What to Carry
The following is from a set of emails discussing what you should carry when you head out on the water:
Steve Holtzman wrote...
I always carry my "emergency kit", and first aid kit. These two items are only opened when needed or when
checking to see if any supplies need to be replaced. My emergency kit is in a clear sea through roll top dry bag and
contains the following:
- 12 Gauge flare pistol and 4 flares for it
- 2 hand held smoke flares
- Waterproof flashlight
- AA battery holder and batteries for my VHF
- Duct tape
- Electrical tie wraps
- Heavy duty garbage bag for use as an emergency hatch, wind breaker, etc.
- Leatherman tool
- Spare whistle
- Spare signal mirror
- Small towel (duct tape doesn't stick to wet surfaces)
I don't carry my VHF in my emergency kit, because it really needs to be
on your body.
Duane Strosaker wrote...
My typical day kit is rather sparse, so I have to rely on my skills to stay out of trouble, help from others and good luck.
- First aid and kayak repair kit, consisting of a plastic ziplock bag containing a chamois for drying and a small roll of duck tape
- Hand pump
- Whistle (in PFD pocket)
- Small compass (in PFD pocket)
- Spare paddle
- Tow belt
If I'am solo offshore, I bring two paddle floats, so if things came to the worst, I could put a float on each blade and just sit there.
Steve Brown wrote...
I carry the following on my boat, PFD, or person when at sea
- Red "littlejon" to pee in (most important and oft used gear)
- 3 hand held flares
- Spare handheld compass (in addition to my deck compass)
- Whistle
- Duct tape
- Tow belt
- Spare paddle
- Paddle float
- Sponge
- Hand pump
- Water & food as necessary
- Dry bag with some sort of clothing and toilette paper
- Repair kit if in a fiberglass boat kept in nalgene bottle
- First aid kit kept in nalgene bottle
- Helmet affixed to my head
- Nose plugs affixed to my helmet
- Chap stick
- Ear alcohol
- LED headlamp if dark is a possibility
- A radio and/or GPS if in remote location or if I'm just paranoid
- Additional flares of various & larger sizes in remote locations
George Miller wrote...
Any kayak not equipped with a bow line accessible from the cockpit is under equipped.
A nifty short towline
can be kept in your PFD pocket and easily deployed for a number of towing
situations, such as side tow, bow tow, etc. It should be thin, about 15-20 ft. and have an
emergency release. On my person I carry:
- PFD
- Strobe light
- Short towline in PFD pocket
- Long towline and carabiner on belt
- Pocket flares (4)
- Dye marker
- Signal mirror
- Light sticks
- Spare compass
- VHF radio (under hatches on rock gardening days)
- GPS on offshore trips ) spare on very long trips)
- Knife in sheath (forget about folding knife or putting it in a bag-- you
can't deploy it quickly in an emergency)
- Car keys (learned the hard way)
Dennis Hyndman wrote...
Kayaking has some inherent risks and no pile of gear, equipment, etc are
going to change that.
However, we are always challenged to manage that risk depending on the
conditions.
That being said, I have gone to a "Progressive" method of Preparation.
My basic kits goes with me every time I put the hull in the water, even
on a Lake or Calm bay.
- A small clear dry bag with some basic first aid, food, headlamp,
cell phone, flares, survival Bag in my day hatch.
- Pump, sponge and paddle float
- A knife, car key, whistle,
spare glasses and signal mirror on/in the PFD.
- If paddling along the coast, for the day, I will add spare paddle,
leash, tow belt, Compass, Chart, GPS, Basic repair kit (Duct Tape and
denso tape) and Dry bag with fleece.
- If going further afield, a crossing, or a few more days, I will add the
VHF Radio, Field Repair Kit, a more extensive First aid kit, spare
batteries, helmet, etc.
Updated on
May 30, 2007