I'm going sea kayaking in Maine, and I haven't received any good information about what to pack, what I need, and how much room I have to store equipment in the sea kayak. I've never been sea kayaking before. Could you give me some pointers please?

Richard Patterson

Expert Answer:

The main thing to know about packing stuff in sea kayaks is that it needs to fit into lots of long, thin watertight bags. The boat is long, thin, and tapered, and the openings to the interior may be quite small. Large or bulbous packages don't pack efficiently.

You need two or three good kayak drybags — at least — for your sleeping bag and a set of dry clothes. Cascade Designs Kodiak Sacs have worked well for me, and are available in a variety of sizes (contact: www.cascadedesigns.com). Alternatively, line some stuffbags with a bunch of orange-colored, plastic garbage bags to keep your gear dry.

You haven't said when you will be paddling, but you could experience almost any type of weather — wet, hot, cool, sunny, and buggy, too. Evenings could be quite cool. Space may be limited depending on the type of boats — pack similarly to a backpacking trip.

Maritime climates tend to be damp and clothes dry slowly even on good days — avoid cotton — absolutely no jeans. Your bum gets damp off the seat, so no cotton undies either. Here is a brief packing list:

		Undies/shirt layer: Light to medium weight technical polyester underwear top and long johns, spare set to use as pajamas.
		Shirts: Quick-drying, at least one with long sleeves for bug and sun protection.
		Pants: Light nylon quick drying pants and shorts.
		Insulation: A couple of layers of light polyester fleece; it still works when damp.
		Footwear: Wool socks and running shoes or even light hikers for evenings on rocky shores. Sandals will do in the boat, but they do fill up annoyingly with pebbles. I like my neoprene booties.
		Rainwear: Pants and jacket, preferably with wrists and pant cuffs that close up tight but can be opened instantly to allow drainage.
		Hat: Broad brim hat with chinstrap to protect from sun and rain.
		Sleeping: Self-inflating mats take up less room than foam pads. A synthetic fill bag is better than down in damp climates, but it needs to be good quality. Cheapies are often too bulky in a kayak.