A personal flotation device is an item all kayakers are required to have by law. There are a few other items the Coast Guard requires us to carry to be legal. These include:
-a sound producing device
-a signaling device
-a visual distress signal
-a navigational light
The law doesn't provide definitions for these items and doesn't direct the paddler on where they should be stored. There is definitely room for creativity.
-sound producing devices:
whistles, air horns, conch shells
-signaling device
SPOT, cell phone, VHF radio, lights, flags, paddles, mirrors, flares
-visual distress signal
flags, paddles, mirrors, flares
-navigational light
deck light, headlamp, flashlight
So where should you store all that stuff? In a dry bag in a hatch? In a deck bag? On your PFD? Here is where I keep it all...
I have all of these things, either in my kayak or on my body. Here is what I carry:
-whistle
-air horn
-VHF radio
-2 cell phones
-paddles
-reflective bright yellow paddle float
-mirror
-flares
-waterproof headlamp
-glowsticks (enough for every kayak in my group)
In emergency situations, having these easily accessible can mean the difference between life and death. They should never be stored in a hatch, where they are very hard to get to. In a worst case scenario, the paddler is a swimmer without a kayak. In this scenario, it is important that the paddler (now swimmer) has a few essentials.
I keep the following in and on my PFD:
-mirror
-rescue knife
-whistle
-lip balm
-cliff bar
-sunscreen
On the deck of my kayak, in a deck bag, are the following:
-VHF radio
-cell phone
-big bottle of sunscreen
In the cockpit of my kayak, there is a dry box with the following:
-flares
-glowsticks
-a second cell phone
-a second mirror
-a compass
-a GPS unit
-waterproof headlamp
You should equip your PFD with essentials based on where and when you will be paddling. Keeping a marine radio on your life jacket while paddling a quiet cypress swamp may be overkill. Keeping a VHF radio on your PFD while paddling in open ocean is definitely not. When in doubt, be over prepared. Many guides in colder environments keep emergency blankets in their PFDs. Some guides even tether a dry bag with fire making materials and extra clothes to their PFDs!
The things I keep in and on my PFD has developed over two summers of guiding. I keep my chap stick and whistle on a carabiner on the shoulder strap instead of in the pocket because those are two items I use frequently and don't want to have to dig for them.
I often keep a cliff bar or cliff shot in there too, for fast fuel. I have to take any snacks out every night so mice don't chew into my PFD. Raccoons have even run off with PFDs that had granola bars in them!
I keep a mirror on a lanyard. If it's so bad that I'm using a mirror, it's bad enough for me to loose it if it isn't tied to me.
My knife is a rescue knife, with no tip. I use it to cut birds and turtles free from nets, cut anyone who gets tangled in anything free, and to spread Nutella on my bagel at breakfast. Having a rescue knife with a blunt tip is crucial. Never attempt to free anyone with a pointed blade. It frequently ends tragically.
It can be hard to get all of this stuff to fit, especially if your PFD has only a pocket or two, like mine. There are ways around this. One of them is the carabiner trick I learned from an American Canoeing Association instructor. Don't be afraid to add knife attachment points or clips to your PFD, just make sure you don't go messing with the flotation and make sure your modifications won't get you tangled or caught on anything. If your PFD doesn't have any reflective strips on it, its a great idea to sew some to the shoulders, where it is most visible. I will soon be adding a survival light to my PFD, as well as a big patch on the back that says "KEEP PADDLING" in big bright letters. This is my most used phrase while guiding, so I thought it would be fitting to put it on my PFD.
If you just can't fit everything onto your favorite PFD, there are several solutions. Kokatat offers two options that strap to Kokatak brand PFDs, that may also work with other brands. Their Rear Pocket straps to the back of their PFDs.
Want to stay hydrated without having to stop paddling to open a water bottle? Kokatat's Tributary Hydration Bladder straps to the back of their PFDs.
If your PFD doesn't have enough reflective tape, Kokatat sells velcro backed reflective tape.
If you need to be super prepared, or don't want to try to radically modify your PFD, North Water has a very simple solution. Their Guide Vest fits over your existing PFD. It has large pockets and multiple attachment points, all designed to carry all of the essentials.
Make sure you have what you need to stay not only legal but comfortable. Keep safety items handy, and things you use frequently even handier.
Want to know more about Ali's PFD? Read her review of the Kitty Woman's PFD by Stohlquist
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