I am curious to see if many of you carry a first-aid kit and or survival gear in your boats/kayaks. I am getting into kayaking this year and am probably going to be getting a small first aid kit and some basic survival gear and storing them in the hatches in my kayak. What do you guys have in your boats as far as these things go? Anything in particular I should absolutely have?

 

 

I fish from a canoe - and I do carry a small first aid kit and some items that I consider survival gear.

 

What gear you carry can depend on where you fish and the challenges that environment will subject you to.

 

I routinely fish in fairly out lying areas, with No cell coverage, and quite often alone at night.  So there is a chance I could be spending at least a night in the woods.  My gear revolves around that scenario.  Change of cloths & fire building items (in a dry bag), poncho for shelter, and survival knife with compass. I'm a chow hound so I'm rarely without food & water, but I'll admit often times I don't bring more than I plan on using for a planned trip.

 

The Best two pieces of advice I can give are: 1) wear your Life Jacket (PFD) and 2) Make Sure you tell someone exactly where you're going, when you're coming back and who to call if you do not return as planned AND leave them the phone number you want them to call.  Additionally it would be very beneficial if who ever they're calling actually has the ability, willingness and desire to go look for you.

 

A-Jay

I keep a first aid kit, flare gun, handheld flares, smoke flares, Bic lighter and flashlight in a waterproof Plano 1412 storage box. I keep tools and whatnot in the boat as well. I think handheld flares are a necessity for most any water. I have the flare gun and smoke flares because I fish the Great Lakes. Orion sells some nice kits http://www.orionsignals.com/application/marine.html

Thanks for the good advice. I almost never fish alone at night. Usually about half an hour past sunset is the latest I will be out by myself, unless I am deliberately going night fishing with buddies. I intend to fish mostly smaller inland lakes, but it is probably not a bad idea to have a compass and flares as well. A knife and lighter will be a must also.

 

As far as PFD's go, I don't think I'll ever go without it. I will always try to have a buddy with me when kayak fishing, but I know that won't be the case, and for those times, I will never do without a PFD. And I always try to tell someone where I am going. I use to do some trout fishing and would always tell my girlfriend where I would be and for how long. I feel this may be the most critical piece of information in a search and rescue type of situation.

If you keep your phone in a waterproof bag while on the water, there are compass apps you can download. There are both free apps and pay apps. I have 360+ compass app. I think it was $1.99 It is a compass and ha COG and gps coordinates 

Aside from the required equipment, I keep a small tarp (5'x8'), a knife, twine, matches, a flaslight, and a small first aid kit. You never know when you might decide it's a beautiful night (whether you choose to or are forced to) to camp out lakeside!

Duct tape, electrical tape, and toilet paper. What more could one need?!? I do keep a few tools around to do emergency motor work if needed along with some rope, a sharp knife, and a few flashlights with extra batteries and bulbs. 

I have a mini backpack look alike first aid kit that I carry and the main things I have in it is the small camping/travel sunscreen (just incase I run out of my msin can), insect repellant, and liquid skin (new skin) for cuts because bandage and water dont work. I also have poison ivy relief if I go camping over night. those are the main things I use.

Do you guys prefer matches or lighters? I could see matches being a problem if it gets wet/rainy, but could also see problems with the lighter possibly breaking, or not working under the same conditions. Hmm...