Boat packing / hints & tips - discussion

Camping equipment - see the Camping Equipment page for anything related to camping equipment.

Caring for electronic gear in a "wet" environment - discussion

Cases - Pelicases / Outdoor.Cases - discussion from the Inland Forum with comments on Pelicase problems and offering an alternative from Outdoor.Cases

Cleats and fairleads - see the refs to "Tow Lines" below.

Compasses - Discussion

Contact lenses - discussion

Deck bags - discussion. Deck netting and other "on deck" storage ideas - discussion. See also this article on Outfitting Sea Kayaks.

Deck lines - discussion here and here

Drinking water - carrying / storing water in a sea kayak - discussion

Dry bags - comments on Lomo dry bags - discussion

EPIRBs - see the Safety page

Equipment Reviews are here.

Fishing, Food & "kayaking food ideas" - discussion here, here and here. See also this discussion for ideas on kit to use.

Fishing from a sea kayak - discussion. KayakFishing.co.uk could also be of interest. Whitby Sea Anglers run a good site dedicated to sea angling and appear to have some good information about fishing from a kayak.

Flares - see the Safety page

GPS - see the Navigation & GPS page

Hatches - discussion on making VCP hatches fit, easing removal etc. See this discussion for info on sourcing Kayak Sport hatches.

Insurance for kit, boats etc - discussion.

Kites - discussion on using kites to power a kayak.

Outfitting Sea Kayaks - article with a wide range of ideas on everything from deck bags to electric pumps.

Pumps - Electric - discussion. See also this article.

Radar Reflectors - see the Safety page

Repairs, maintenance, modifications and things to make, see here. Details of resources for repairs to boats, equipment, clothing & tents, and various DIY ideas.

Repair kit - article with suggestions for a repair kit.

Rudders / skegs - discussion

Safety Kit - discussion.

Safety equipment such as flares, paddle floats etc - see the Safety page

Sails - discussion

Security - "Kaya-Lok" - a neat way of securing a boat against theft - review

Self bailer - discussion

Skegs - discussion

Sleeping Bags - RAB make superb sleeping bags, liners, down jackets etc and have some synthetic filled bags which would be good for kayak camping.

Solar panels / chargers - discussions here and here

Spray decks - discussion. See here for DIY ideas. Phoenix seem to be able to offer a custom-made service, as well as claiming to be able offer a wide range of standard sizes.

Storing sea kayaks - illustrated article with a variety of storage ideas. See also this discussion

Tow lines - discussion here and here and here. See this discussion for thoughts on fitting cleats and fairleads. This discussion deals specifially with fittings on plastic boats.

Tow lines - Article by Mike Buckley on choosing, making and using a towline for a sea-kayak

Transporting / storing sea-boats - discussion here and here and here

Transporting kayaks on vehicles - Kari-Tek have some interesting solutions, as do Kayak Carrier Systems. For Thule roof bars and equipment, see Roofbox.co.uk or Roofracks.co.uk. See also this discussion. This discussion on legalities is worth a look at and has references to overhangs. See this discussion for a cunning attachment point at the front of a vehicle.

Trolleys - discussion here and here. Kari-Tek and Kayak Carrier Systems make practical, strong trolleys. See also the DIY Page for suggestions on making your own trolley. See also this discussion which covers KCS, KariTec and others. The 002 (August 2007) issue of Ocean Paddler Magazine has an excellent review.

VHF radio (marine) - see the VHF page.

Waterproof map cases - discussion

Clothing

UKSKGB Clothing - goodies are now available! Polo shirts, sweat shirts, hats, fleeces are all available with our logo embroidered on them - T shirts with the logo printed. See here for ordering details!

Buoyancy Aids - sea - discussion. See also this discussion on the 2005 Peak Sea Zip. This discussion references the Kokatat MsFit Tour.

Bouyancy Aid - article with suggestions as to what to carry in and on your bouyancy aid.

Base layers / underwear - discussion

Cags - Kokatat cag - review. Palm Yukon cag - review. Discussions here, here and here on cags generally. Peak Combi Short - discussion

Clothing, equipment and preparation for cold weather - discussion here and here. See this article from Atlantic Kayak Tours for some good advice on "How to Dress for Kayaking" and covers clothing choices relative to temperatures and conditions. Another of their articles on "Cold Water Safety" makes salutory reading. This one on Cold Water Paddling offers some useful suggestions on kit and equipment. See this discussion for views on "summer survival" kit, including ref to Fourth Element thermocline gear and Reed Chillcheater

Drysuits - discussion here (includes comments on the practicality of importing from the States - see also this discussion). See also here and here. This discussion has reference to the benefits of "feet/socks" over ankle seals. See this discussion for comment on drysuits v other clothing combinations, also this one. See this discussion for thoughts on breathable / non-breathable drysuits.

Drysuit - Palm Sidewinder - review

Drysuit - Lomo Renegade - discussion

Footwear - discuission here and here. Review - sandles, booties or wellies? From Douglas Wilcox's blog. Warm footwear - discussion

Gloves & pogies - discussion here and here

Immersion wear - discussion. See this discussion for comment on "summer survival".

Winter clothing - discussion

Latex seals - care of - (on dry cags, suits etc) - discussion from the Inland board with some useful suggestions. The DIY, Repairs page here has links to people who can replace damaged seals.

PFD's - see Bouyancy Aids.

Paddles

Blade types - discussion

Choosing - discussion. See also this discussion on Werners v Lendals. AS Watersports have an article on choosing paddles, and most of the major manufacturers also have guidance on their sites.

Cranked shafts - discussion

Epic Activ and Relaxed Touring - review

Greenland paddles - discussion

Greenland paddles - making your own - see the DIY page

Lendal Kinetic Wings - see this review and this discussion

Lendal PadLok system - discussion (see also the discussion above)

Paddle floats - discussion here and here

Paddle leashes - discussions here and here. An article on making your own is here.

Paddle length - there are guides to paddle length on the Ainsworth Paddles site and also the Werner site.

Paddle manufacturers and retailers - see the retailers & manufacturers page

Paddling technique / paddle choices - discussion

Splits - discussion. See the Repairs & DIY Page for discussion on DIY'ing the job.

Werner vs Lendal - discussion with thoughts on others as well.

Maps / Charts / Books

Books - Abebooks.com and BookFinder.com - useful resources for finding all sorts of books. See also the UKSKGB Reviews page and reviews by Mark Rainsley in UKRGB's Book Review section. Seapaddler.co.uk also has an excellent reviews page. Pesda Press publish a variety of "paddling books" including various guides and technical books.

Charts - Admiralty Hydrographic Office folio of charts for the area from Mull of Kintyre to Ardmurchan Point including Mull, Iona, Tiree, Coll, Jura, Islay and right up Loch Linnhe to Fort William - £37.50. They have a similar folio for other areas, including the Clyde. They also offer an Electronic Chart Plotter on CD at £49.95 - (prices as at Jan 2006). Marine Chart Services sell used and "cancelled" charts at very reasonable prices, as well as new ones. Maptech-Marine "digitally reproduce charts from reputable world institutions including the British Admiralty with all the colour and detail found on the paper original".

Maps - Ordnance Survey Maps from the OS, the National Mapping Office of GB.