Survival gear needed if boat brakes down and your in a swamp or the middle of no where?

[Ben Miller]

My boat is new to me but used and has been great so far.  However we were in the swamp today and I couldn't help but think what if it wouldn't crank and trolling motor battery went dead.  What would I need to survive for a couple of days until found?  Lighter, flash lights, batteries, something warm, water, ect....

 

I am making a list and would appreciate any ideas

[riverbasser]

Well where I fish  that isn't necessary but things I do carry are mainly to help me not be stranded in the first place. 

 

Common hand tools

Big flathead for the trim release screw

Spare prop

Relays/fuses

Small roll of wire

Butt connectors

Test light

Spare primer bubble

And I have 4 batteries on the boat 1 crank 2 trolling and 1 accessory, the accessory can double as a spare cranking battery if need be.

 

Not exactly what your asking but I would always prefer to be able to get home verses being stranded.

[CroakHunter]

Glock 17 or 19 with three 31 round magazines loaded to capacity, and a whistle. The pistol is self explanatory, but the whistle would really be affective if you were tired and worn out and couldn't yell for help anymore. Much easier to blow a whistle than to yell. Its Also louder. Waterproof matches, coconut husk, a few energy bars, water, poncho, paracord, good sharp knife. Just some ideas of small things that would save your life if stranded

[geo g]

After fishing the everglades for 40 years I will give you a few tips.  

 

1). The most important tip:  Always take more water then you think you can drink.  In summer heat I'll take three times more.

 

2). When fishing alone always wear an inflatable vest.  Enough vests for everyone.

 

3). I always have a back up battery pack fully charged, for jump starts, emergency cell phone power, lights, even trolling motor emergency power 870 AMPS.

 

4). On the bottom side of my storage locker lid, I have all the emergecy numbers for FWC, Florida Fish and Game, Florida Marine Patrol, Coast Guard. all besides 911.  This saved me one Sunday afternoon in the three pines area of the everglades.

 

5).  An extra long, hand made Paddle, so I can stand on deck and paddle both sides of boat.  This can doubles as a push pole.

 

6). First aid kit

 

7). Cell phone water proof bag, if phone gets wet communication stops.

 

8).Tool kit, for simple repairs.  Extra wire, duck tape,cord, extra batteries.

 

9). Powerful flashlight, and reflective mirror, whistle.

 

10. Don't leave home unless people at home know exactly where you are fishing.

 

11).sealed snacks in zip lock.

[riverbasser]

13 minutes ago, geo g said:

 

10. Don't leave home unless people at home know exactly where you are fishing

Probably the best advice there is. Everyone needs to do this

[SWVABass]

Not really a fishing device, but I have a spot connect. It has helped me hunting a few times, allows me to send a customized check in or need help message and sos if something is really bad. They have a track feature which I don’t use. My family gets accurate gps lat&longs so they can view it on a map like google has. This little device provides them and me piece of mind.

 

they also now make a sat phone with most of those same features. So if you fish off the grid I would recommend looking into one of these.

[Vinjints]

Don't know what to offer for being on a boat other than to bring paddles.  However, you can get in just as much trouble getting lost hiking through a spot to a new fishing hole.  Doesn't matter where I'm going, or what I'm doing, I've got a few essentials packed that can take up a lot less room than you might think.  Make a list and start carrying one for each category, and a backup/alternate as you see fit.  Consider the 10 C's plus some...

 

Confidence and conditioning top the list.  Know what to do, how to do it, and be prepared physically to accomplish it.  Then pack up something to cover consumption, cutting, combustion, cover, container, cordage, candle, cotton, compass, cargo tape, canvas needle, communication, and care (first aid).  Include small bills and coins in case you do get somewhere, as well as spare keys.  Add a small work kit or multi tool and bring a hard copy of important contacts.

 

Those are my priority items for work, travel, play and I add to it depending on the activity.  

[A-Jay]

In this day & age, there's really very few places that are truly "in the middle of no where".

If we can get there with a conventional water craft, we most certainly can be found & rescued.

HOWEVER - it's up to us to ensure we are enabling the 'rescue efforts' the ability to find us.

The below unit does that in every way.

 

 

https://www.acrartex.com/products/catalog/personal-locator-beacons/aqualink-view-plb/#sthash.4ZuLqXw9.dpbs

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AC821PW/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_10?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

This unit is a battery booster - very handy.

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GB40-UltraSafe-Lithium-Starter/dp/B016UG6PWE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1518704380&sr=8-3&keywords=noco%2Bgenius&th=1

 

A-Jay

[Catt]

9 hours ago, geo g said:

After fishing the everglades for 40 years I will give you a few tips.  

 

1). The most important tip:  Always take more water then you think you can drink.  In summer heat I'll take three times more.

 

2). When fishing alone always wear an inflatable vest.  Enough vests for everyone.

 

3). I always have a back up battery pack fully charged, for jump starts, emergency cell phone power, lights, even trolling motor emergency power 870 AMPS.

 

4). On the bottom side of my storage locker lid, I have all the emergecy numbers for FWC, Florida Fish and Game, Florida Marine Patrol, Coast Guard. all besides 911.  This saved me one Sunday afternoon in the three pines area of the everglades.

 

5).  An extra long, hand made Paddle, so I can stand on deck and paddle both sides of boat.  This can doubles as a push pole.

 

6). First aid kit

 

7). Cell phone water proof bag, if phone gets wet communication stops.

 

8).Tool kit, for simple repairs.  Extra wire, duck tape,cord, extra batteries.

 

9). Powerful flashlight, and reflective mirror, whistle.

 

10. Don't leave home unless people at home know exactly where you are fishing.

 

11).sealed snacks in zip lock.

 

I've fished/hunted the swamps & marshes of Southwest Louisiana my entire life (67 yrs).

 

That's solid advice right there!

 

Where I'm at cellphones are all but useless!

 

Bug spray... been in swamps/marshes after dark...lots off bug!

[Catt]

A friend texted laughing his xxx off, said I forgot my most important tool ?

[TnRiver46]

3 minutes ago, Catt said:

A friend texted laughing his xxx off, said I forgot my most important tool ?

Hahah! You could also ride a horse across the rio grande with that pistol 

[Catt]

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Hahah! You could also ride a horse across the rio grande with that pistol 

 

This ole coonass has been know to cowboy up ?

[geo g]

Don’t fall overboard with that rock on your hip!

[river-rat]

I fish the Atchafalaya Basin and the freshwater marshes below Morgan City, LA which is a vast area. I always leave a float plan at home with a map of the area I plan to fish that day that my wife can use to call law enforcement if I don't call home by a certain time. I also have another copy I put in a ziploc bag and tape inside the tire well of my truck parked at the landing.

 

I also keep a couple of MRE's in the boat in case I end up spending the night and need to have something to eat.

 

Luckily I have never had to spend the night out in the swamp, but I don't want to take any chances in my old age.