Another great video and discussion of the things we should all keep in our boats. One point I would like to suggest is that when you really need your paddle float, I believe the risk of having to open a hatch (even a day hatch) is not acceptable. In that situation even a flooded day hatch will decrease the stability of the boat, besides if you have to struggle to put the hatch back on you're burning precious time and energy. Personally I have used a paddle float in pretty big conditions while paddling solo and simplifying it is the name of the game. But by all means, test your method, see if it's an acceptable place and if it works when it's really rough. And consider if you could stow it in your cockpit. Mine lives beside my seat rolled up tightly. Happy paddling and be safe out there!

@KayakHipster

2 жыл бұрын

Barry, that’s a fantastic and extremely valid point. I’m going to pin this comment for all to see. I think I’ve become a lot more lax in my placement because of never having conditions anywhere near what you usually paddle. But you’re right, in a tough moment when it would be needed, an open hatch is not a good idea. Thanks dude!

@kayasper6081

2 жыл бұрын

That is certainly one of my concerns too, about where to wear the paddle float best. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

@martin.feuchtwanger

2 жыл бұрын

@@KayakHipster Yes, i wondered why it didn't go beside the seat, on the other side from the pump.

Great video. As a sit-on-top kayaker in Florida, my everyday items include a small dive knife on my PFD, as well as emergency signaling equipment (whistle and mirror), a headlamp (which is NOT kept in the kayak all the time as it needs periodic recharging, but is by my grab bag for every trip), a quart of emergency drinking water, and a small first aid kit.

@suedenim9208

Жыл бұрын

As a whitewater kayaker I wouldn't want to be caught dead, tangled in fishing line, without knife. Entanglement may be less dangerous in an environment without, or with less, current, but a knife is always a good idea. If nothing else you can use it to make a PB&J.

I kayak often in marshy and swampy areas, sometimes alone. Always in my kayak is a bag with emergency gear- dry clothes, wet sock booties, a bug net for my face and a large piece to cover my body, and a space blanket. You never know when you will be stranded in low tide, loose a paddle, and be stranded for awhile. The bugs can be your downfall

@parnold-mora8924

2 жыл бұрын

I like your idea of adding a space blanket. Good for warmth, shedding rain or use as emergency shelter. Extremely lightweight and takes up very little space just be sure to use one that doesn't shred easily. Thanks.

@suedenim9208

Жыл бұрын

I've got a serious fondness for marshes and tidal wetlands, most of which have some major channels. Pretty much all of them have places where you can explore narrow and obscure channels, and it can be very easy to have difficulty following the same path back to open water with an obvious route. In most cases there are lots of other routes back if you know the right direction, but I've added a roll of flagging tape to my safety kit.

Great video! When I go paddling I like to keep the pump and paddle float under the deck bungees and a sponge behind the seat. Here in Norway the weather can change quickly, so I also usually bring my neoprene gloves, hood and pogies in one of the hatches (unless it's a warm summer day).

Great quick video - very helpful! Glad to hear you don't load your kayak down for everyday paddles. Thanks for all you share with us - it is appreciated!

The Boy Scout in me say's Be Prepared. Every paddle I am prepared to be out overnight. I refer to it as my Kit - Tarp, Poop Kit, Meds, rope, paracord, fire kit, JetBoil, first aid kit, water, snacks, Multi-Tool, Small Axe, spare paddle, Wool Blanket, extra shirt/pants - everything fits into 35 liter dry bag = 12 Pounds not including 16 oz of water, can of soup/hot chocolate and snacks- I have some redundancy in my everyday bag - which is about 10#s. So I carry 20+ pounds of gear every trip. Did I mention I usually am in a Canoe? LOL. My kit has evolved over the last 30+ Years. Some gear I have only used once in that time, but I had it in the time of need and what a comfort booster it is.

Spot on, thank you! Where I kayak, off the coast of southern California, it is good to have a serrrated knife handy to deal cut kelp that gets on deck when the seas are boisterous. Along with the knife, I also carry a VHF in my PFD pocket and was glad to have it on more than once. Not safety related, but I also carry a waterproof camera in case I hve the good fortune to capture an interesting sight - sunsets, whales, birds, boats, etc.

A couple of things I always carry in the Pacific Northwest besides the storm cag. Basic repair kit with a couple of pipe clamps, zip ties, a multitool and some Tenacious tape and Foil roof repair tape with peel off backing. The foil tape will stick to a wet boat and stay put. Used it when someone punched a fist sized hole in their thermoplastic boat in a collision in a tide race. A super small Outdoor Research bivy sack, packs down to the size of coke can. A large smoke flare, because rocket flares are useless in daylight and only work about half the time.

Thanks for the videos. I'm new to the sport, this is good stuff. have a great day

Hopefully it will never turn out to be safety gear, but I bought a bright orange cell phone case specifically for paddling, then cut two small holes in it and used shoelace webbing to tie it to a short piece of pool noodle. It normally lives in the bin with my booties, pfd, and such, and gets swapped for the usual case when I go out. It guarantees that the phone won't sink if I manage to drop it while taking pictures, and hopefully it makes it visible enough to find even if I manage to get a few yards away from it.

I wouldn't store the storm cag in the kayak (ie leave it in there when not paddling), in the way shown in the video. If there's any dampness, it will get mildewed. If I wanted to keep it in the kayak I'd put it in a dry bag. I have two mesh bags that live in my van; one for the essential gear for any paddle, and one for stuff needed as determined by the conditions. When I'm paddling often, I'll keep some stuff in the kayak such as paddle float and bilge pump, first aid kit, repair kit and "survival kit". I check the flares every season because they do go bad. Also check the batteries for light sources in all three kits. I find that if I just leave stuff in the kayak - out of sight out of mind. I'll forget what's in it, etc, so my preference is to keep those kits in my essentials mesh bag. The other mesh bag is for footgear choices (sandals all the way to high top neoprene boots, an extra spray skirt, tow rope versus throw rope, pogies, warmer headwear, and so on). Sounds like I'm out there in all kinds of conditions - I'm not - but I have learned that keeping it all in my van is a good way to make sure I have what I need at the put-in. And of course choices of paddles in a paddle bag. After all.. it's all about accessorizing 😁

@KayakHipster

2 жыл бұрын

Really good points! I should have mentioned that most of the time I get to store my kayaks in a garage with hatches off, for that exact reason. Gives the stuff inside the hatches a chance to remain dry and keep well. Although the cag isn’t 100% always in there, like you said, sometimes it’s in my paddling bag and will go in and out every time I paddle. It’s such a great piece of kit, I’d hate for it to get hurt.

@suep9445

2 жыл бұрын

@@KayakHipster It is fer shure a great piece of kit. Being able to store kayaks inside is a huge benefit. My kayaks are outside, on the trailer and covered with a tarp all year around. I have to leave the hatch covers and cockpit covers on to prevent all creatures great and small from moving in (I'm in a country setting where everybody out there wants to move in). I'm laughing as I realize I might take better care of my kayaking gear and attire than anything else...

@KayakHipster

2 жыл бұрын

Hahaha, I hear you completely! In our last location, I had to store them outside as well. We had squirrels eat away at my foam seat (I’ve left it as is because I find it quite funny to see their teeth marks, and it doesn’t affect where I sit) and a raccoon tried eating through a bulkhead in my wife’s eliza. We’d use cockpit covers to try to keep most of the critters and spiders out, but they’d always manage to get through regardless. Still funny to try to evict trespassers with the hose before heading out on a paddle…

Good video. I got bilge pump, sponge, tether on, deck bags front and back. Ready to transfer first aid, rain gear and ditty bag from the hiking setup into the bags as boating season starts this week in Colorado. Truthfully, I want to go out on a cold day to try out my dry suit!

Great information. Thanks for sharing.

I always appreciate your videos; as a frequent Great Lakes year 'round solo paddler I still learn something new every time. Could you please weigh-in on rescue knives for sea and touring kayaks? There is a lot of info out there for whitewater kayaking and river boats where strainers are a very present risk. Open water kayaking is different. Self-rescue and rescuing others from entanglement, of course, is essential. I carry a knife but would appraise your recommendation/insight on whether knives should be in or on the pfd; lanyards, if so, type, length, material (bungee vs. light cordage, carabiner, etc.)best practice, etc. Thanks and be safe out there.

@suedenim9208

Жыл бұрын

Anything you need to access in the few minutes before drowning needs to be where you can get at it ASAP, possibly when your range of motion has been restricted. A front PFD pocket will work, and many have a lash point that lets you keep the knife right on the front, which is how mine if mounted. I also have a smaller towards the bottom left on one of the cinch straps. I don't (yet) carry one on my PFD, but for diving my buoyancy compensator vest also has a pair of EMT shears. As for carabiners, they're incredibly useful but non-locking biners can accidentally clip to things. I'm pretty sure you don't want to find yourself accidentally clipped to deck rigging while being tossed around in rough water.

Yes!

I have almost the same setup. I would add maby a basic repair kit.

Great, short video! In my kayak there is always a bit water in the hatches and sooner or later the equipment becomes moldy. How do you prevent your gear to stay neat?

great vid very helpful! what area/body of water/ do u paddle the most?

Missed you at the rendezvous this year Luke- next year?

@KayakHipster

2 жыл бұрын

It’s been a while. How was it?!

@christopherbrown1958

2 жыл бұрын

@@KayakHipster another great year -wild weather and conditions, but warm temps - learned a lot and made new friends - might even buy a second boat, Volan P&H - great fun to paddle in conditions.

@KayakHipster

2 жыл бұрын

That’s fantastic!! I’m hopeful I can make my way up next year.

So where do you get a storm cag? I did not see it listed on your Amazon page.

@martin.feuchtwanger

2 жыл бұрын

Kokatat sells storm cags, but also look out for a *tuilik* which is the popular term in the greenland kayak community.

Suprised I didn't see a multitool or a flashlight.

@KayakHipster

2 жыл бұрын

Those are great additions that used to be in my kayak all the time, but in recent years I’ve been paddling calmer places with less camping, so I keep those with in my camping gear to be added on specific outings. Although I often have a multitool in my PFD. 👍

@JonPaddles

2 жыл бұрын

@@KayakHipster Even in calm water paddling stuff can get loose or break, and a spare flashlight is always handy. I keep at least a knife on my pfd (it mostly gets used for removal of fishing line I run across)

@KayakHipster

2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely, a salt-proof knife is always in my PFD, and you’re right about never knowing when something might need fixing. Don’t get me started on my old van. I have most replacement parts tucked away under the bench seat just in case! From spark plugs all the way to water pumps, and hoses 😃

@suedenim9208

Жыл бұрын

If nothing else, having a flashlight is a good idea in case everything goes well except that you run a bit late and find yourself paddling after dark. It doesn't even have to be too-dark-to-see darkness. It only has to be legally dark (I can't find a specific time.rule on that) enough to be fined for not having the required equipment. It may be unlikely, but I've heard of paddlers being stopped and checked when coming back late in the day.

Great discussion. I am more of a «less is more» kind of guy. I see too much different «safety equipment» on the water, when it would be more beneficial to practice much more basic rolling and rescue techinqes. Just get exreamly good at the basics, and useful rolls, and you dont need wery much. A simple towline, spare paddle, paddle float and sponge gets a long way

@opwave79

2 жыл бұрын

I would never venture out without the Ten Essentials, and a lot of those aren’t all that burdensome to carry. I can fit them all in a 5L dry bag, including the water filter. Options exist.