safety check list?

Well have finaly decided on getting the hobie outback, went  to my local deaer today to buy , but they were out of every hobie, wont have any in till late dec early jan so i decided i would start getting togather the safety gear needed, heres my safety list, anyone see anything i have missed?
dry suit
marine vhf radio
PFD
whistle
flag pole
first aid kit
and hopefully someone to hit the water with weater permitting  in jan

This thread at NCKA is pretty good:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=27534.0

Make sure you watch this video:



If you don't want to wait ot get a boat you could always make a trip.  Next Adventure and Kayak Shed should both have the boat you want and you could have it under the Christmas tree.

Well have finally decided on getting the Hobie Outback, went  to my local deaer today to buy , but they were out of every hobie, wont have any in till late dec early jan so i decided i would start getting togather the safety gear needed, heres my safety list, anyone see anything i have missed?
dry suit
When selecting your suit, be aware that there are DRY suits and PADDLE suits. For kayakers they are very similar with the one exception: a dry suit usually has a latex/rubber neck dam that is quite tight fitting for the maximum seal whereas the paddle suit has a neoprene (wet suit material) neck dam that is less constricting on your neck and therefore more comfortable to wear. Since you don't normally plan to immerse yourself under 98% of your paddling treks its not necessary to have the latex dry suit seal. Those would be most appropriate for white water kayakers and rafters where constant exposure to water is inevitable.

Another great feature to have on your suit is additional wear pads in critical spots that get a lot of contact and friction with your gear. The Kokatat Hydrus 3L that I have has heavy duty elbow patches and everything from the waist down is heavier material to hold up under sitting long hours, supporting your gear on your lap, getting fish slime and grime on you, etc.

marine vhf radio
Do a lot of research (here on the forums as well) before settling on a radio brand and model. And it would be best if you touched base with your local fellow kayakers who have VHF handhelds that have given them a test under your local conditions. There is a wide variety of performance, i.e. dependability, in these radios. They are primarily line of sight transmission.

PFD
Consider something that will be compatible with many layers of clothing plus your dry suit and overlying jackets, vests, etc. In wintry weather its nice to put the PFD over your outer jacket which creates a better heat saver than a device that won't expand large enough and must be worn under an outer jacket.

flag pole
The taller the better if out on the open seas where even a 3 foot swell will make you disappear. You'll probably want one with a light on the top in the event of low light or dark conditions. Make sure its Coast Guard approved meaning visible for at least 2 miles.

ADD: A good serrated blade folding knife with belt clip to keep on your PFD. PowerPro type braided lines are easier to cut with a serrated blade. They seem to retain their sharpness even after use and you never know if your boat may get entangled in a hidden line, underwater rope from a crab pot or anchor buoy, etc. that will need something quick and handy to cut you loose.

ADD:   A personal LED strobe or constant on light to keep on your PFD for visibility if you end up in the water and separated from your craft. Most are under $10.

ADD: One item that is easily overlooked or not given enough consideration when purchasing will be your booties. Most suits will have stocking foot bottoms requiring you to get a water compatible outer foot wear. Realize that you will be walking from your vehicle to the launch location, hauling gear and kayak, and encountering all sorts of terrain and surface materials during your many outings. Don't skimp on a pair of booties when you have $4K invested in everything else. I use my scuba diving booties which are Harvey Titaniums. They have a stiff synthetic rubber sole with good tread and foot protection even on sharp and jagged rocks and driftwood. The zipper makes them easy on easy off and the foot bridge area on top has a wear pad of rubber over the neoprene to prevent the "stirrups" on the Mirage Drive pedals from wearing out your bootie material or rubbing on your foot bridge tendons. The titanium foil built within the neoprene is suppose to act like a space blanket and reflect heat back to you. Can't say if it works for sure. But no one loves cold feet or hands.





Which brings up another "safety" item you may consider. A pair of diver's neoprene gloves (or fishermen's neoprenes) are great on cold mornings or on drizzling rainy days. Nothing worse than trying to tie on a hook with fingers that don't work when you need them. Slip them off, tie up, and back on.

==>>>> Lastly, I can't take credit for all this "wisdom." Much of it specific to kayaking I learned from draining the brain of Kardinal_84 before I ever laid down the CC for my Outback and accessories.

Congrats on your decision for an Outback.

There's a list of minimum safety gear in the 2016 ORC rules: http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=17843.0.  It's a good starting point.

A dry suit is not just for whitewater kayakers.  To be safe, you must plan for that one time when you find yourself in the water, not for the hundreds of times when you aren't.  We probably have as many members who wear a dry suit as we have wearing semi-dry suits (the ones with the neoprene neck gasket) and wetsuits combined.

Fit the PFD to your immersion suit.  An over-sized PFD is just waiting for a chance to ride up and interfere with your arm movements.  DAMHIK.

Carry a fixed-blade emergency knife on your PFD and forget the folding knife.  If you find yourself in the water and tangled-up, you may not have time - or have both hands free - to open a folding knife.  Carry something else for cutting lines, your emergency knife is for emergencies.

Carry a signaling device.  A whistle or a horn is mandatory, a signal mirror will help in daylight, a powerful flashlight helps at night.

Carry a compass.  A good hand compass or a good deck mount compass.  Never count on electronics.

Carry something to get the water out of the kayak if it swamps.  A hand pump, a large sponge...

Carry an emergency paddle.  Anything from a swim fin to a high-end collapsible paddle.

Always bring common sense.  It'll go a long way towards keeping you out of emergency situations and help keep you alive if the worst happens.

Oh, and a little sunscreen never hurts...

No doubt others will add to this list based on real-world experience.

Kokatat is having a good sale on last year's inventory of dry suits, PFD's and other gear.  The easiest way to find the right size for any Kokatat dry/semi-dry suit is to use the sizing tool in their custom shop area.  It'll recommend the best size for you, and you can use that information to buy an off-the-rack suit.

thanks guys have my list updated, as i suspected its the little things that get over looked, i have about 15 years of experience diving cold water (gold dredging) but its never a bad idea to refresh ones self with safety.
as for taking a trip to get a kayak, well its turned out that my dealer not having them in stock is a good thing at the moment, my kids want one too now, was hoping to get them into the sport eventually but not prepaired to buy 3 yaks at the same time. and of coarse they want the same one im getting.

Have used some diving boots, but grabbed these mid calf ones and really like them  They draw tight at the top to keep water out (at least any volume) and provide an extra double layer in the cold and are easy to walk in.

A dry suit is not just for whitewater kayakers.  To be safe, you must plan for that one time when you find yourself in the water, not for the hundreds of times when you aren't.  We probably have as many members who wear a dry suit as we have wearing semi-dry suits (the ones with the neoprene neck gasket) and wetsuits combined.

Ahem, I guess you subscribe to the philosophy of "Do as I SUGGEST and not as I DO."  BTW, how's that Kokatat Angler semi dry suit with the neoprene neck dam working out for you and the other half of us?

And after your safety lecture above I shudder to think of what your granddaughter would say if she was privy to your comment, and I quote "My Granddaughter just got back to Oregon and wants to go out with me when she's down this way.  A dry suit is ridiculously expensive for two or three trips a year, but I didn't know what thickness of neoprene would be adequate."

I assume you were referring to buying her a "cheaper" wetsuit? That kind of logic, i.e. putting the dollar before personal safety gets people killed. You only die once.

Fit the PFD to your immersion suit.  An over-sized PFD is just waiting for a chance to ride up and interfere with your arm movements.  DAMHIK.

FYI, an adjustable PFD is NOT an oversized PFD.  DOH.

Carry a fixed-blade emergency knife on your PFD and forget the folding knife.  If you find yourself in the water and tangled-up, you may not have time - or have both hands free - to open a folding knife.  Carry something else for cutting lines, your emergency knife is for emergencies.

Your choice not mine.  Did you replace the one you "lost?"

I'm out.

thanks guys have my list updated, as i suspected its the little things that get over looked, i have about 15 years of experience diving cold water (gold dredging) but its never a bad idea to refresh ones self with safety.

danr
Me too. Dredged for 5 years from 1971 up here.
I might add a suggestion on your choice of the suit you shop for: make damn sure you have an adequate inseam length or even an inch or two slack in the leg length. It is impossible to lift your leg high enough to get on a kayak floating in thigh deep water if your suit crotch is halfway to your knees. You may have run into that phenomena with ill-fitting chest waders.

So a personal fit before you buy, checking all the range of motion in your arms and shoulders, any binding or tightness/discomfort in the sitting position as well as how high you can lift your legs for climbing up is important.

Re the knife:

Carry 2.  Make sure that you can grab one with either hand, assume that your dominant hand might not be available.

Re the compass:

Carry 2. Make sure you know how to use them. Deck mounted direct read compasses look different than orienteering compasses but both work just fine and tell you what you need to know. Also know your heading back to port. It might not be due east, owing to local geography. Especially around the capes.

Re buying several boats:

I think many of us with families at home can attest to the fact that boats tend to multiply on their own. Buy one, and inside of two years you have 5.

good idea klondike, as you know then, wore out many wet suits but never had a dry suit.
good point crash, always good to have back ups, lucky for me only have 2 kids so only 3 boats in 2 years, wait, hmm PA 14 would look good in the mix, so would a revo, damn youre righ 5 boats in 2 years

good idea klondike, as you know then, wore out many wet suits but never had a dry suit.
good point crash, always good to have back ups, lucky for me only have 2 kids so only 3 boats in 2 years, wait, hmm PA 14 would look good in the mix, so would a revo, damn youre righ 5 boats in 2 years

lol yeah that's pretty much how it happens. Buy used if you want to save some dough, the waxers pro staff will probably be selling their team boats soon, I got my revo that way and only had to go to roseburg.

I'm sitting at 3 boats right now, Santa Cruz raptor G2 and a Malibu kayaks tandem. I've got my eye on a stealth pro fisha 525 though.  And an i11s would be pretty nice...

Re the knife:

Carry 2.  Make sure that you can grab one with either hand, assume that your dominant hand might not be available.

Yep, the dominant one is the one hanging on for dear life! Can't have too many knives. Just like duck decoys.

Re the compass:
Carry 2. Make sure you know how to use them. Deck mounted direct read compasses look different than orienteering compasses but both work just fine and tell you what you need to know. Also know your heading back to port. It might not be due east, owing to local geography. Especially around the capes.

I hadn't really given a personal compass much thought but in a fog bank I could see its need during electronics failure or an accident. I only have one direction to head here for survival.

Re buying several boats:
I think many of us with families at home can attest to the fact that boats tend to multiply on their own. Buy one, and inside of two years you have 5.

I got mine in August and I think its already pregnant. Might be due in June when family is coming up. lol

Danr - you might consider a tandem and double them up until they can get a part time job and buy their own!

Re the compass:
Carry 2. Make sure you know how to use them. Deck mounted direct read compasses look different than orienteering compasses but both work just fine and tell you what you need to know. Also know your heading back to port. It might not be due east, owing to local geography. Especially around the capes.

I hadn't really given a personal compass much thought but in a fog bank I could see its need during electronics failure or an accident. I only have one direction to head here for survival.

danr will be fishing in the same places I fish.  Having no visible land and no point of reference and needing to rely on the compass is not at all uncommon here in the summer months.  This summer was particularly foggy.  I take 2 GPS and 3 compasses with me and do frequent location checks.  Take no chances.

Speaking of, you will want to practice surf launches and landings.  You never know when you might need to land somewhere unprotected and having that skill is important.  I actually prefer to surf launch in Brookings next to the south jetty over using a dock or the ramp. 

[Ahem, I guess you subscribe to the philosophy of "Do as I SUGGEST and not as I DO."  BTW, how's that Kokatat Angler semi dry suit with the neoprene neck dam working out for you and the other half of us?

And after your safety lecture above I shudder to think of what your granddaughter would say if she was privy to your comment, and I quote "My Granddaughter just got back to Oregon and wants to go out with me when she's down this way.  A dry suit is ridiculously expensive for two or three trips a year, but I didn't know what thickness of neoprene would be adequate."

I assume you were referring to buying her a "cheaper" wetsuit? That kind of logic, i.e. putting the dollar before personal safety gets people killed. You only die once.

Fit the PFD to your immersion suit.  An over-sized PFD is just waiting for a chance to ride up and interfere with your arm movements.  DAMHIK.

FYI, an adjustable PFD is NOT an oversized PFD.  DOH.

Carry a fixed-blade emergency knife on your PFD and forget the folding knife.  If you find yourself in the water and tangled-up, you may not have time - or have both hands free - to open a folding knife.  Carry something else for cutting lines, your emergency knife is for emergencies.

Your choice not mine.  Did you replace the one you "lost?"

I'm out.

No offense was intended.  When it comes to personal safety, there isn't any room to not be very precise, and there were times when you were not spot on.

We're all interested in trying to keep our sport safe, and attacking other people isn't at all helpful to any discussion about personal safety.