The least enjoyable part of a sea kayaking expedition is packing your boat – it is easy to spend hours bent over your hatches if not organized. Finding things can be a chore. A sore back may be an unfortunate result.
Also important is weight distribution and how this can adversely affect handling of the kayak, especially in rough or windy conditions.
It is recommended to move boats when empty. This requires good methods for toting gear to or from the boat at the water’s edge. Noodles make moving loaded boats possible with one person. 4 people with good hand straps can carry loaded boats.
Good organization and being able to find things easily greatly increases the enjoyment of kayaking. Using every available space is necessary.
*items not on a normal trip.
Weight Distribution. Place heavy items as low in the boat as possible and concentrated to the middle close to or in the cockpit. This significantly increases stability.
Heavy items on the deck compromise stability and create a high profile for wind resistance.
The heaviest items are water and food. Both go into either the cockpit or in the hatch directly behind the seat. The best method I have found for water are 4.5l wine bladders in homemade nylon bags (conform to any space, empty easily and completely, no taste, use minimal space when empty).
Pack light items in the ends of the bow as a heavy bow will cause your kayak to veer to windward, a stern heavy boat will veer downwind. Keeping boat ends light helps them lift over waves, heavy ends are sluggish and tend to plunge.
Be aware of sharp or hard items such a cooking pots that may wear a weak spot.
Design of kayak may influence some decisions. I have a Current Designs Solstice HT High Volume kayak with a 25” beam. The cockpit is huge with lots of available storage space. In front of feet: sleeping bag in waterproof bags (Outdoor Research compression dry bag, one or two black plastic garbage bags twirled neck, all in 20 litre heavy dry bag. 4.5 litre wine bladder under. Behind the seat: two 2-litre juice bottles, one 4.5 litre wine bladder. 2 carry straps. Cockpit cover. Sponge. Water bottle and pee bottle on either side of seat.
My second kayak is a Current Designs Solstice HTS High Volume Kevlar with a 22” beam. The 2-litre juice bottles don’t fit under the coaming at the back but still don’t project above the coaming. One 4.5l wine bladder behind seat. Carrying both water and sleeping bag in front of feet may be difficult.
If paddling with partner sharing gear using this kayak: as 10 lbs lighter, I put food and other things not needed much in the back hatch of this boat and leave it there, moving the boat with it in place.
Carrying gear
Small bags only. Besides the taper bag and outside sleeping bag dry bag, no bags are larger than 10 litre. Day pack is the collapsible type that fits into its own pocket.
Small silastic nylon bags, coffee bags are both useful to carry food. Small and long they fill up the area at the front of the back hatch.
Taper bags. Seal Line makes 2 sizes of Kodiac Saks – taper bags that fit in either the stern or bow. I find them ideal for carrying clothes. The large size fits only into the roomiest hatches and is too large.
IKEA bags. Ikea produces two types of very strong, large “blue” bags that are ideal for carrying kayak gear. The “open” bag has 2 lengths of straps. The other is a backpack with a zipper. I am able to empty and carry the entire contents of my kayak on one carry with two of the open bags (one for each hatch) and one backpack bag. I have added wide nylon straps to the shoulder straps of the open bags for comfort.
Launching. Determine tides. Put boat close to water depending on if ebb or flood. Use noodles as needed. With each hatch in one Ikea bag, it is fast. Put on immersion protection, skirt and life jacket on beach. Use cheap nylon sheet or rinse bottom of Ikea bags in water to easily remove all the sand.
Landing. I immediately take an open Ikea bag full from each hatch including water and try to get boat light enough to carry.
Paddling
Spray skirt
Paddle
Paddle leash
PFD – whistle, knife, VHF radio, flares, small survival kit
Tilley hat or baseball hat
Sunglasses
On Front Deck
Deck compass
Sail under bungies
Deck bag –I like a deck bag even though the wind has more of an effect and rolling would be difficult: nail peg, *pogies, gloves, paddling jacket, snacks, toilet paper with lighter and shovel, sun glasses with case, sunscreen, lip, binoculars, GPS, marine radio, sail mast, *camera (in small pelican), *lens pen, *hand held compass, *strobe light, *SteriPen
Charts in waterproof case, tide and current tables
*Platypus – on deck or in holder on PFD
On Back Deck
Paddle float
Bilge pump
Throw bag, Tow bag
Spare paddle
Noodles for rolling boat
*Kayak cart
In Cockpit
In front of feet: Sleeping bag in compression dry bag, 2 garbage bags, over bag, pillow. 4.5 litre wine bladder water bag
Behind the seat: two 2-litre water bottles. cockpit cover, sponge, pee bottle, carry straps, 4.5 litre wine bladder
Under deck bag: snacks, sunglasses, lip, sunscreen, notebook and pen
Beside the seat: Water bottle, Pee Bottle, Thermarest seat
Front hatch. Generally holds day use items: lunch, hiking, dry outer clothes.
Taper dry bag in bow. Clothes: Ziptees, t-shirt, nylon shirt, light fleece, nylon shorts, nylon pants, merino underwear, hiking socks, ultramax, merino socks, bandanas, small towel, dirty clothes bag. Toiletries: brush, Drysol, razor, shave cream, toothbrush and paste, medication, clippers, mustache scissors, tweezers, nail scissors, hair ties, Wet Ones.
Blue 10-liter dry bag: rain jacket, rain pants, toque, wool gloves, puff jacket, dri clime,
gaiters, buff (outside land clothes). First aid: bandaids, steri strips, kling, cortisone, antibiotic cream, blister, mole skin), mirror, antifungal
Small cooler with lunch stuff. Mustard, mayo, cream cheese.
Bread bag (sits on top of cooler under hatch, can’t be compressed).
Utensils, small cutting board
rope
Hiking shoes – thick and thin socks
Day pack. light “no padding”
Ikea bag
Sandwich box
Garbage bags, zip lock bags (various sizes)
*Umbrella
Rear Hatch. Generally holds camping gear and food (because of objects on deck, this hatch is not accessible).
Nylon tarp for beach (cheap thin)
Ikea bag and backpack
Repair Kit: duct tape, fiberglass kit, putty, bungies, large screw driver, spare rudder
Food in front. Breakfast, drinks, condiments bags. Large tupperware for vegys, pots on top. Place cooler behind packed food. Fill in sides around cooler – includes fuel bottles, stove.
Cooking: Stove, stand, spare parts, wind screen, fuel bottle with pump, spare fuel,
Pots: small and large pot, fry pan, diffuser, pot holder, soap, scrubber, foil
Bodum
Eating: plates, bowls, cups, utensils, cutting board, grater, salt & pepper
Dishes: portable sink, dish scrubber, scraper, soap, fibre towel
Tent: Hubba Hubba (2-man) or three man, footprints in stern.
Sleeping pads: Exped down mat, Second thermarest.
Small dry bag – keys, cards, wallet, pens, insect repellant, headlight, leatherman or Swiss Army Knife, lighters, passport, sew kit, spare batteries
Book dry bag: Kindle, books on area, notes, note book, dope, spare batteries (triple A, camera, double A). Powerbank, Solar panel, USB cords, telephone.
Tarp
*Fire cooking: grate in bag, fire pots, Dutch oven Grill
*Outback oven
Paper towels, tea towel
Water bag
Saw, hatchet
Laundry – use a dry bag filled halfway with water, a few golf ball-size rocks and some eco safe soap. Seal, leaving some air and shake
