Hauling Around All That Gear!

I am finding that the amount of gear we use for kayaking is growing (and growing, and growing....).

Each time we go out, I have to remember the hats, the water shoes, the PFD's, the tie-downs, the paddles, the sun screen and bug spray, the water proof bags, the scotty rod holder, the portable fish finder, the pump, the paddle float, the rope, the.... the list keeps multiplying of all the stuff I would hate to forget to take along.

I haven't found an easy way to grab the gear we need and pop it in the car.....but I did see some folks with laundry bins in the back of their SUV at a recent paddle.  It was a great idea!

So what do you use to haul your gear around? Do you keep it all in one spot when not in use? Have you found that one thing works better than another?

-Cherie

I have a check list that I use to get my gear ready so I do not forget anything.

I also use a dive bag to put most of my gear in. That way I can take everything to the water and load up without having to run something back to the car. The dive bag is nice because it is mesh so most things will dry while inside of it. Then if I keep fishing the same place all I have to do is grab the bag.

Also all my gear is along one wall of my garage and I have it mostly set up to be modular so I can easily pick stuff for different species and water conditions.

Ryan

I have a check list that I use to get my gear ready so I do not forget anything.

I also use a dive bag to put most of my gear in. That way I can take everything to the water and load up without having to run something back to the car.

Ryan

Good piont, Ryan - having to run something back to the car would be a pain! I should create a "master" list, but knowing me I would try to laminate it and then forget the list somehow 

-Cherie

When I started I had a list on the lid of a big bin. I no longer need the list. But I do keep one bag that has all the clothes and a cooler that I keep all the gear in (rod folders, fish finder, net, etc. That way I can just grab the bin an go and if I am lucky i will have something to fill the cooler with. Tackle wise I try to keep it to a single hobie gear bucket. I have one for each species.

My system is similar except I use milk crates.  Have one for each kayak that holds rod holders, batteries, FF, DR, etc.  My seats and paddles are stored inside the hull of each kayak so as to not forget them.  Then I have one general crate that holds all things kayak such as straps/tie downs, rod floats/leashes, and fish cleaning supplies.

I also have my fishing gear organized into crates (trout, bass, & SW) so I can just grab and go.

This leaves me with remembering PFD, plano box, mirage drive, rods, net, and minnow bucket (if necessary).

EWB, I like your idea of keeping it in a cooler.

One catch-all checklist, I keep in on a computer and revise as necessary, print a copy and keep it in the gear bin(s). Used to be one big bin, that got too heavy/bulky so I broke it down to 2 manageable bins.  After each trip, lay it out dry it and keep it in the bins, rods and tackle are on the list, but not in the bins as each time may be different.

Safety gear bag and pump and spare paddle never leave the yak, they are bungeed within reach in the hull.

And I still forget things.

Kayak specific equipment all in one bin(all of it, including wheels), (just don't forget the paddle), kayak clothing in a dive bag, (all of it), tackle and rods/reels depends on species targeted.  Your electronics, safety equipment should be included in you kayak specific bin.  Believe me it gets more complicated when you have more than one kayak.  Keeping it in bins, crates, bags specific to the kayak helps.  Oh yeah, then go kayak camping and add all that equipment too----welcome to the madness!

Madness - absolutely, Barefoot1!    There is so much to keep track of. At the Striper tourney in December, I completely forgot my bag of lures and supplies that I had picked up specifically for that day of fishing. Talk about bummed.....

I like the idea of EWB's cooler as well - maybe that helps bring some "fish karma" to the outing, hehe. Where do you find/buy milk crates?

-Cherie

Less is more.
After your first few outtings see what you brought that you absolutely didn't need and don't bring it next time.
Once you get it refined it isn't so bad.
I'll rig my kayak at home for a certain kind of species I'm targeting. Go inside, have a beer or two then come out and look at the kayak again.
My usual response is, "Are you F$&&%%ING kidding me?" What was I thinking?
Get rid of 1/2 the crap I thought I would need and make a not of it.
Makes planning a lot easier.
A will keep a few basics in my PFD; sunscreen, clippers, knife, whistle, so it's always there.

see post #25


http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=18584.15

I upgraded to this (got it on sale at Home Depot)
The wheels and extendable handle is a plus. You can use it as a bench too. I'm gonna punch some holes on the side to get some ventilation to keep the mold/mildew and stink away.

see post #25

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=18584.15

Great bag, Mooch! 

Grab it all and fill the backseat is my M.O.

Grab it all and fill the backseat is my M.O.

Haha, Jim - see, that was how I was doing it....and I would also always forget something important (never a paddle or PFD, thank god).

I do like Mooch's upgraded rolling box - but since we usually load the kayaks next to the car (and then carry/wheel the filled kayak down to the water), I am liking something that contains everything at home that I can grab and put in the car (for those spur-of-the-moment launches .

I have seen a few guys out on the water with the milk crates - anyone know where to get those?

-Cherie

I have seen a few guys out on the water with the milk crates - anyone know where to get those?

I've just slowly accumulated mine over time.

If you're looking for a quick fix though, here is a start!

Whatever you do, don't go down to your local Office Depot, or Office Max, or Staples because those crates are for filing and are as flimsy as all get out!

I'm in the milk crate crowd, but I'm just starting out too. It carries my pliers, tackle box, has pole holders, copy of fishing license, crab gauge, bungies and PFD. PFD is a simple one, no pockets, so I have a whistle attached and that's it. My clothing is kept separate, and I have a dive knife that I have to keep switching between crates (only have 1 right now..). So to go, I grab the crate, a rod/reel combo if needed, crab pots/traps if needed, whatever I'm paddling in, and a cooler if I'm hoping to catch anything. The nice thing about the crate to me, is that nothing heads back to the car. I strap it on the yak with the bungies it holds.

I do the same deal with my diving stuff. I have 2 different crates, one for freediving and one for SCUBA. They each have pretty much everything I need to go, and I have a list taped to the top of each of anything else I need to grab (ie. freediving fins since they don't fit in the crate, or my drysuit bag if SCUBA). takes a little more work putting everything away after cleaning, but it's worth it to be able to grab and go consistently.