on the right in your second picture?

My pfd barely has room for sunglasses in a pocket... and the zipper is broken. hmmmm. I do keep matches and leatherman in there, whistle and compass and sometimes SAK on a lanyard, and other things in my fishing vest pockets (under the pfd)... but the space blanket/first aid stuff is in the nalgene. Time to re-think a few things!
 
03/01/2011 08:56AM  
BWP; the green things are a camera and PLB. Yellow first aid pocket is safety-pinned to the vest webbing and contains space blanket,75 ft. nylon cord, spare co2 for vest, small bug spray,some first aid gear, matches and striking strip. Compass and whistle go in pocket. Multi-tool in it's sheath. Camera in it's separate pocket. PLB on straps. Idiot strap on my glasses.

butthead
 
HowardSprague
distinguished member(3419)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/01/2011 11:05AM  
Shh!
A couple years ago Bannock was showing off his "survival kit in sardine can" at Canoecopia. I sat next to him during a presentation ("Erie Canal Paddling", I believe), and while he wasn't looking I swapped it out for a can of King Oscars (in olive oil). If he ever gets into trouble, it'll be great to have something to laugh about!
 
03/01/2011 11:10AM  
Ummmm, aren't cans forbidden up there anyway? My lips are sealed.
 
03/01/2011 12:36PM  
quote kanoes: "PFD pocket here too. in one pocket, the only one it has.


2 space blankets.
bic lighter.
small fire steel/treated cotton balls.
advil.
2 - 1qt. glad freezer bags.
compass/whistle combo.
small, single AA flashlight/spare battery.
10 marlboro lights. :)
small folding gerber knife.
30ft. cable lacing. (really strong, flat "cordage")
2 - 1/8oz jigheads.
4 - 3" powerbait twister tails. (yellow)
6" steel leader.
30' of 10# trilene xl.
one of the larger heat pads.
a few bandaids.
almost forgot. my PLB is always on my belt.


i always wear my PFD when im on the water so the above mentioned items are always on my person....so, yeah....what bannock said. :)"


i could see carrying two space blankets if you weren't always solo;)
 
Dan Cooke
Guest Paddler
  
03/01/2011 12:55PM  
I have never assembled a ditch kit. It seems like I am in a minority here.
Dan
 
mc2mens
distinguished member(3311)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/01/2011 01:05PM  
This is a good thread. I'll have to reconsider what goes into my PFD. Up to now it's just been a one-hitter and a bic lighter.















Just kidding!
 
03/01/2011 02:14PM  
quote mc2mens: "...Up to now it's just been a one-hitter..."


you carry Denard Span in your pfd-wow! [insert rimshot]

dan-i have not YET assembled a ditch kit either but intend to one of these days. i wear a manly lumbar pack when winter trekking with all the essentials in it and intend to create a compact altoids-tin sized survival kit to keep in my pockets in soft water season when the fanny...err lumbar pack wouldn't work with my portage pack

 
03/01/2011 04:24PM  
quote HowardSprague: "Shh!
A couple years ago Bannock was showing off his "survival kit in sardine can" at Canoecopia. I sat next to him during a presentation ("Erie Canal Paddling", I believe), and while he wasn't looking I swapped it out for a can of King Oscars (in olive oil). If he ever gets into trouble, it'll be great to have something to laugh about!"


LOL!!!! At least I won't be hungry.

Actually now that I think about it, a survival ki in a sardine can is ok, but sardines in a sardine can is illegal in the BWCA. I've been breaking the law!!! Thanks a lot, Howard! :)
 
03/01/2011 04:50PM  
I have a little bottle of Potable Aqua tabs in my Ditch Kit. Doesn't take up much room or weigh anything.
 
03/01/2011 06:37PM  
"i could see carrying two space blankets if you weren't always solo;)"

they were out of beer belly size Rich. :)
 
03/01/2011 07:36PM  
Hhmmmmmm. I've always tripped with a group, so I've not considered a "ditch Kit." If I do solo, I'll consider keeping my day pack handy in case I dump. I'm a strong swimmer and the small daypack will not be a problem.
 
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