Where should emergency equipment such as a horn and VDS be kept for quick access?

• A. In the bilge
• B. In an easily accessible location, not buried or locked away
• C. In the anchor locker
• D. In the stern storage with a padlock

Answer: (B)

Emergency equipment needs to be kept where you can grab it immediately, so you can act without delay in a distress or signaling situation. A horn and Visual Distress Signals should be accessible with minimal rummaging or opening chances, even if you’re under stress or wearing gloves or a PFD. Storing them in the bilge can expose them to water, make them hard to reach, and slow you down as you have to dig through gear. An anchor locker is usually not located where you can get to it quickly, and items there can be hard to retrieve in rough water. A stern storage with a padlock adds the extra step of unlocking, which wastes precious seconds when time matters. The right setup is an easily accessible spot that’s not buried or locked away, so you can grab what you need right away.