For years now, Zhik’s pull-over, side-zip PFD has been one of the gold standards in high-performance dinghy flotation devices. Close-fitting, lightweight and virtually nothing that might snag a mainsheet passing overhead in a tack or jibe, it’s been tough to beat. The 2025 version of their time-tested model, called the Performance Racer Cut, while not vastly different, does have some cool updates that might push those thinking of updating their somewhat ragged original (like my 2011 model) to a 2025 model.        

As in the past, Zhik offers two versions, 70 Newtons and 50 Newtons, which are indicators of the buoyancy level.  The higher the number, the more buoyancy. The 70 is labelled USCG approved, while the 50 is a buoyancy aid. It’s worth noting that as of June 5, 2025, the USCG updated their recommendations to reflect the conditions in which a PFD should be worn rather than just the weight of the user. Considerations now included are the boater’s skill level, environment, and expected rescue time. Sounds like they’re coming around to recognizing the 50 as a viable PFD.  We’ll see. 

High-Performance PFD

We got a chance to check out both, and the only perceivable difference between them is that the foam in the 70 is a bit thicker than the 50, which you’d expect. No issue, you might say?  Well, not quite. We found the 70 had a noticeably tighter fit. So, depending on how loosely your old 50 fit, you might want to try a 70 before buying to be sure you end up with a size that’s comfortable. The foam on the 70, most noticeably in the front, is shaped to fit the contours of your body, which makes the PFD feel even more form-fitting. 

Like the original, the PFD is a pull-over with a side zip and Velcro tab to keep the zipper from accidentally coming undone. Over that, a buckle connected to a strap runs around the lower perimeter of the PFD, allowing you to snug up the bottom of the jacket to your preference. One of the biggest issues with PFDs, once in the water, is that they can tend to ride up, and you end up with them around your ears. Not so here. In addition to the strap, Zhik has a wide, non-slip rubber-like grip band inside and adjacent to the strap that does a great job of preventing ride-up. The shoulder straps are soft and comfortable, and there’s even a loop on the left-hand strap for attaching a radio–especially useful for coaches or sailing instructors. In front is an envelope pocket with drainage holes and a stretch, neoprene like front, allowing you to carry slightly bulkier items, if necessary.  Our only ding is that it would be nice if there was a loop of some sort inside to which you might connect a whistle lanyard.  

No doubt, racers will love the fit and compact style of the High-Performance PFD. It’s got all the best features of early versions and more. Available in grey or black.  $139.99

Active PFD 

Like the High-Performance PFD, Zhik’s Active model comes in 50 and 70 Newton versions. And like its more expensive sibling, it includes a waist belt, interior grip band, soft shoulder straps and overall low-profile construction.  But there the similarities end. Perhaps for a lot of sailors, in a good way. For starters, this jacket is really easy to put on and take off. If you’ve struggled with pulling a life jacket over your head on the water and then trying to connect a side zipper that you can’t quite see, this is a great alternative. The essential parts of the Active model, the belt and grip band, are identical to the High-Performance Model, so it’s going to stay in place if you end up in the water. The belt buckles front center, right over the zipper. Talk about easy. 

Fit does not seem quite as critical here. While we felt the 70 High Performance seemed overly snug compared to the 50, the Active 70 fit quite well right out of the box. There’s a vertical side pocket on the front right, held closed with two strips of Velcro.  There’s no stretch material in the pocket, so what you can carry there is pretty limited. Inside is an elastic loop that you might use for attaching a lanyard and whistle. 

While it doesn’t have quite the cache of the High-Performance PFD, don’t count out the Active PFD.  All the key features, a slightly lower price. Available in black, lime and red.  $109.99

Kollition Helmet

We first looked at helmets in 2016, and at the time their use was starting to build momentum among sailors. After all, in what other sport do we have an aluminum or carbon tube swinging rapidly over our heads, often with minimal clearance, with our only protection usually a baseball hat? Today, you’ll find helmets being worn across the board. On foilers and other high-speed boats, they’re standard kit. All the cool kids are wearing them.

Zhik was among the forerunners to start making helmets for sailors. Their latest model, the Kollition, is CE EN1385 certified, which means it’s specifically designed for water sports. CE means it’s been certified by European safety standards, while the EN 1385 indicates a standard for whitewater helmets. 

When you first pick it up, you’re likely to notice just how little this helmet weighs. It’s lighter than my Specialized biking helmet, although in fairness, the latter also has an extra layer of protection through Mips technology. The profile is nice and low, which is great because when we first checked out helmets almost a decade ago, we discovered we had to duck just a touch more during jibes and tacks when wearing a helmet, since the helmet was thicker than a ball cap. The Kollition’s lower profile makes that less of an issue. We also really liked the quick-adjust cradle. The knob is in the usual place at the back of the helmet.  A quick turn or two and the helmet fit perfectly.  The padded chin strap is also adjustable. 

There are lots of vents–in this case six on top and another eight along the sides. No risk of getting overheated here. The plethora of vents also makes it easier if you want to tape over the vents on the top of the helmet, an important consideration for those of us who are prone to sunburn on the tops of our heads. It’s also cut up over the ears so as not to restrict hearing, but rather than going straight back, as biking helmets usually do, coverage extends a bit down on the back of the head for more protection. Finally, the helmet has a large section of high-visibility yellow, a great safety feature if you end up in the water and someone’s trying to find you. 

There’s really nothing to dislike about this helmet. At first, we figured a small built-in visor would be nice, but we get that it could possibly snag lines. If you really want that type of shade, a visor will usually work, and it’s usually flexible enough to prevent snagging.  Available in small, medium and large.  $114.99

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Yes, we all know how important the safety aspect of a good PFD is, and we’ll get to that, but the first question always, is it comfortable?  If it’s comfortable to wear, we’re more likely to wear it without a second thought, right? 

Right. And there’s good news on that front. First, what little weight it carries is well distributed over the shoulders, rather than resting directly on the back of your neck. From personal experience of consecutive days in an inflatable that didn’t spread the weight, resulting in a pretty sore neck, that’s huge, maybe even the most important comfort consideration. Beyond that, a mesh back panel prevents heat build-up, always a nice touch, and a simple buckle system in front makes getting in and out of the Atlas a cinch. The side adjusters, with large tabs to release tension, makes shifting clothing modes from warm, dry, daytime conditions to multi-layer, wet and cold night watches a minor issue at best. A single crotch strap can also be easily adjusted or removed completely.    

Now that the Atlas has passed the comfort test in flying colors, let’s talk about what’s really important and the whole reason for having an inflatable PFD: safety components. Mustang uses the acronym ADAPT (ADvanced Airway Protection and Turning) to describe their technology. The basic idea is that once in the water, the PFD keeps your face up, blocks waves from hitting your face, supports your head and gives you some in-water stability. Let’s inflate it and see how it does.

First impression–this thing is big–can’t imagine anyone it couldn’t support. Clearly plenty of head support to keep your head protected and out of the water, plus there’s s chafe strip around the neck opening to minimize abrasion. All ancillary items are to your left—manual inflator, whistle (on lanyard) and light. Reflector patches are just above the head and on top of the two inflated lobes, so they should be easily visible.

The spray hood, to prevent secondary drowning, is rolled up, just above the head and held in place with a small Velcro attachment. One tug and it’s free. Pull over your head and attach two bottom loops around the two lower sections of the inflatable. As with any inflatable new to you, it’s always good to test it out in a controlled situation so you know exactly where everything is and how the parts work together. Once the hood is in place, your face is fully protected from the elements.

A couple of other features worth noting. There’s a heavy webbed ring in front for the attachment to jacklines, and the vest has a thin layer of flotation, which means it can be tossed to someone in the water, like a life-ring.  Inside the vest, on the inflatable section, there are slots to hold an AIS and PLB beacon. The Atlas uses a low-maintenance Hammar MA 1 inflator, and with the small viewing window, it’s easy to check its status.

The Atlas 190 DLX Hammar is a true, professional-level offshore inflatable PFD that is comfortable, but will provide you with strong assurance of safety at a reasonable price.  Red/black, universal adult size, $369.99.

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According to ACR, the ResQFlare and Distress Flag “provide a complete distress signaling solution that is certified to meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements as a reliable and highly efficient alternative to onboard pyrotechnic flares. The ResQFlare and Flag are individually classified as approved Visual Distress Signals for night and day, respectively, ensuring recreational boaters in US waters are fully equipped to attract the attention of rescue personnel in an emergency.”

”Significantly enhancing the chance of survival and rescue by emitting the flash characteristic for the International Morse Code for S-O-S, the waterproof and buoyant ACR ResQFlare automatically rights itself in the water, providing 360-degrees visibility for for more than six miles. The distress flare’s high efficiency electronics ensure a substantial operational life, with the LED strobe maintaining 75 cd peak equivalent fixed intensity for over 20 hours, which is more than three times longer than USCG requirements. Compact, lightweight and easy to operate, the ResQFlare features a durable design and a user replaceable battery power source, ensuring it is a one-time purchase that will provide many years of service.

“The supplied ACR Distress Flag, included in the package with every ResQFlare, offers numerous daylight signalling options. Displayed with the black square over the black circle, the flag can be flown on the mast or highest possible point, displayed by hand or waved on a boat hook, paddle, or fishing rod. It can also be laid flat on the deck to attract aircraft.

”The ACR Electronics ResQFlare is certified under USCG 161.013 as a Night-time Visual Distress Signal, while the Distress Flag is certified under USCG 160.072 as a Daytime Visual Distress Signal. Carriage of the ResQFlare and Distress Flag together allows boaters to forego the requirement for traditional pyrotechnic flares when on vessels up to 65ft in length, boating on the Great Lakes, within 12 miles of US waters, or on any body of water with a passageway to the sea at least two miles wide. Vessels less than 16ft are not required to carry a Day Visual Distress Signal, but must still carry a Night Visual Distress Signal, making the ResQFlare a viable alternative to pyrotechnic flares for smaller boats. The ResQFlare package can be purchased for $79.95.

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When cruising, safety should always be at the forefront of your mind. Having a well-stocked and meticulously-planned ditch bag can be the difference between surviving to write your best-selling account or taking an extended trip to Davey Jones’ locker. Most of the items needed can be grabbed from home at little to no expense. The more pivotal items are worth spending a bit of money on.

There are three phases of preparing your ditch bag: stocking, packing, and stowing your bag. This is the list I used to prepare for a four-person crew circumnavigating the world in a tropical climate. It’s a good foundation for preparing your own bag for your specific circumstances.

Stocking the Bag

I found it helpful to break things down into categories. Our bag is broken into five groups: medical, nutrition and hydration, signaling and navigation, tools, and personal. Below is a complete list of what we keep in our Ultimate Survivor Technologies Marine Survivor Ditchbag 1.0.

Packing

Once you’ve found what you need for your ditch bag, take care in how you pack it. In the event of an abandon ship, it’s likely things will be hectic, people may be injured, and the seas will probably be rough. Packing your bag accordingly – so necessities are easily accessible – will make a big difference.

First, make sure your throwable is near the ditch bag with 40 feet of solid bowline pre-attached. Make sure knots are pre-tied and inspected by another crew member. If you do need to abandon ship, you’ll need to pull in anyone who’s in the water – having lines and knots ready ahead of time will save time (and possibly lives).

In an emergency, you’ll also want light so you can see what you’re doing and assess the situation. Headlamps, light sticks, and waterproof flashlights should be near the top of your bag, followed by emergency blankets and medical supplies to tend any injuries that need immediate attention. Once everyone is in the life boat and as stable as possible, the next priority is rescue. Under the medical supplies are the EPIRB, flares, GPS, and handheld radio.

After those basics have been packed near the top or attached to the outside of the bag, it’s up to you to decide how to use the remaining space. Most of the other equipment isn’t vital within the first moments of abandoning ship, so you can fill the bag according to your needs.

Another helpful tip when packing your gear is to organize things in groups and store them in clearly-labeled waterproof bags. Whenever possible, fill the bags with as much air as you can. Even though it takes up space, it will help your bag float if it doesn’t make it into your lifeboat. (I’ve also read of other sailors who cut up pool noodles and stuff them into nooks and crannies to make their bags more buoyant.)

Proper Storage

Once your bag is properly stocked and packed, the last step is to store it. Space on a boat is precious. The least-used items are usually squired away in a bilge or abandoned in an extra birth. It’s tempting to do the same with your ditch bag – don’t! The best place for a ditch bag is somewhere on deck that’s easily accessible and near your lifeboat. You don’t want to be down below wading through three feet of water to get your emergency supplies.

On our boat, we keep the ditch bag and one of our two lifeboats in a storage bench below the driver’s seat. Right next to that, strapped to the deck, is our full jerry jug of fresh water. It’s a great spot for our gear: it’s waterproof (protecting the contents inside), it’s easily accessible, and it provides enough room to keep all of our ditch gear together. It’s close to the radios, controls, and emergency signaling gear so we can send mayday calls as long as possible, and it’s one of the highest spots, giving us enough time to properly deploy the raft and gather as many supplies as we can before stepping onto the lifeboats.

No sailor wants to think about a situation where he/she might need a ditch bag, but taking time before your trip to plan, organize, and stow your bag properly can make a life-or-death difference. Plan ahead so you and your crew can sail confidently, knowing that you’re prepared for the best – and worst – case scenarios.

Sample Packing List:

Medical

• Splint
• Skin stapler with staples
• Tourniquet
• Triangular and assorted bandages
• Dermabond – one at .5 ml, two at .36 ml, and two at .7 ml
• Anti-diarrhea pills – Bismuth Subsalicylate
• Painkiller – Norco
• Anti-inflammatory – Ibuprofen
• Antibiotics – Amoxicillin and Azithromycin: We keep two antibiotics because two of our crew members have antibiotic allergies. The packages are clearly labeled with their names to avoid confusion.
• Antihistamine – Benadryl
• Medical tape
• Syringe
• Antiseptic solution – Povidone Iodine: Iodine can also be used to disinfect fresh water, in addition to its medical uses.
• EpiPen
• Gauze
• Surgical towels
• Mylar emergency blanket
• Visine
• Personal medication

Nutrition and Hydration

• Vitamin C tablets – 50
• Tuna fish pouches – 10
• Mayday Emergency Food Rations 3600 – four
• Peanut butter – 40 oz.
• Dex 4 glucose tablets – 50
• Drinking water pouches – Twenty-three 4.2 fl. oz. pouches: These drinking water pouches are pre-rationed and provide the precise amount of fresh water needed to sustain life. They are not to be used unless all other means of collecting fresh water have been exhausted.
• Jerry jug – five gallons drinking water: The jerry jug is not actually in the ditch bag, but is always full and on-deck near the bag.
• Solar still

Navigation and Signaling

• Whistle
• ACR C-Strobe Light
• 3M High Reflective Tape – 50 ft.
• Orion light sticks – one white (8-hours), two green (12-hours), one red (12-hours)
• Handheld flares – three: Always be sure that your flares are current (they usually have a shelf life of about three years). The expiration date can be found on the packaging.
• 12-gauge aerial flares – three
• Smoke flare
• Signal horn
• Garmin GPS 12
• West Marine Handheld VHF Radio: We use a battery pack that runs on AA batteries instead of rechargeable batteries.
• Signaling mirror
• Compass
• Paper and pens
• ResQlink+ Personal Location Beacons – four: Also not in the ditch bag are our ResQlink+ PLBs, which are attached to our life jackets. It is assumed that, in an emergency situation, each crew member would be wearing their life jackets.
• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)

Tools

• Fishing kit – 280 yards of 50 lb. line, sinkers, hooks, jig heads, and artificial minnow Rapalla lure
• Velcro
• Duct tape
• Various bungee cords
• Nylon para cord – 50 ft.
• Throwable floatation device with 40 ft. of throwing line
• Stainless carabiner
• Four dry bags for storing ditch-bag contents
• One dry box
• Lighter
• Funnel
• Tarp
• Goal Zero Lantern – waterproof, solar or hand crank
• Headlamp
• Batteries – eight AA and four AAA
• Knife with sheath
• Cutting board
• Air pump
• Raft repair kit
• Binoculars
• Goggles
• Watch

Personal

• Flushable wipes
• Chapstick – SPF 30
• Sunscreen – SPF 50
• Copies of passports
• Emergency medical forms
• Baseball hats
• Synthetic long sleeve shirt
• Sunglasses
• Deck of cards
• Water shoes
• Prescription eyeglasses
• Complete inventory of ditch bag
• Survival instruction manual

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