Indeed! I was a teenager paddler in the late 80s with pretty much nothing. However I probably go further offshore and in larger conditions with my safety gear than I did as a young fella.
Have you looked at the Garmin inReach or Spot Tracker? They both require a subscription plan but combine some of the devices you're using into one. I have an ACR C-Light H2O attached to my PFD over my shoulder in case I fall in at night. I carry an iPhone too with lanyard attached to my shoulder strap so even if I fumble it the phone won't go swimming. The Apple Watch is pretty handy for making and receiving calls on the water without getting your phone out.
Hi Brandyn, I don't carry either but for most of my paddles the SafeTrx app on my iPhone is sufficient for live tracking by famiy/friends. With VHF radio and Locator beacon I probably have enough for now; but I am interested in the InReach at some stage. Thanks for watching!
To my understanding, SafeTRX is a cell-only option that requires you be in range of a cell tower. Garmin inReach and SPOT are satellite-based location tracking, messaging and beacon services that work outside cell range. Where I kayak in Lake Michigan, for example, I’m frequently out of cell range so a satellite system is advisable. I also carry ResQLink 400 PLB (also satellite-based) in case of real trouble, just as David suggests here. (I assume his PLB is a satellite beacon.) I could be wrong about any of this, but it pays to know exactly how these devices work. Cell and VHF are line-of-sight and typically pretty weak; i.e., short-range. Satellite coverage is global and the only problem with them is if you’re in wooded canopy, not a problem on open water!
Well done David, thankyou. I liked the VHF shoulder harness. In later comments you mentioned you’ve changed the set up. Would you have details of this and harness brand name please?
Hi Mark, I stopped using the harness and now just clip it (using the belt clip on the VHF)to my left shoulder using the loop on the left front of my Vaikobi PFD. I do also have tethered and clipped to PFD so I can unhook it if needed and not lose it. You can see the setup here ua-cam.com/video/JsNfe5cnoy0/v-deo.html And here I am using it mid paddle. ua-cam.com/video/58me0PF1OiM/v-deo.html Being close to my ear it is easier for me to hear me being called.
Thanks for watching Mal and the compass suggestion. A great point which has not been an issue for me yet as my paddling in mostly in a large harbour. I have yet to venture way off shore and compass will definitely be added then!
@@DavidMorrison I carry a compass; not because I go out of sight of land, but for when visibility drops. Fog, heavy rain or snow can block sight of land. Having a compass means I know which direction to head to get to land. Can't always depend on wave or swell direction, as this bends around islands and headlands.
Thanks David - I've added your video to the surfski.wiki safety page - surfski.wiki/safety_gear... A work in progress. FWIW - One note about phone waterproofness - charging ports for phones and other electronic devices have shown some unreliability in terms of waterproofness despite whatever IP ratings such devices have acquired. I have experienced such problems with my own phones and only carry my phone on the water in a waterproof pouch. My understanding is that the iphone warranty does not cover liquid damage.
But if at some point in the near future Apple jettisons charging ports I will take that as a good sign for more waterproof reliability in their new phones.
Wow! Thanks Paul - very humbled. On the water proofness front, yes you are indeed correct about the charging port. I have needed to dry it out for charging; but am also looking more at wireless charging as my default.
I forgot to mention that I have used a waterproof pouch with my phone, hung around my neck and tucked inside my PFD. I had an incident where I forgot put it back over my head and it slipped out from PFD - as a result it now stays zipped up in the PFD!
@@DavidMorrison Yeah - My phone with case doesn't fit well into my Vaikobi front pockets - I can attach a long loop on a shoulder strap and my phone case and slip it into my PFD back pocket so I can pull it out (i don't fasten the velcro at the top), use it and keep it attached to my PFD. But I suspect I might like having a bigger front pocket such as a Mocke zipperless or maybe one of the new Vaikobi race PFDs - I need to take a look at those.
And to think we paddled in the 70s to 90s without any of this.
Indeed! I was a teenager paddler in the late 80s with pretty much nothing. However I probably go further offshore and in larger conditions with my safety gear than I did as a young fella.
Have you looked at the Garmin inReach or Spot Tracker? They both require a subscription plan but combine some of the devices you're using into one. I have an ACR C-Light H2O attached to my PFD over my shoulder in case I fall in at night. I carry an iPhone too with lanyard attached to my shoulder strap so even if I fumble it the phone won't go swimming. The Apple Watch is pretty handy for making and receiving calls on the water without getting your phone out.
Hi Brandyn, I don't carry either but for most of my paddles the SafeTrx app on my iPhone is sufficient for live tracking by famiy/friends. With VHF radio and Locator beacon I probably have enough for now; but I am interested in the InReach at some stage. Thanks for watching!
To my understanding, SafeTRX is a cell-only option that requires you be in range of a cell tower. Garmin inReach and SPOT are satellite-based location tracking, messaging and beacon services that work outside cell range. Where I kayak in Lake Michigan, for example, I’m frequently out of cell range so a satellite system is advisable. I also carry ResQLink 400 PLB (also satellite-based) in case of real trouble, just as David suggests here. (I assume his PLB is a satellite beacon.) I could be wrong about any of this, but it pays to know exactly how these devices work. Cell and VHF are line-of-sight and typically pretty weak; i.e., short-range. Satellite coverage is global and the only problem with them is if you’re in wooded canopy, not a problem on open water!
Signal mirror is small lightweight and maintenance free.
Thanks for the suggestion Jason! Mirror had not really crossed my mind as we tend to paddle on days with not a lot of sun 😀
Well done.
Well done David, thankyou. I liked the VHF shoulder harness. In later comments you mentioned you’ve changed the set up. Would you have details of this and harness brand name please?
Hi Mark, I stopped using the harness and now just clip it (using the belt clip on the VHF)to my left shoulder using the loop on the left front of my Vaikobi PFD. I do also have tethered and clipped to PFD so I can unhook it if needed and not lose it. You can see the setup here ua-cam.com/video/JsNfe5cnoy0/v-deo.html
And here I am using it mid paddle. ua-cam.com/video/58me0PF1OiM/v-deo.html Being close to my ear it is easier for me to hear me being called.
@@DavidMorrison thanks David! Your technique in slow mo looks great btw. !
@@markb2396 thank you! It is a work in progress
Good advice however I would have thought that a compass would be essential equipment for offshore paddling in case you lose sight of land.
Thanks for watching Mal and the compass suggestion. A great point which has not been an issue for me yet as my paddling in mostly in a large harbour. I have yet to venture way off shore and compass will definitely be added then!
@@DavidMorrison I carry a compass; not because I go out of sight of land, but for when visibility drops. Fog, heavy rain or snow can block sight of land.
Having a compass means I know which direction to head to get to land.
Can't always depend on wave or swell direction, as this bends around islands and headlands.
Thanks David - I've added your video to the surfski.wiki safety page - surfski.wiki/safety_gear... A work in progress. FWIW - One note about phone waterproofness - charging ports for phones and other electronic devices have shown some unreliability in terms of waterproofness despite whatever IP ratings such devices have acquired. I have experienced such problems with my own phones and only carry my phone on the water in a waterproof pouch. My understanding is that the iphone warranty does not cover liquid damage.
But if at some point in the near future Apple jettisons charging ports I will take that as a good sign for more waterproof reliability in their new phones.
Wow! Thanks Paul - very humbled. On the water proofness front, yes you are indeed correct about the charging port. I have needed to dry it out for charging; but am also looking more at wireless charging as my default.
I forgot to mention that I have used a waterproof pouch with my phone, hung around my neck and tucked inside my PFD. I had an incident where I forgot put it back over my head and it slipped out from PFD - as a result it now stays zipped up in the PFD!
@@DavidMorrison Yeah - My phone with case doesn't fit well into my Vaikobi front pockets - I can attach a long loop on a shoulder strap and my phone case and slip it into my PFD back pocket so I can pull it out (i don't fasten the velcro at the top), use it and keep it attached to my PFD. But I suspect I might like having a bigger front pocket such as a Mocke zipperless or maybe one of the new Vaikobi race PFDs - I need to take a look at those.
@@paulreavley5900 my phone waterproof case fits in the Mocke PFD, and is tied to the loop above the PFD pocket.