Su - In/on my PFD I carry - always - survival knife, 3 handheld red flares, 2 smoke signals, distress flag, signaling mirror, whistle, handheld compass. When I'm in a place where there might be both fog and other boats, I also carry a mini-air horn. Below the PFD is my tow belt - always. The only tiems I've actually used the tow belt have been times I thought I'd never need it. In the cockpit, always - paddle float, handheld pump, large boat sponge(s). When I'm offshore (as opposed to paddling on my home lake which is only 40 X 1.5 miles and has lots of houses close to the shoreline), in the cockpit oron deck I carry water, a good healthy snack (chocolate bars, granola, cheese etc), firestarter kit. If I had more room in my cockpit I'd also carry a change of clothes there - but I carry that in my day hatch or (if paddling a boat without a day hatch) in the front of the rear compartment. I should carry a spare paddle too, I know, but to be honest, I don't do that unless my wife and I are doing some kayak camping. A very basic boat repair kit also goes with me, in one of the boat compartments, when I'm paddling offshore: fiberglass repair kit, duct tape, light nylon cord, about 6 ft of 18 gauge steel wire, multi-tool (like a Leatherman, only much cheaper). Everything in good waterproof containers like drybags or Aqua-safes. It may or may not sound like a lot to carry and a lot of trouble, but it's always there, already packed up or in to PFD, checked every month or so, so it's almost an unconscious thing. I think many people would say that's just about a minimum, or maybe below minimum. Others will probably tell you about many more things. But that's what I carry. Bill Hansen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Jun 06 1999 - 04:04:18 PDT
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