New Yakkers - what are your pimping priorities?

It seems I've seen a number of threads here recently of people getting new yaks, and although I haven't been quite as vocal as Darius and ILIKEYFISH (Jai Boi!!), I'm also in that category.

My question to you new guys (and definitely welcome sage advice from the veterans), is what are your pimping priorities?

My Yak is a decidedly un-angleresque (ya, I think that's a made up word) Malibu Two. It was a compromise to my better half that I can take her out on the Bay for casual paddling, but still be able to utilize it for fishing. I know, I know - I'll end up outgrowing it and "have to" get a T-14 before you know it...

So far I've put together a milk crate with rod tubes, and am almost done with a PVC pipe kayak cart. I plan on getting a Scotty flush mount rod holder (turns out I need the special narrow mount for the Malibu Two, so it's got to go on order), and I've pilfered an old FF from my dad's garage back in MN.

So, what's your priority, or for you long-timers, what has been the best upgrade or piece of gear?

obkook,

If you're going in the ocean, #1 is a VHF radio. If you're going out far or in areas with the potential for fast moving fog to come in, a gps or at least a compass. Also, some type of signaling device should your radio die or get lost. I have both a flare gun and canned air horn. Also a good PFD.

What's it all about?? As you see, its about your safety. From there, the skies the limit as far as pimping your ride.

Rich

its kinda funny but every time you paddle you say...oh I need to do that or I should replace that. Safety stuff can really be over looked (until you have a problem or watch watch someone else have one first hand) so I'd say make every other 'pimp' safety related. It could be a pump, pool nooodles, leashes, etc.

Keep all pimping simple and clean.  You don't want things getting tangled up and messy on the water.

Keep all pimping simple and clean.  You don't want things getting tangled up and messy on the water.

amen....less is more. I think I have removed more stuff in the last two months (from the 1st year of pimpin') then I've added.

obkook,

If you're going in the ocean, #1 is a VHF radio. If you're going out far or in areas with the potential for fast moving fog to come in, a gps or at least a compass. Also, some type of signaling device should your radio die or get lost. I have both a flare gun and canned air horn. Also a good PFD.

What's it all about?? As you see, its about your safety. From there, the skies the limit as far as pimping your ride.

Rich

Good point Rich!

As a long time cave diver, I'm definitely all about redundancy, safety and contingency. I neglected to mention the marine radio, a new Extrasport Striper PFD, and a waterproof case for my GPS enable cell phone. I considered them necessities and not extras I guess. I've got a compass from diving that I'll give a permanent home in the drybox as well - thanks.

Peter

Keep all pimping simple and clean.  You don't want things getting tangled up and messy on the water.

amen....less is more. I think I have removed more stuff in the last two months (from the 1st year of pimpin') then I've added.

More great advice, and all too true in so many things. It's easy to get caught up and try to foresee what you "need", but necessity is really the best mother of invention. Hell, it's how we tweaked our dive gear all the time - figure out how to solve a problem or an annoyance. Guess i need to jsut start getting out there!

I'm pretty much a k.i.s.s. guy. I haven't even put any flushmount rod holders on my kayak yet & I've been fishing it for 5 years.

I put my stuff into a few groups:

1.yak gear (this is all the clothing & safety stuff like PFD with radio/flares/knife/snack, paddle jacket, etc). I include fishing rods & paddle in this group.
2.tackle box (this has my FF, all terminal tackle, pliers, GPS). I put 4 PVC tubes on the back of the box for rod/landing gear holders.
3.landing gear (gaff, net, bonker, game clip, lipgripper)

That's it. So I'd say in regards to pimping priorities I'd go with upgrading yak gear first:
*get best paddling clothes you can afford
*get some emergency hand launching marine flares
*maybe upgrade your paddle if you are using a heavy aluminum shafted one

second stage would be pimping the tackle box/crate setup:
*I went with a plano box so I have waterproof storage when I upgraded from a crate
*start collecting all the terminal tackle/lures you think you might like

finally I'd get serious about the landing gear IF you are after anything other than rockies
*a lipgripper for easy releases
*gameclip
*Kunz gaff or similar sweet gaff
*a nice folding net like the pros here use
*a bonker of some sort for subduing lings & halibut

most of my to-do pimping involves upgrades to the last group. That is, until I decide I need some new kokatat tempest clothing!

As a new owner, my main pimpin are basically all about safety, Pack with Can Horn, Whistle, Radio (VHF) Lots of leash, some are made some are bought, next would be FF I am still in shopping on this part the cuda 242-300 I think they are 80 bucks from BPS, but I am a big fan of Lowrance and looking for a portable one with transducer, I am still in doubt on where should I put the transducer, I am not a big fan of noodle since reading water density it might affect the accuracy and interval of reading, I am actually planning on installing sliding extension an the back, I am making a draft on how to make it removable yet stable when its in use..things will keep adding up as you finish each one.. that what I learn..

As a new owner, my main pimpin are basically all about safety, Pack with Can Horn, Whistle, Radio (VHF) Lots of leash, some are made some are bought, next would be FF I am still in shopping on this part the cuda 242-300 I think they are 80 bucks from BPS, but I am a big fan of Lowrance and looking for a portable one with transducer, I am still in doubt on where should I put the transducer, I am not a big fan of noodle since reading water density it might affect the accuracy and interval of reading, I am actually planning on installing sliding extension an the back, I am making a draft on how to make it removable yet stable when its in use..things will keep adding up as you finish each one.. that what I learn..

just a heads up on the transducer (assuming they are mounted correctly) the noodle and/or goop directly to hull don't effect the reading. The temp (assuming you have that feature) will not be accurate but it will perform the FF part w/o a problem.

Peter,

 If you are experienced cave diver, I salute you!!!! I've done a few, they're creepy fun...

Rich

I'm pretty much a k.i.s.s. guy. I haven't even put any flushmount rod holders on my kayak yet & I've been fishing it for 5 years.

I put my stuff into a few groups:

1.yak gear (this is all the clothing & safety stuff like PFD with radio/flares/knife/snack, paddle jacket, etc). I include fishing rods & paddle in this group.
2.tackle box (this has my FF, all terminal tackle, pliers, GPS). I put 4 PVC tubes on the back of the box for rod/landing gear holders.
3.landing gear (gaff, net, bonker, game clip, lipgripper)

That's it. So I'd say in regards to pimping priorities I'd go with upgrading yak gear first:
*get best paddling clothes you can afford
*get some emergency hand launching marine flares
*maybe upgrade your paddle if you are using a heavy aluminum shafted one

second stage would be pimping the tackle box/crate setup:
*I went with a plano box so I have waterproof storage when I upgraded from a crate
*start collecting all the terminal tackle/lures you think you might like

finally I'd get serious about the landing gear IF you are after anything other than rockies
*a lipgripper for easy releases
*gameclip
*Kunz gaff or similar sweet gaff
*a nice folding net like the pros here use
*a bonker of some sort for subduing lings & halibut

most of my to-do pimping involves upgrades to the last group. That is, until I decide I need some new kokatat tempest clothing!

WELL PUT!!

As a newbie, and an excited one, I didn't have a priority, I did it all at once   
I'm not good with delayed gratification.
But first was flush mount rod holders.... FF.... and then obviously the other things needed to get out there that aren't "pimping", such as radio, waders, pdf.... etc.... FA Kit, etc....

Peter,

 If you are experienced cave diver, I salute you!!!! I've done a few, they're creepy fun...

Rich

And I salute you back!  I did most of my cave diving in north Florida and a little in the Yucatan - I like the limestone aquifers best. Craziest one was 6 tanks (2 back mounted, 2 side mounted, and 2 staged for decompression), rode in on an underwater scooter and surfed the current out. Almost 6 hours with the deco underwater, and MAJOR prunage.

I much prefer free diving now (again that "less is more" theme), and am itching to get the yak out for some spearfishing and ab diving as well!

alot of the safety stuff i already have from fishing the detla on my 16 foot aluminum boat

hand held vhf -got it
pfd&farmer john -got it
flares,flag,flaregun,whistle n some other stuff all rolled into a small container -got it
already got alot of tackle so wont be spending that much on that

not sure on how i wanna pimp it out though cuz i wanna spend time on the water then figure out what i need as i go , dont wanna spend hella bread on things then get on the water and find out they wernt all that important.

alot of the safety stuff i already have from fishing the detla on my 16 foot aluminum boat

hand held vhf -got it
pfd&farmer john -got it
flares,flag,flaregun,whistle n some other stuff all rolled into a small container -got it
already got alot of tackle so wont be spending that much on that

not sure on how i wanna pimp it out though cuz i wanna spend time on the water then figure out what i need as i go , dont wanna spend hella bread on things then get on the water and find out they wernt all that important.

Sounds like you got the right mind set. I too have an 16' Alum. And the funny thing is...I feel safer in my yak then I do in the boat. Maybe b/c you expect the worst to happen in the yak and therefore are 1. more cautious 2. have more safety gear.