Saftey Gear

We have not taken any kayak class as of yet. Most if not all of our intro to kayaking has been via books, the internet, and in-person conversational. I am located in the Sacramento area if anyone can advise a good instructor with in a decent drive.

Reading and conversations are great but experiencing self rescue on the ocean is reality. Don't short change yourself ! Take a class and buy a VHF.From someone who has had to call on the CG as a Newbie.They don't call me Frankswimming for nothing

The compass is a great thing, but like everything else, learn how to use it!

The compass is a great thing, but like everything else, learn how to use it!

Good point. Same goes for the VHF.

Its been said that a VHF is esssential and I am gonna second that from someone that had to use off the kayak even at being over 20 miles at sea the CG may not be able to hear you especially if your far away BUT most boats monitor that channel and can assist if near by or relay a message I always always scan the radio between 16, 69,70 the channels that I use on a regular basis. And a buddy system is great as well if I didnt have it in my accident things would have been very different. Your cell phone will be no use in conditions that you need to call for help because you will be wet. Also ALWAYS wear your VHF on your lifejacket. A $100 VHF that is waterproof will last years. Put it in a bag ment for radios and it will last even longer and will cut out wind noise when your talking into it.

Thats my $.02

Good luck and have fun out there.

Spend the money and get 2 vhf radios.  You can call the CG and also talk to other people.  I have 2.  When my wife and I go out, we stray apart from each other, the radio allows us to talk to each other.  Before, I got the 2nd radio I had to paddle to her to talk to her.

 

 I carry most of the items listed above in earlier replies,  My compass is in installed in my hull, my VHF is attached to PFD via leash, blunt tip knife also on PFD, small can air horn, SS multi pliers carried in small bag stored in hull. What I am lacking from the lists though, are signal mirror, and loud whistle. (First Aid kit? keep one in truck guess it won't do much for me while out on the water)
  As I'm not kayaking much currently, not having them now is ok.

Spend the money and get 2 vhf radios.  You can call the CG and also talk to other people.  I have 2.  When my wife and I go out, we stray apart from each other, the radio allows us to talk to each other.  Before, I got the 2nd radio I had to paddle to her to talk to her.

It's my opinion that if you're in the ocean every individual needs to carry a radio. If the person with the radio is the one in trouble and circumstances prevent them from calling the CG themselves, then you're going to feel awfully helpless, not to mention the fact that there will be no help on the way.

All of the safety gear mention are a won't_hurt_to_have if paddling in the ocean. However, learning and mastering the self-rescue skill will be the top of my to-learn list. Whether you take classes or learn thru other media will give a kayaker some confidence and peace of mind. Every summer (I am due this season), I practice self-rescue on a lake wearing my PFD with all my gear on it. My next goals are to learn how to recover my kayak back in case it over-turns and self rescue in the ocean with swells and current. It may be good to practice after a day of fishing in the ocean. Anyone up for this? This may have been done in the past but revisiting will surely help me. I may post a hookup.

Be safe out there.

I forgot to list one small item of safety gear - a roll of waterproof medical tape to stop the bleeding if I get a bad cut.  I've used duct tape before.

Will not go out in ocean without:
~VHF Radio
~a buddy
~water
~knife
~fishing pole 

Will not go out in ocean without:
~VHF Radio
~a buddy
~water
~knife A big one in your case
~fishing pole  Sensible!Why would anyone climb onto any boat without one?

Pinky lube? 

Didn't know where to post this so ..here it is.

Today I  was meeting up with another for a bit of sturgeon fishing. Got down to the bay at six and we made the decision to skip it due to the wind. Made a quick trip to Burlingame (another "bank job")and on the way back the bay had settled a bit so I went it alone.

On the water I met a guy in a  10' SIS kayak. I noticed he was only wearing jeans and a flannel shirt with his pfd. He was taking heavy spray and nosing into the bigger waves. I pointed out his lack of preparedness for emersion and he said he was wearing three layes of street clothes. Couldn't resist asking if he could get back in his kayak if he went in the drink....he replied ..not a chance. At that point I told him he can't be out there for his safety and my own. He thanked me and I kept an eye on him until he got to the beach.

First picture...the conditions
Second picture...he left a note on my truck

A good deed done!  Nice way to finish out the year.  It never ceases to amaze me how foolish people can be.  This guy was just waiting to be the next kayak accident.  "You done good!"

Happy New Year!

Martin

All,
I recommend SPOT in a waterproof bag if you go it a lone, http://www.findmespot.com/en/ invaluable at a reasonable price. Being able to message love-ones, as well as initiate a rescue is important. I opted and bought the additional track progress service so wifey knows where I am at if I am out of cell range.

All,
I recommend SPOT in a waterproof bag if you go it a lone, http://www.findmespot.com/en/ invaluable at a reasonable price. Being able to message love-ones, as well as initiate a rescue is important. I opted and bought the additional track progress service so wifey knows where I am at if I am out of cell range.

You have to survive long enough for them to find you. I think I read somewhere the average response time is somewhere over two hours due to the current popularity and false alarms.