Camping using my H Revo - am I kidding myself?

Holt.  That's not enough info.  Where are the pics and/or video?   

Just kidding.  Sounds like a successful visit to Alder Creek.

-Allen

Holt,

Following along, reading your posts on this topic, I'm convinced at this time that if you can clear one more major hurdle, then you will make it.  That hurdle (in my own silly opinion) is going to be to find a sleeping pad that you can live with out there that you can also fit into or more likely onto your boat.  Like I say, get that to happen and I'm convinced you will manage to pack enough in your Revo for what you propose to do.

Do me a favor, would you?  Keep me posted on this one issue any way.  I'm dying to see how it comes out.  I have to say that you sure have shown an eagerness to jump in and check it all out like I was saying at the first.

I haven't mentioned it before because I have a high likelyhood of being out of town for the summer again this year, but certainly if I'm not then I'd sure like to join you for at least some part of your upcoming summer outing.  We'll see if I can pull it off.  That is to say, we'll see if I can find some work in town instead of 1000 miles away.

Fishin-T

You can easily fit a twin or full size air matress in there and an air pump.

Soooooooo, I look longingly at my Revo and dream of when the weather turns and going Yak camping/angling for the first and hopefully many times.  Then reality begins to ping my brain, wondering where to put the camping gear for say a 2-5 day trip.  How is this done on this peddler yak?   Do I consider towing a small sot-tailer - what would that be like?
Any input would be greatly appreciated - thinking of this as a winter thought and action project.
holtfisher

Today was an exciting day, drove to Vancouver from Lacey early for a long morning meeting then by pre arrangement drove over to Alder Creek to learn some basics on how to pack the Revo for 3-5 days self sustained camping.  Jason whom I trust yet only know through reading NWKA, was off work today however he set me up with Paul who also knows his stuff!  I rolled the Revo into the showroom, brought in a couple of light saw horses along with some gear I already had and set up. Paul probed and poked the Revo then said he agreed with Jason that I could pack and do what I want to.  Paul brought out a one page guide on the science of packing a kayak. Asked some questions, then we began to pull dry bags off the shelf, capture air in them and stuffed in the yak along with my sleeping bag already in a dry bag.  I really knew nothing about packing a yak and now have the basics.  A key to my yak is to use several small bags inside the hull.  Amazing how many nooks and cranny’s there are. 
We wound up with just one duffle bag to strap on behind the crate. For those interested in camping and are not real familiar with kayak camping like me, may find the following list interesting.

Pulled the 20’ of pool noodles because the dry bags will displace plenty of volume. A couple of the larger bags will be placed empty through the 8” hatch and then stuffed with gear.

INSIDE HULL:
2- 4L Dromedary bags for water placed under my seat
1 Kodiak taper 20L for inside stern (put in empty then stuff full)
4- evac 8L
2- evac 5L
2- Dry Sack 5L
2- Dry Sack 8L
2- Dry Sack 13L
1- Dry Sack 20L

OUTSIDE LASHED TO REAR DECK:
1- wide Mouth Duffle 40L

OTHER:
For fun – Waay Cool hand fishing line

Now the winter project is to learn about what to fill the bags with that is practical and fits the budget and allows me to camp and be self contained, yet able to camp with others. No need for thinking further of an outrigger – Yea!.
If this is too much detailed information please let me know.  Sure don’t want to bore anyone as I work on this project.   Holt

200L total. Not exactly how I thought it would distribute, but pretty much what I thought it would be. Glad Paul was able to set you up and get you what you need!

Jason

I was surprised by the number of smaller bags and that you went with a smaller duffle.

I have a 70L for the tankwell (that I usually don't fill completely up), a couple of 20L's and like 4 15L's (long ones).

-Allen

Glad you found what you needed, but is seems to me that you put the cart before the horse...  I would have collected the gear I needed first and then worked out the problem of how many and what size dry bags you would need to carry it, maybe you already have an idea of the gear you will carry;D.  More than one way to skin a cat!  Have fun and keep us posted on your progress.   

You can easily fit a twin or full size air matress in there and an air pump.

Personally, I can't manage to sleep on an air mattress.  To me, it feels just like I'm trying to sleep on the floor of a birthday party jumping room... with the kids still jumping on it.  Not to mention that it's hell on my back.  A hammock is also hell on my back.  Used to get by with either option when I was really really young.

I've found that I have a minimum amount of padding that I'm able to get by with.  It's not comfy like my bed at home, but I'm able to get right to sleep and get a normal non-back-braking sleep on it.  For me personally, that minimum is a full length 1.5" thick self inflating "backpackers" style pad.  The "real" backpackers almost always use smaller lighter ones than mine, but again I can't do it.  Mine weighs in at about 2.5#, but it's the bulk that's the bigger price that I pay.  To give you an idea, it rolls to 25" long X 6" dia.  Since the shape is awkward for hull stuffing, it always goes on the outside of the hull, usually strapped to the front somewhere.

My main point would be similar to the "try before you buy" theory of kayak purchasing.  In other words, just make sure that it's something that you yourself can actually live with when you're out there with it.

Fishin-T

Do the air matresses hurt because they are too soft?  A good quality air matress can be inflated to a very firm level and not give any playroom bouncy floor effect.

Personally, I use the z-rest by thermarest....but two on top of each other. If I've got extra room, I'll add a 3rd inflatable thermarest.

Even with one z rest, I usually don't sleep well the first night, but I'm so tired by the second I pass out quicker than I do at home.

If I ever have problems sleeping while camping, I just play harder the next day.

The other thing I've noticed is the more I do it, the more comfortable it becomes. Thows first few trips might be rough, but I don't even notice any more.

Glad you found what you needed, but is seems to me that you put the cart before the horse...  I would have collected the gear I needed first and then worked out the problem of how many and what size dry bags you would need to carry it, maybe you already have an idea of the gear you will carry;D.  More than one way to skin a cat!  Have fun and keep us posted on your progress.   

I think if you know what kind of bag space you've got to work with before you get gear, it's easier to get gear that will fit.

The many small bags are better than few large ones. Easier to pack, easier to find your stuff rather than everything in two huge bags.

Basic clothes in a 20L
Sleeping bad in a 20L
tent (minus poles) in a 15L
poles and other misc hardware in a 15L (ratty, leaky one at that).
sleeping pad in a 15L
book/toiletries/headlamp in a 15L
Food, jackets (big clothes), and misc stuff in the 70L

DONE.

-Allen

I jsut don't like digging to the bottom of a 70L to find clean undies.

I don't put the tent in a dry bag, it's ok if it gets wet, and it stuffs better into nooks when it's seperated.

I use foam z-rests that I don't put in a bag, doesn't matter if they get wet. Sleeping bag& pillow I put in a 20L lateral bag. Clothes I put into lots of smaller ones.....socks in one, shirts in one, pants, undies.....lots of small bags. easier to pack, easier to organize. stoves, pots & pans etc. don't need a bag....food like pancake mix etc., clothes, sleeping bag are all I bag.

If it's raining and nasty, digging to the bottom of a 70L will get everything else wet whil I look for the undies.

Basic clothes in a 20L
Sleeping bad in a 20L
tent (minus poles) in a 15L
poles and other misc hardware in a 15L (ratty, leaky one at that).
sleeping pad in a 15L
book/toiletries/headlamp in a 15L
Food, jackets (big clothes), and misc stuff in the 70L

DONE.

This is a catch all for the several recent posts.  For me (with little spacial ability) I needed to see how to pack this yak.  Due to the peddle configuration, some internal structure supports and one medium sized hatch up front plus two 8 inch hatches, the smaller bags 4L to 20L seemed to work well. Also for some reason it is much easier for me now that I know this can be done due to being at Alder Creek yesterday, I can purchase with the current bags in mind.

Comfort is a serious item for me (within reason) so the sleeping pad/air mattress is really important - still working on this.  Also, more and more the Kifaru small stove and ParaTipi are very appealing for the tent items.

Pictures? I guess that means I need to learn to use a camera

I sure appreciate everyones input. Lots more to learn.    Holt   

-Allen

I jsut don't like digging to the bottom of a 70L to find clean undies.

If it's raining and nasty, digging to the bottom of a 70L will get everything else wet whil I look for the undies.

Set up your tent before digging in the bag   

More importantly though, who wears undies when they're camping?!!!

I jsut don't like digging to the bottom of a 70L to find clean undies.

If it's raining and nasty, digging to the bottom of a 70L will get everything else wet whil I look for the undies.

Set up your tent before digging in the bag   

More importantly though, who wears undies when they're camping?!!!

Undies in the 20L with basic clothes.

In the 70L I have other non dry bags (cheaper!!!), for organizational purposes, which makes finding things easier.

-Allen