What’s In My Sailing Bag – Coastal Version
My sailing bag goes with me every day, everywhere. Over the last 30+ years, I’ve narrowed it down to the most essential items to make my sailing days worry-free. Here are my time-tested items I include.
⚙️ Tools & Repair Equipment
- Multi-tools (e.g., Leatherman) (2)
- Rigging knife with shackle key, fid
- Sail repair kit (needles, thread, sail tape)
- Spare shackles, cotter pins, clevis pins
- Electrical tape, duct tape, zip ties
- Spare boat or locker keys
✅ Safety & Emergency Gear
- Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or EPIRB
- Signal mirror
- Marine whistle
- Visual distress signals (flares, dye, etc.)
- Waterproof flashlight or headlamp
- Safety tether and harness
- Inflatable PFD
- Lifejacket inflator re-arming kit
- Binoculars
🩹 Bleeding Control & Trauma Supplies
- Compact kit to throw
- Tourniquet (CAT or SOFTT-W)
- Pressure bandage (Israeli or OLAES)
- Hemostatic gauze (e.g., QuikClot) (no powder)
- Nitrile gloves (multiple pairs)
- Trauma shears or Gerber strap/line cutter
- Compact first aid kit (burn gel, antiseptic, pain relief, etc.)
🧤 Personal Protective Gear
- Waterproof gloves
- UV-blocking sunglasses with retainer strap
- Spare reading glasses
- Sun hat or cap
- Neck gaiter or buff
- Lightweight foul-weather jacket
- Sunscreen (reef-safe) and SPF lip balm
🧭 Navigation & Communication Essentials
- Region-specific paper charts
- Handheld GPS device
- Handheld VHF radio with backup batteries
- Handheld wind measurement device – Kestrel
- Compact compass (backup)
- Waterproof notebook and pencil
- Laminated emergency contact list / VHF channels
- Apps – Marine Traffic, Navionics, Tides, Weather
- Solar charger for phone, cables, battery bank
- Cigarette lighter double usb charger
- Garmin Watch with RoadID
💧 Hydration & Nutrition
- Collapsible water bottle or hydration pouch
- High-calorie snacks (energy bars, jerky, trail mix)
- Electrolyte tablets or powder
- Reusable utensil or spork
🧳 Personal Effects
- Dry bag or waterproof pouch
- Photo ID, medical card, and cash
- Phone (in waterproof case)
- M Cup
- Fat hair ties
- Deodorant and toothbrush
- Boater’s Guide to Federal Requirements
- American Sailing Log Book and pen
- License and drug consortium letter
🌦️ Seasonal / Trip-Specific Items
- Thermal layers for cold weather
- Extra dry socks and underlayers
- Insect repellent
- Red-lens flashlight (night vision-friendly)
- Polarized sunglasses with reading inserts
- Red long streamer to fly at sail head so husband knows which boat to photograph
📌 Pro Tip: Review and restock your sailing bag before every voyage. Replace expired items and check battery-powered gear!
I Don’t Go Anywhere Without:
- Stream2Sea Reef Safe SPF 20 or 30 mineral, regular or tinted sunscreen, mask defog, shampoo, conditioner, rash guards and more reef-safe supplies. Use my code “DeepWH” for 10% off. Yes, using boating and camping shampoo and conditioner protects our waterways and runoff.
- Mustang Survival pfd’s and foul weather gear for military specifications equipment.
- Harvest Hosts for the wineries, breweries, alpaca farms, honey apiaries, camping on the fly!
- Crisis Medicine Tactical Casualty Care Course knowledge so we can help ourselves.
- MyMedic Individual Bleeding Control Kits. We take ours everywhere.
- North American Rescue CAT tourniquets.
- Travelex is our trip insurer – click for a free quote.
- Girls That Scuba – members discount card for all things diving.
- RoadId for $5 off your cycling/running/kayaking/travel/sailing id. Sailors are now wearing them!
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- AD: affiliate links used.
