Dave Uebele wrote: >So, in what order do people start adding more gear as you move beyond the newbie stage? If you say you always bring a compass, when did you start doing that, how far out do you usually paddle, etc? What is the criteria for something on/in the boat vs on the PFD? I am just now purchasing a kayak compass for a trip to the San Juan Islands. Before now, I have always paddled local lakes and rivers where the put-in/take-out is either a) in sight or b) not all that hard to find. When in a lake, there is usually no significant current that would require navigation with a compass (something other than your paddle is moving you). When on a river, the current is straightforward: it goes downstream--you stop when it takes you to the take-out. I know it will be necessary for a multiple-day trip when I will be a long way from the put-in, and I will be in unfamiliar waters requiring my navigation with a chart and compass. I think the criteria for in-the-boat/on-the-PFD is: What do I _really_ need should I become separated from my kayak? A bilge pump, deck compass, paddlefloat, and chart will do you little good if you're floating around in your PFD. Flares, a whistle, maybe a space blanket, some matches, emergency food, and a VHF radio (if you have/need one) would be good PFD items, as they would be essential in the water or on shore if you're fortunate enough to be able to swim/drift there. If you're paddling near shore, and it remains the "nearest shore" then you can probably dispense with the space blanket, emergency food, and matches. (and the VHF if your wife could be able to see that you've been dumped) Shawn -- 0 ____©/______ ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^\ ,/ /~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^ Shawn W. Baker 0 http://www.missoulaconcrete.com/shawn/ Baker Brothers mailto://baker_at_montana.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Jul 14 1999 - 10:25:47 PDT
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