This is Scott’s gear list and as always, it’s subject to change. Please give considerable thought to your own gear list and what might work best for you. Many small dry bags for small groups of items is a much better approach than bigger dry bags. At the bottom of the page you will see how the list is laid out in MS Excel with some associated comments.
| On the Boat |
| Kayak with rudder – For the CT, I’ll paddle a Rockpool Taran |
| Paddle – I am a convert to Greenland Paddles and use GearLab paddles. My primary paddle is an Akiak |
| Spare paddle – GearLab Nukilik as a spare |
| Spray skirt – Reed Chillcheater makes the best spray decks in my opinion. They made one for me out of light tan colored material specifically for this trip to help combat high temperatures. |
| Deck compass – Brunton 58 Kayak Compass – sits nicely on my front hatch with bungees |
| Camelbak Hydration Bladder – deck mounted. This bladder, the compass, two homemade 3″ O.D. beach rollers and a spare paddle are the only items I carry on deck. I follow the “clean deck” principle. This also makes for smoother rolling when needed. I don’t like having the weight of a hydration pack on the back of my PFD. |
| Sponge |
| Pee bottle – mounted in front of the seat with dedicated shock cord |
| Bilge pump – mounted under the deck with dedicated shock cord * |
| Paddle float – mounted under the deck with dedicated shock cord * |
| Paddle Rain Jacket – mounted under the deck with dedicated shock cord * |
| * The Taran hull configuration has perfect spots for mounting these under the deck on either side of the front day hatch compartment. I’ve mounted dedicated shock cords for these three items as well as a waterproof notebook/pens. |
| On the PFD |
| PFD Knife – NRS Co-Pilot – Titanium is best so you don’t worry about corrosion |
| USCG Approved Flares – ORION Skyblazer II Aerial Flares – these are required for coastal paddling |
| USCG Approved Emergency Strobe Light (Req. for night paddling only) |
| USCG Required Whistle |
| Blistex – SPF-30 |
| Backup handheld compass |
| Waterproof camera / strap – I find I don’t use a camera unless it is always “right there”. I’ve tried many including GoPro. My choice is the Nikon Coolpix AW130 with a strap that floats the camera. This one is small, waterproof, loads of functionality, fits perfect in a PFD pocket and can be controlled from an iPhone as well. |
| Paddle card with contact/emergency contact info – Waterproof and always in a PFD pocket. |
| DeLorme inReach – More expensive than the SPOT but you get what you pay for. This seems to be the best out there from reviews and talking with paddlers that have them. I’ll be using the Map Progress platform for posting the paddle tracks within my site. |
| VHF / Weather Radio – ICOM M25 – based on reviews, form factor and Dan’s recommendation. |
| Front Day Hatch |
| Cell phone (in waterproof case/bag) – EPIC Kayaks phone case is great |
| Monocular – Vortex Solo 10 X 36 |
| Sunscreen SPF 50 |
| Waterproof notebook and pen – mounts under the deck inside the cockpit |
| GPS with preloaded coastal charts and all waypoints – GARMIN Oregon 750t |
| Grease pencil X 2 – used for marking time/position on chart case while in route |
| Glasses |
| Polarized sunglasses w/ strap |
| Paddle Sun Gloves |
| Clothes |
| Wide brimmed hat |
| Board shorts, rash guard (white, long sleeve), syn underwear (wearing) |
| Board shorts, rash guard (white, long sleeve), syn underwear (in dry bag) |
| 1 camp pants (long & short) – Kuhl has great products that pack small and dry quickly |
| 1 camp shirt (long button down) – Kuhl |
| Synthetic underwear and socks-2 pair |
| Wool socks (for camp) |
| Camp shoes – Should have ankle protection and be good for hiking as well as paddling (with drain holes) |
| Water shoes (normal paddling shoes) |
| Fleece jacket |
| Cold Weather Gear |
| Leg & arm warmers and Beanie – Castelli bicycle leg / arm warmers are great. Start a cold day with them on and you can take them off without getting out of the kayak when it warms up. These are always in the kit. |
| Reed Chillcheater Touring Cag and pants – These will be packed for only part of the CT paddle |
| Neoprene cold weather gloves – These will be packed for only part of the CT paddle |
| Keeping Clean |
| Toilet paper in waterproof bag X 2 – lots of ways to make them or use Ziplock. I found these neat little dry bags designed specifically for TP. |
| Camping Gear |
| Free standing tent – MSR Elixir 2 – I have a Hubba Hubba that works great. This is the same size, a little heavier material, comes with a footprint, is about a pound heavier and $150 cheaper. I also like the poles better due to no “joint” for poles to connect. Hubba Hubba also needs a $50 footprint if desired. I can spare the extra pound for the better durability and better cost. You should also consider upgrading tent stakes to ones that work better in sand. |
| Camp chair & table (1.5lb each) – Helinox Ground Chair and Helinox Table are durable, light and pack small. |
| Sleeping bag (30 degree) |
| Sleeping bag liner – I use this instead of the sleeping bag in warmer weather |
| Inflatable Sleeping pad & pillow |
| Towel |
| Water bladders (four liter) (8.6 lbs. ea. when full) – MSR Dromedary (replace tops with Nalgene 63mm tops to prevent accidental opening. Carry one original top to use for pouring water). I am set up to carry eight bladders max, plus the Camelbak. I will only carry what is needed for each group of days. Bladders mounted in the front and aft hatch have dedicated shock cords installed to hold them to the bottom of the hull. |
| “Camp Ditty Bag” with clothes line, hooks, float light, etc. |
| Bug head net – goes in PFD when paddling mangrove tunnels is in the days paddle route |
| Spare batteries |
| Mini tri-pod |
| Small sewing kit |
| Battery charger (one for all electronics if possible) |
| Small supply of paddle cards |
| Wallet with credit cards, IDs etc. |
| Extra ziplock bags (large freezer and one quart freezer) |
| Fire Starter Sticks |
| USB chargeable headlamp (use for night paddling as well) |
| IPod and ear buds (waterproof iPod shuffle or similar for tunes while paddling) |
| Nylon tent stake mallet |
| Cat hole trowel |
| Cooking Gear |
| MSR Dragon Fly Stove – multi-fuel stove (white gas, unleaded auto, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene) |
| Nesting cooking kit – pot, bowls, cups |
| MSR Fuel Canisters x 2 |
| Cooking/Utensil kit |
| Navigation |
| NOAA charts in chart case – The NOAA booklet charts are a great format. You can print out only the pages you need double sided so you can cover more distance with fewer charts. |
| CT guidebook in waterproof case – CT “charts” loaded to iPad and phone |
| Backup Charts – Top Spot charts are waterproof and very durable |
| Tide charts (use phone app and pre-load CT Planner spreadsheet as well) |
| Additional chart cases – Preload a new case with charts for groups of segments and have them sent to you. Cases wear out so getting you new charts in a new case is a good approach. I use the NRS HydroLock Small. You will have to trim one long edge of a standard print out by 1/4″ to have them fit. |
| Misc. |
| Goal Zero Venture 30 battery pack and solar panels |
| Backpack for shore use |
| Cable (25′) & brass lock for locking boat |
| IPad Mini – Cellular model with preloaded charts, spreadsheet etc. and a waterproof case. Load all iPhone apps as well for a backup. |
| Paddle Sack |
| Bug Issues |
| Cactus Juice |
| or Burt’s Bees Herbal Insect Repellent or ??? |
| Thermacell bug repellent and refills – I used these in the Everglades and they were fantastic! Easily available at Walmart. |
| Bug Shirt – This is the best bug shirt head net combo I know of. |
| Bonus Items |
| Duffle bag that can hold all gear normally inside boat |
| Backpacker’s hammock for mangroves, marsh, & swamps – I will not carry this due to space issues |
| Backpacker’s tarp with guy lines – I will not carry this due to space issues |
| Food Items |
| TBD |
| Marine Gear |
| Towline (waist & contact), deck lines and spare line |
| Watch with tide indicator, barometer, temp etc. |
| Kayak cart for portages – The KCS Expedition Trolley is the best I’ve found and fits perfectly inside and behind the aft hatch of the Taran when disassembled. Nothing works well in soft sand. |
| Emergency hatch covers – Round & oval – Reed Chillcheater. |
| Cockpit cover (Reed Chillcheater) |
| Toiletries |
| Toiletry bag |
| Toothpaste |
| Toothbrush |
| Floss |
| Razor |
| Tweezers |
| Small scissors |
| Nail clippers |
| Vitamin / supplements |
| Ibuprofen / Aspirin / Eleve etc. |
| Prescription medications |
| Blistex – SPF 30 |
| Lubricant eye drops |
| Bio-soap and pre-moist wipds |
| Towel |
| Purell hand sanitizer (used for poison ivy too) |
| First Aid Kit |
| Bandages |
| Anti-bacterial ointment |
| Aspirin |
| Seasick pills |
| Diarrhea pills |
| Anti-histamine cream/ pills |
| Repair Kit |
| Marine epoxy putty (small amount) |
| Aquaseal and accelerator |
| Duct tape – small “roll” |
| Pocket multi-tool |
| Superglue (medium CA) |
| Nylon patch / tent repair tape |
| Emergency hull patchs |
| Pocket multi-tool |
| Toothbrush |
| White vinegar in mini dispenser |
This is how I’ve laid out my gear list in MS Excel. All weights add up for each hull section and then total again for the entire list. With a fully loaded kayak in proper trim, rolling is really easy. This proved to be a much better approach but took some time. Weighing all items also helps to remind you of what to carry and what not to carry due to weight considerations.