mrsinbad's list - talk about gearing up!

Check this out:

Good list, I think I have more stocking up todo. Does a lot of this stuff get stowed below deck? I am having a hard time visualizing where I would put it all.

What is that? A Citation?  Time for a 3 rod stamp.

mrsinbad posted that he is re-working the list for legibility and perhaps so it can be a file that others can modify for thier own use.  If I see the new list I will post the link.

As a newbie I find all of this a little intimidating.  I thought I was buying a simple kayak and getting into a simple sport.  I guess I should have realized that the potential dangers of the sport, and how we push the envelope with our lack of outdoor and survival skills, means we need help to cope with potential trouble.

I am trying to be responsible and reasonable.  mrsinbad's list and this discussion is making me think a little harder about just charging off wherever the water goes.  I guess it's a good thing.

But now I am looking at a lot more stuff and a lot more expense.  Even if I can find the stuff and afford to buy it over time,  I am still not sure where to put it all.  Not to mention the learning curve to learn how to use it all.  Just reading the product directions for all this looks to be a graduate school level effort.

I hope you guys can help support a newbie get through all this.  Thanks.

There is so much stuff to consider, probably buy, and then learn to use.  I wonder if there is, or should be, a class or clinic on kayak safety gear: what to get, how to use it, where to carry it on the water, etc.?  Are there good articles or books on this for those of us who like to self-study?

Yeah, I suppose in years of experience, assuming survival, that I could accumulate the smarts on all this, and I am conviced I have to be a bit more conservative in my activity for a while than I originally thought, but how about a little help?  Should I take a survival course - are there such things?

I do not want to stick to the kiddie pool.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

stocktondon,
 Relax, have a home brew and think of a friend you can hook into the sport along with yourself, it's always safer with numbers.
Seriously though, it is inherently dangerous, I like to think of the chances in terms of its as safe as driving your car to work! You didn't drive the car by yourself the first time, you had help from a seasoned driver. That is what is needed here as well, I believe if you posted on this site for a hook up and lesson there would be a number of offers.
I have been in the rivers around here a little but when it was time to go out on the ocean, I hooked up with a surfing friend who will teach me to read the swells and dangers present in the surf zone ( rocks, bad currents etc..)
As far as the gear expense goes, its up to you. Some guys put a paddle and pole on board and go, some pack the entire kitchen sink. I don't think the fish can tell whos got the better gear!
I hope you come to enjoy a good roll-over faceplant in the surf as much as I do!!!
After reading all of this it must be time for another brew!
Welcome to the sport and good luck!   

Yeah Don, take a nice deep breath. That list represents an ideal I think, although I do agree with all his #1 items and most of his #2 items as must haves, at least in the ocean. Now if I was going out on a small/medium size lake, I might we able to leave a few of those things off the list. That is highly dependant on the lake though. My #1 list for warm water lake fishing would look like this:

PFD
Knife
Cell Phone
VHF Radio

Make sure you have a safe dry place to stow that cell phone!

I rarely, if ever, fish alone, the buddy system rgeatly improves your chances if anything does go wrong. I fished alone during the halibut bite at OP last year, alone means I was the only kayaker out there. However there where about 25 boats and you can see the pier and shore from the fishing location. Now if I was fishing a more remote location like Davenport in the ocean I would not fish alone. Been there, done that, will be posting the story in the "It happened to me" section shortly 

Yup Bill, that day it happened to you, was the day we first met.  And it happened to me that day too!!!

At least I think we're talking about the same day ... the day that, in my mind, justified my need for a GPS.

-Allen

I got my GPS the very next day! 

My last 2 posts were a bit too serious.  I am really excited about getting into kayaking.  I ran an open canoe all over for years, including multi-day touring in some bigger lakes and along a couple rivers and through the Everglades once.  I just put my camping and hiking ideas together with moderation and good safety gear and never had any significant problems.  I have also run a small bass boat everywhere, including Tamales Bay, many times without a qualm.  I just looked at mrsinbad's list and, whew!

StocktonDon-

For myself... I follow the "Less is More" line of thought. As for venturing out alone... been there, done that, will still do it. It depends on your own comfort level. Just use common sense. Most problems that come up can be avoided by some common sense. As for the expense of it all... I remember when I first got my yak. I picked it up used from a guy in SoCal... I was fishing for the longest time without a GPS, VHF, FF... hell, I didn't even own a PFD for the longest time. You can get all the toys or just go bare minimum... either way, you'll still catch fish and have a blast. That's the bottom line. As time goes by, you'll know what you'll need, what you want and what you can do without.

Good luck to you. Hopefully, I'll meet up with you on the water sometime.

Freddie

My list of gear:
PFD (Has already saved my life)
GPS (not required, but it gives me a warm fuzzy when on the ocean and fog rolls in)
Rod and Paddle leashes
Lip Gripper (small and clips to eyelets)
Bilge Pump (bought mine the day after I flipped my yak with the center hatch open and filled my hull 3/4 full of water. Luckily Allen had one he let me use.)
VHF (not required, but gives a huge sense of assurance)
Bait bucket (if fishing live bait)
Anchor (if fishing for sturgeon)
Pliers
Nailcutters
Net (usually stored in my hull for legal reasons only)
Pelican case (for camera)
Fishing gear (hooks, lures, terminal tackle, etc.)
Small whistle/compass attached to PFD (more so to alert fellow anglers of a hook-up)
Water/food

And all of this on me and/or my small OK Caper.

Things I will eventually buy:
Flare gun w/flares
Small air horn
Reflective Mirror
Fish finder

here's a few tips -
http://www.allkayakfishing.com/articles/kftips1.html

Good thoughts, guys.  If I am not too tired from work I will be in Sacramento tomorrow afternoon picking up the new kayak and stuff (yeah it can be that tiring).  I figure I will be making some gear decisions and I know I do not think as well when I am beat.

Thanks.

I took a quick peek at the list, and roundfiled it.

Water is a #1 item. Dehydrated kayakers are slow and weak. Weak and slow kayakers are much more susceptible to the mercies of the ocean/weather conditions.

Sunscreen should be a #1 item during for 6 months out of the year.

Paddle leash a #2 ? I don't think so, not when people that have circumnavigated Islands like Australia and Greenland have done so without paddle leashes. Here's a hint, hold on to your paddle, if it goes overboard, use your hands to propel the boat to get to the paddle. Most kayaks will do 3 knots on hands alone.

Flare gun ? Smoke generators? Air horn? Dye pack? Where on the list is the shark cage, EPIRB and M1 Garand ? (You're gonna need a bigger boat!)

A buddy and I did a self contained kayak trip of about two weeks, out of Sitka AK, and didn't carry everything on that list. Of course, we did carry 2 gallons of #1 fuel oil, a 12 gauge and a .45, so maybe it's a wash.

Scott