Islander MANDATORY gear list

This trip is gonna be WAY offshore and we will be off the boat at night as well if you want a bug.  EVERY person needs to be prepared for $%^& to hit the fan.  Here is a list of items you will need to have if your getting in a kayak on this trip.

PFD
Radio
Flares
Headlamp

I don't want to hear any debates about PFDs with a suit etc.  Gotta have em for this trip. I imagine most have all of this stuff already any-hoo.  If not you will use it after the trip too.

If you can't afford to get it, we can try to track down a loaner.

The Islander guys are really cool - they know we are adults and independent-minded 'yak nuts and won't keep us penned up. They'll let us stay out after dark too. The safety gear is meant to help them find us fast if there is any trouble.

Waterproof headlamps are available at your local big box store for less than $15.

Radios are the most costly item on this list. If you don't have one, please PM either Sean or myself.  Given the remote venue, it would truly be best if every one of us carried his or her own.

Flares - the Islander is looking into loaning us a few from their boat stores. I recommend each kayaker bring at least a set of 3 inexpensive handheld flares.

PFD - you already have one anyway.

A GPS is a nice addition to this list, but not mandatory. 

If you have to get the mothership come get you for one reason or another, being able to tell them that you see them approximately X miles away at 270 degrees is very convenient. I'll testify to this from past experience. So if you don't have the $$$ for a GPS, you may have the $ for a simple compass.

If I don't have an ocean trip going on for that weekend, I can loan out my ICOM M32 to someone for the trip.

Regards,
Scott

don't want to hear any debates about PFDs with a suit etc.

Sean....what about waivers 

don't want to hear any debates about PFDs with a suit etc.

Sean....what about waivers 

What an excellent idea!

Sorry...none needed.  We'll just have to stay focused on having fun.

Good luck on your quest fellas. A cheap piece of safety gear for night paddling is reflective tape. Put some on the collars of your pfd and on your paddle face (both sides) Guys on the boat will be able to see you easily without shining a million candle watt bulb at you.
-Hawk

Great suggestion, thanks Hawk.

What kind of flares are you suggesting?  Can you be specific?

I also have a hand-held gps I would loan if needed.

Lemmeno

Allen

don't want to hear any debates about PFDs with a suit etc.

Sean....what about waivers 

I thought this trip was down in Mexico...  You don't need no stinkin' waivers in Mexico...

I have a loaner GPS if needed. 

Like these Pat...

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/270106/377%20710%201217/0/Flares/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710%201217&Ne=0&Ntt=Flares&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&page=CategoryDisplayLevel1&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=8&subdeptNum=50&classNum=11401

If you share a box with Randy its about $12 bucks ea.

Thanks.  We have a West Marina Express just down the street.