[Paddlewise] Emergency & Other Gear Storage

Bob Denton described the use of a Costco fanny pack as a deck bag.  Thanks
Bob, that's a great idea.  I have one of those packs and will try attaching
it to my deck with some extra fast-x buckles I have so it will detach
easily and still function as designed.

The talk of Bob's using this pack to carry a cell phone has lifted the
edges of a subject I would like to generate some discussion on.  (Is this
called a thread??)
My concerns are for sea kayaking (open water and near shore).  I would
expect a different response for white water paddling

When paddling, I have two pockets in my PFD and, at times, more in my
paddling jacket and/or pants/shorts.  This is a small volume for all the
emergency gear that I literally want to have on my person.  Some people
have described bags (fanny packs, I think) that they intend to grab and
take with them when they depart company with their boat, but most of us
currently rely on having all of our emergency gear "in our pockets".  So, I
would like to see discussion on the following:

1.  What is considered a minimum list of items (safety and otherwise) that
one should carry on their person to be a safe paddler considering the
"on-person" storage opportunities?

2.   We could add to the above list the"on-boat" equipment that you don't
expect to carry on your person but it's good to have this aboard.

And now the question I really want to ask......

3.   What equipment and methods have people dreamed-up to extend their
"on-person" storage capabilities.  For example, I would like to attach a
brightly colored, highly reflective pocket to the back of my PFD to provide
additional storage.  Anybody done this?  Naturally, it's not a place to
keep heavy stuff but it has the potential for increasing the amount of
safety (and other) gear you can take with you.

I've always been disappointed with the lack of storage space on most PFDs.
I really think this is an area for equipment improvement.

I hope that others will comment on solutions they have come up with for
this issue.

Bill Leonhardt
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