In addition to my trusty headlamp, a piece of gear I’m hard pressed to do any sailing without is my water tight Otter Box. What in the world is an Otter Box, you ask? Well, they’re small, waterproof, crushproof, and watertight gear containers that actually float too. They come in a wide range of colors and sizes and are ideal for protecting valuable electronics or other stuff in a marine environment. I particularly like the clear covered boxes; they make it very easy to quickly spot what you’re looking for.

Why get an Otter Box and what should you use them for on your next bareboat charter? For starters, saltwater environments are absolutely brutal for electronics and particularly those designed for the relatively dry climates where most people live. I’ve seen some electronics, when exposed to two weeks of sailing in warm, humid environments, get completely corroded.

• iPods/portable media players: with small hard drives, these things – while remarkably durable – still get a little finicky in hot and humid environments. They’re also prone to getting crushed in duffels. So, the Otter Box protects them nicely.
• Digital cameras and memory cards: just as with media players, it’s critical to keep these delicate electronic devices safe. Where the box comes in handy for some of these is when you jump in the dinghy for a day trip. You throw a small bag or backpack with your camera in the dinghy and head out. Next thing you know, the breeze picks up and you get a bunch of water splashing over the bow and accumulating in the bottom of of the dinghy. Camera and backpack? Not so dry. Same goes for beach landings or departures in any kind of swell. Keeping your camera in one of these boxes is cheap protection and insurance.
• First aid/medication: I’ve heard of some folks that throw bandaids, antibiotic ointment to deal with coral abrasions, and other first aid gear into an Otter Box too. This keeps safety items sealed and organized in the event any of those items are needed. The last thing you want to face when trying to grab a bandage for a sliced finger is a package that somehow get soaked or is at least damp with weakened adhesion.
• Dry foods like spices, etc.: for those culinary artists (i.e. designated charter cook!) that like to pack their own spices, rubs, and other ingredients, it can be nice to pack them in an airtight container that doesn’t leak smells or spills into clothing in the same duffel bag. Otter Boxes work great for this too.

Here’s a tip: for certain electronics, I also throw in a couple of those desiccant packages you get with certain electronics items that will absorb a certain level of moisture. This helps ensure that if you lock in some moisture or humid air (as in the tropics), it will be absorbed quickly to keep items as dry as possible.

Starting around $15US (amazon.com), these tough little items can be handy, smart protection that keeps your gear organized and safe from the marine environment wherever your bareboat charter takes you.