What Safety Equipment Do You Carry?
 

There's a balance between traveling light and having what we need if trouble arises.

What do you carry with you as part of your regular safety equipment checklist?

Here are a few things always in my kayak:

hand bilge pump
tow rope in my front hatch
hat strap is made from two 72" braided nylon boot laces
whistle on my hat strap
flip knife on a neck strap stowed in my breast pocket
small bright LED flashlight, tethered, in my breast pocket
wire cutters suitable for cutting hooks in half if they get stuck in the wrong places
stubby #2 phillips screwdriver modified with wrist strap and flotation cork
self fusing silicone Rescue Tape (stretch, wrap, 950 PSI tensile strength, waterproof, airtight, resists heat to 500F, insulates to 8000 volts)
sunscreen
thin multi-purpose cotton sarong/scarf
shamwa
iphone

Couple of additions for soloists
 

A magnetic compass in case fog rolls in and phone craps out.
VHF floating radio if you are going far from the madding crowd.

Supersoaker for close quarter engagements.

Good Idea
 

Too bad they don't make a sea lion spray like bear spray. then you could fill your supersoaker with it and give the old boys a snoot full!

Just toss an iron or other artificial at them. They go away when you do that.

I think pepper spray is an acceptable deterrent, along with slingshots, paint ball and airsoft guns. Pepper spray is good for about 12'. Don't shoot upwind :p

http://www.pierfishing.com/msgboard/...&viewid=294006
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...hSQbhw&cad=rja

Without a hook, or are they agile enough not to get hooked?
A hookless head-knocker on an extra rod seems humane, and good casting practice at the same time. More reach and more accuracy than a slingshot, paintball, etc. Less clutter.

A compass sounds good to me. Thanks.

Here's a compass, whistle, storage container, etc., combined for $4.
https://www.amazon.com/SE-CCH5-1-Sur...rproof+compass

I'm wondering if the free LED flashlight that Harbor Freight hands out might slide inside the sealed storage tube? If not, it's a good place to store a fishing license, bait barge & margarita money. At the moment, cash and license stow in a pocket inside my fishing hat.

http://images.harborfreight.com/hftw.../images/21.jpg

These are not waterproof for soaking. They're bright and have been splash resistant for me. I've been using one for saltwater kayak fishing for over a year. For free, the price is right.

this compass looks a little better:
https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Grylls...rproof+compass

A floating VHF radio with GPS is on my wishlist, but there are too many other things waiting to be bought and paid for first.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PM6XDNS...=IO0NM8NKR20HY

radio
cell phone
in reach beacon
bilge pump