HOW TO PREPARE YOUR SURVIVAL CANISTER: THE GRAB BAG

Name: HOW TO PREPARE YOUR SURVIVAL CANISTER: THE GRAB BAG
Uploaded: 2026-06-14T12:00:15.000Z
Duration: 42 min 4 s
Description: A 30-liter hard canister grab bag is unpacked item by item, with passport copies and a fishing kit among the key contents.

14 June 2026 · 42 min · 3K views

Inflatable tender deployed from sailboat on open sea

What this video covers

A roughly 30-liter waterproof hard canister serves as the grab bag, stowed at the companionway entrance for immediate access.38:49 The contents are unpacked item by item: a hooded sweatshirt and t-shirt (in case of abandonment while sleeping), sunscreen, sunglasses, a fishing kit with two line weights stored in a resealable bag that doubles as a water collector, a cork to cap hooks and prevent puncturing the life raft, a compact dive mask, resealable plastic bags, garbage bags for water and food storage, survival blankets, gloves, a small compass, photocopies of all crew passports, a first-aid kit with duplicate medications, and tissues and toilet paper. Condoms are recommended as compact 2–3 liter water containers or improvised foot protection. A general chart of the sailing area is suggested to pair with the compass for estimating drift direction and rescue timeline. The dinghy is discussed as a "dynamic survival" alternative for sailors without a life raft, particularly if a fuel jerry can and improvised sail are available. The canister is opened annually to check expiry dates on food, water, and medications and to add overlooked items — gloves were added during this session. The video also briefly covers sewing a mainsail seam repair by machine and hand before a passage from Cape Verde to French Guiana, and winch maintenance using WD-40 rather than grease to avoid clogging pawls. A hard waterproof canister beats a dry bag for long-term grab-bag reliability because repeated opening and closing degrades soft bag seals.

Watch on YouTube