Kayak Equipment Check list

[Bootster]

Along with many others on here I'm looking at getting a 'yak in the future, but want to confirm exactly what I need beforehand so I can cost everything. Can anybody add to the list below on what I might need?

I'm looking at a Prowler or Big Game so assuming that flush mounted rod holders and seat are included. I doubt we'll get a fully inclusive list, and different people will take different items, but ideas from those with more experience than me would be appreciated.

The obvious
Kayak (duh!)
Paddle and Leash
Adjustable Rod Holders

Saftey
Dry Suit
PFD
HF Radio
Flares
Leash between you and your 'yak
Compass

Useful Kit
Trolly
Anchor and Line
Fishfinder
GPS
Spare waterproofed clothing

I'm just trying to get rough guidelines, I know that some people will suggest that some stuff is not needed or don't even think of going without GPS etc but I general concensus would be great.

Oh yes, nearly forgot, spare underwear if you go with Snapper35 and the anchor gets snagged up with you at 45 degrees to a very fast tide! Can't think why I've still only been out the once!

[Steinbeisser]

Along with many others on here I'm looking at getting a 'yak in the future, but want to confirm exactly what I need beforehand so I can cost everything. Can anybody add to the list below on what I might need?

I'm looking at a Prowler or Big Game so assuming that flush mounted rod holders and seat are included. I doubt we'll get a fully inclusive list, and different people will take different items, but ideas from those with more experience than me would be appreciated.

The obvious
Kayak (duh!)
Paddle and Leash
Adjustable Rod Holders

Saftey
Dry Suit
PFD
HF Radio
Flares
Leash between you and your 'yak
Compass

Useful Kit
Trolly
Anchor and Line
Fishfinder
GPS
Spare waterproofed clothing

I'm just trying to get rough guidelines, I know that some people will suggest that some stuff is not needed or don't even think of going without GPS etc but I general concensus would be great.

Oh yes, nearly forgot, spare underwear if you go with Snapper35 and the anchor gets snagged up with you at 45 degrees to a very fast tide! Can't think why I've still only been out the once!

I suppose you could add:

Anchor trolley so you can have the anchor at the bow or the stern of the kayak. Some kayakers seem to have one on either side

Rudder, if it is a long kayak (like the Trident or Prowler 15)

Battery (for the compass back lighting, navigation light if you go out at night, GPS, Fishfinder)

Navigation light - single white light if you are out at night

Spare paddle

I don't see many kayakers advocating leashing yourself to the kayak - dangerous in surf, etc. I would carry a decent knife - probably a diver's knife strapped to the inside of my calf - in case I needed to cut an anchor line or a leash, which had trapped me after going for a swim!

Apart from the dry suit you would need some sort of warm neoprene boots and presumably gloves. Also if cold, a neoprene skull cap or hat of some sort.

Wide brimmed hat in summer and good quality sun glasses to protect against UV.

First aid kit & maybe a throw line. Spare rope length to tow another kayak?

Storage crate for rear tank well - if not already supplied with kayak. Handy for all the fishing tackle bits & bobs.

One or two Scotty or RAM fishing rod mounts at the front of the cockpit. Most angling version kayaks seem to have 2 rear flush mount rod holders already fitted.

Slalom kayakers used to carry a makeshift repair kit of strong adhesive tape, methylated spirits to repair minor damage. Probably not necessary with SOT Kayaks made of polyethylene.

Camera

Food and flask of hot drink. Bottled water, etc.

Spare batteries for any electronics?

Mobile phone (perhaps optional if you have the VHF Radio). Don't forget you need a licence to own the radio and a licence + training course to operate the radio.

You will need leashes for your fishing rods.

You will also need a couple of dry bags for your gear and an aquapak waterproof bag for the camera and phone.

You may also want to consider air bags for buoyancy inside the polyethylene SOT Kayaks, as the Ocean Kayaks I've looked at don't seem to have any bulk heads! The fibre glass SOT kayaks (Kaskazi) do have at least one bulk head.

There was a post (I think on Anglers Afloat within the last week), which detailed the legal requirements for French water kayaking. It depended how far out you were going to go, but even included a signalling mirror. Cheap, takes no room and doesn't run out of batteries, suppose.

A whistle , if not already fitted on your PFD and a head torch, if night kayaking - for recovering the kayak onto the shore and back to the car.

That's what my planned list is at present for when I do buy a kayak soon.

Steinbeisser

[Snapper35]

Yeah, gotta have a camera! If only I'd captured your face when you snagged up.....it's no bloody fun at all when that happens, so...

1.5kg anchor and a spare!


Lets see what I use:

Yak (big enough and fast enough to handle your intended purpose. Ocean Kayak Prowler Elite or Trident would be the two I'd most reccomend personally).
PFD. Gotta be comfortable to paddle in.
Finder (GPS and chartplotter is useful too - last time out the fog rolled in when we were two miles out. Got a position fix and came back in on the:
Compass
Paddle (the usually-included one will be ok, a better one is reccomended). leash it
additional rodholders. I favour RAM-117 holders and RAM-119 tubes, as well as the flushmounts
anchor trolley, line and 1.5kg anchor. Spares advisable
VHF, 2xred and 2xorange handheld flares/smoke and miniflares as an additional.
catch bag
rudders are useful with some yaks, but not all require them. Trident definitely benefits.
drysuit / dry cag and trousers for winter (drysuit is best), wetsuit or maybe shorts for summer dependant on conditions.

On the leash front, Bootster has seen the current we fished at anchor from. I'll be leashing myself in future, so i'll need an:

Emergency knife attached to PFD

Mobile phone in an aquapack (call the coastguard before you go out so they know where you are, when you're out and when your due back in. Call them when you get back in).

Torpedo tubes for when the bloody commercials shoot nets around you.

[Bootster]

Mmmm, forgot spare anchor, or three!

It was after that little bit of fun that I thought about tying myself to the yak Snapper. Although I'll probably not go out by myself, if you did, and went over in that current you'd never get back to the yak. I can swim better than most, but with PFD, clothing etc you'd never have a chance. Even in a pair of speedos the chances would be next to nothing. Of course it always helps if the lifeboat is doing circles around you every few minutes!

Still remember it well pal, water rushing under the yak as we got snagged up 'Snapper, I don't like this' a few seconds later when I go at about 30 degrees to the curent , 'I really don't like this' then as water starts to go over the yak, 'I really, very don't like this' as the yak starts to list towards the current! All good fun eh?

[soakingwet]

Mmmm, forgot spare anchor, or three!

It was after that little bit of fun that I thought about tying myself to the yak Snapper. Although I'll probably not go out by myself, if you did, and went over in that current you'd never get back to the yak. I can swim better than most, but with PFD, clothing etc you'd never have a chance. Even in a pair of speedos the chances would be next to nothing. Of course it always helps if the lifeboat is doing circles around you every few minutes!

Still remember it well pal, water rushing under the yak as we got snagged up 'Snapper, I don't like this' a few seconds later when I go at about 30 degrees to the curent , 'I really don't like this' then as water starts to go over the yak, 'I really, very don't like this' as the yak starts to list towards the current! All good fun eh?

As you have metioned the lifeboat, don't forget to join as an offshore member, only £60 per year, you get regular magazines etc, and a brilliant interactive dvd about sea safety. If you have to call them out, you won't feel so guilty!

[Snapper35]

Yeah, having that happen a couple of times I'm decided on leashing myself in future too. The possibility of a tangle holding you under against the certainty of being swept away if you don't grab hold is a fair trade off. I'm looking for the right (safest) method at present.

'I really, very don't like this' - I thought, at the time and still do, that was an excellently lucid way of expressing concern. I completely understood what you were hinting at! Still, that's an extreme occurrence and you stayed on easily, stayed safe and it passed without panicking which on your first trip at sea 2 miles out bodes well.

(Next time we'll head over the 30cm submerged sandbank in a 3ft swell targetting bass if you like!!!).

[thornbackflounder]

IMAG0240.JPGdon t forget to take the ironing lol

[Shropfisher]

I suppose you could add:

Anchor trolley so you can have the anchor at the bow or the stern of the kayak. Some kayakers seem to have one on either side

Rudder, if it is a long kayak (like the Trident or Prowler 15)

Battery (for the compass back lighting, navigation light if you go out at night, GPS, Fishfinder)

Navigation light - single white light if you are out at night

Spare paddle

I don't see many kayakers advocating leashing yourself to the kayak - dangerous in surf, etc. I would carry a decent knife - probably a diver's knife strapped to the inside of my calf - in case I needed to cut an anchor line or a leash, which had trapped me after going for a swim!

Apart from the dry suit you would need some sort of warm neoprene boots and presumably gloves. Also if cold, a neoprene skull cap or hat of some sort.

Wide brimmed hat in summer and good quality sun glasses to protect against UV.

First aid kit & maybe a throw line. Spare rope length to tow another kayak?

Storage crate for rear tank well - if not already supplied with kayak. Handy for all the fishing tackle bits & bobs.

One or two Scotty or RAM fishing rod mounts at the front of the cockpit. Most angling version kayaks seem to have 2 rear flush mount rod holders already fitted.

Slalom kayakers used to carry a makeshift repair kit of strong adhesive tape, methylated spirits to repair minor damage. Probably not necessary with SOT Kayaks made of polyethylene.

Camera

Food and flask of hot drink. Bottled water, etc.

Spare batteries for any electronics?

Mobile phone (perhaps optional if you have the VHF Radio). Don't forget you need a licence to own the radio and a licence + training course to operate the radio.

You will need leashes for your fishing rods.

You will also need a couple of dry bags for your gear and an aquapak waterproof bag for the camera and phone.

You may also want to consider air bags for buoyancy inside the polyethylene SOT Kayaks, as the Ocean Kayaks I've looked at don't seem to have any bulk heads! The fibre glass SOT kayaks (Kaskazi) do have at least one bulk head.

There was a post (I think on Anglers Afloat within the last week), which detailed the legal requirements for French water kayaking. It depended how far out you were going to go, but even included a signalling mirror. Cheap, takes no room and doesn't run out of batteries, suppose.

A whistle , if not already fitted on your PFD and a head torch, if night kayaking - for recovering the kayak onto the shore and back to the car.

That's what my planned list is at present for when I do buy a kayak soon.

Steinbeisser

Having just bought a Prowler Big Game Yak, I think I need a bigger one, looking at this list, I have a 20 foot boat and was looking for a more simplistic way of fishing !!!

[Steinbeisser]

Having just bought a Prowler Big Game Yak, I think I need a bigger one, looking at this list, I have a 20 foot boat and was looking for a more simplistic way of fishing !!!

LOL. Yeah, I was thinking of buying an Ocean Kayak Trident 15 and I'm told that if paddles best with a bit of weight in it!!! Mind you the Trident ain't as big as the Big Game either!

I suppose it's a bit like the recommended list that you have for normal bank/beach fishing or mountaineering, that you prune down and leave most of it behind! Just depends how self sufficient you want to be with regard to the more extreme nature of kayak fishing!

By the way, how do you find the Big Game for paddling effort/speed, or do you not go so far with it?

Steinbeisser

[Shropfisher]

Yet to get out on the Yak, still building the barge for the safety Kit... Been trying to find some inland waters that will allow it for Trout fishing, Blanked so far..