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Damage Control Kit for Sailboats

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wanderer13
1st Mate

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USA
76 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/09/2015 : 17:31:46

All,

I am in the process of putting together a list of items for my damage control kit. God, I hope I never need it, but it's something we all should keep on our boats... for the bad day that might be around the corner.

I am not talking about the required USCG safety items like flares and life preservers. Rather, the kit of tools that you will need in the event of a holing, dismasting, broken thru-hull, or who-knows-what.

Here's what I have so far:
Emergency Med kit
2 Class C fire extinguishers
Craftsman stainless steel portable 132-piece tool kit
Metal saw. Drywall saw.
Heavy duty bolt cutters
1 qt. stay-afloat putty
Forespar sta-plug
1 Roll Duck/Duct Tape
Spool of 10 ga wire
Extra yacht line
Extra towels
5 gallon bucket
manual pump

All this stuff fits under the port settee.

What do you keep on your boat?

1981 Catalina 25 FK/TR

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2015 : 17:59:56

I live in Kansas, we just jump off the boat, stand up and walk to shore.

Frank Hopper

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2015 : 20:08:11

Wooden pegs and rubber mallet
Automatic electric bilge pump, if you don't have one already...biggest one you can fit.
Handheld VHF with GPS and DSC
Portable emergency VHF antenna for your fixed VHF (in case of demasting)

Rick S., Swarthmore, PA
PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor)
New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)

Edited by - TakeFive on 04/09/2015 20:10:36

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2015 : 20:56:48

If I had thru-hulls below the waterline (and I don't), I'd prefer the Forespar foam plugs to wood ones for problems there. My concern is hitting granite... for that I have Stay Afloat, 2 pretty good sized automatic pumps, a hand pump, a bucket, an a variety of foam cushions that can be jammed into breaches.

Oh--and a chartplotter to help me avoid the granite.

But the two most important items are (1) PFDs for everyone, where everyone knows they are, and (2) the VHF--I have a handheld in a floating ditch bag, plus the fixed DSC unit at the helm. The handheld alone can reach the high-sensitivity Coast Guard receivers from anywhere I go.

I admit it would be best for everyone to be wearing PFDs before a crisis rather than having to find and put them on in the crisis environment... and I only enforce that when the bow is pointed toward a blank horizon or a very distant shore. On the other hand, when I'm out alone, my inflatable PFD is on. But, before we leave the dock, do we all inform our passengers of the location of PFDs and how to use them? When it comes down to life vs. death, that could be the most important precaution.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage before going over to the Dark Side (2007-2025); now boatless for the first time since 1970 (on a Sunfish).

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/10/2015 07:45:51

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2015 : 04:03:48

These two items if you sail in the ocean:

Here is one that you may not think about:

Salinity refractometer
Just a drip of water on the lens and you can tell whether you have saltwater or fresh water in your bilge.

Also, may be considered a safety item, but if all else fails, Personal Locater Beacon:

Davy J

2005 Gemini 105Mc
PO 1987 C25 #5509 SR/SK
Tampa Bay

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2015 : 04:33:10

We, crew included, always wear our life jackets when the boat is not tied to something EOC.

Fiberglass fracture: use the cushions to stop the flow.

Rigging: if the stick is still up, use the spare halyards to secure it.

Personnel: First Aid Kit, Fire Extinguishers, 2nd VHF, SPOT, Flares, etc.

Because we take our boat out for multiple days at a time, we carry soooo much stuff, tools, electrical repair stuff, clothing, blankets, etc.

Paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

wanderer13
1st Mate

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USA
76 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2015 : 12:32:07

All excellent suggestions, thanks.

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