Matt's Gear List for the Microship Flotilla

Last updated 19-May-2003

This is a list of gear I am considering for the Microship/Flotilla Expedition. This is incomplete, and under construction. Some items could be placed under multiple categories, so placement is somewhat arbitray. Questions or comments: flotillian@yahoo.com

Bold items are things that I don't have, or need to look into upgrading.

Basic Boat Equipment

Folbot Greenland II. A folding 17-foot, open-cockpit, double kayak. Information on other boats I was considering is here.
Single and double sprayskirts.
Folbot upwind sailing rig with inflatable outriggers and foot-operated rudder. May upgrade to Balogh Sail Designs rig.
Werner Camano 2-piece kayak paddle, and Aqua-Bound Seaquel 4-piece as spare. Reflective tape on blades.
Paddle leash.
JetBLADE pedal-powered paddle-wheel.
Anchor(s), and anchor chain and rode. Attached to deck for easy deployment.
Flotation bags.
Fenders.
Navigation lights or bright warning light
12 Volt battery, AC recharger, solar recharger
Bilge pumps, bailer, sponges (tied to boat)
Dry bags for gear.
Waterproof box/case for easy access to frequently needed gear.
High Powered Spotlight ??, w/ 12 V plug.
Tent or tarp for shelter while sleeping on board.

Safety/Emergency/Survival

Extrasport Retroglide PFD (life jacket). This has nice, big pockets. Items attached:
- Gerber River Shorty knife.
- Storm whistle with lanyard.
- Guardian waterproof LED light attached to shoulder.
- Strobe light attached to shoulder.
- Coglhan "5-in-1 survival aid" (waterproof matchbox with compass, whistle, signal mirror, flint, filled with wind and waterproof matches and striker) with lanyard.
- Signalling mirror in pocket, with lanyard.
- Marine VHF (see communications) in waterproof bag, with lanyard, in pocket.
- PLB or EPIRB with lanyard. See below.
- Backpack attached to PFD.
  - Hydration bag with drinking tube.
  - 3 aerial flares, in waterproof bag.
  - Tow line, velcroed to backpack bungees, attached to PFD belt with quick release buckle.
  - small drybag containing:
    - pocket survival manual
    - small survival kit.
    - Small first-aid kit.
    - Modified Space blanket.
    - 1 Reusable Chemical heat pack. Boil to reuse. Reusability is nice, but weighs much more than one-time-use packs.
    - 2 one-time-use chemical heat pack.
    - Candle lantern in protective case.
    - Water and windproof matches.
    - Butane lighter.
    - Storm matches.
    - Fire starter.
    - Energy bars.
    - Orange plastic bag.
- Paddle float. For self-rescue.
- Reflective tape on boat. Both on deck and bottom of hull
- Handheld Flares, Aerial Flares, Parachute Flares, smoke, marking dye, distress flag. In crush and waterproof case, attached to boat.
- Fog/Signalling Horn. Air powered rechargeable kind and air pump or human powered kind.
- Sea anchor. Attached to deck for easy deployment.
- Beefed up first aid kit.
- Radar Reflector ??.
- Storm matches.
- Wind and waterproof matches.
- Bear bells.
- Bear bags, bear canisters. For protecting food from bears and other critters.
- Bear sized pepper spray unit ??. I believe Canadian law allows pepper spray specifically marked for use against bears and dogs, but need to check on this and permit requirements, if any.
- Line launcher ?? (Canadian law?)
- Fire extinguisher ??
- Emergency food/water supply. Separate from main supplies, enough for a few days
- Chemical Heating pads.
- EPIRB ?? or PLB. PLB's available for use in US on July 1, 2003
Navigation
- Small navigation notebook with waterproof paper, pencil stub attached with lanyard. For navigation notes. In pocket of PFD.
- Ritchie compass, with deck mount. Can be removed for hand-bearings.
- Course plotter. This is basically a 360 deg. protractor with a string affixed to the center, to allow one to quickly figure bearings from a chart.
- Princeton Tec V-40 4-AA waterproof flashlight for night time signalling and navigation light. With extra bulb.
- Compass lighting and spares.
- Nautical Charts and waterproof chart case. For all areas I'm likely to visit
- Light for chart reading, with spare bulbs and batteries.
- Magellan Meridian Platinum GPS with marine basemap. See FAQ in files section of Magellan Meridian Yahoo Group for replacing basemap. 12 V power plug. Info on my APRS setup.
- Pencils and eraser.
- Grease pencil with lanyard. Attached to chart case, used to make notes on case.
- Highlight markers.
- Large flat ruler w/ string. Attached to chart case.
- Waterproof watch with stopwatch.
- Compass for terrestrial navigation.
- Topo and/or road Maps for terrestrial navigation ??
- Brunton Waterproof and fogproof monocular, 6x30. Stored in and attached to a neo-prene case (intended for candle lanterns) for protection and flotation. For identifying landmarks, navigation buoys, wildlife, etc.
- Dividers, parallel rulers, protractor, etc. ??
- Homemade tools. See Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation.
  - Reference sheet of handy formulas and techniques from Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation.
  - Kamal.
  - GPS plotting scale cards for each chart scale.
- pertinent sections of references. Photocopies on water resistant paper, in waterproof bag. See my Online Navigation Resources Page.
  - Tide tables.
  - Current tables.
  - Coast Pilot.
  - Sailing Directions.
  - Light List.
  - Special current charts and references.
  - Tips from tour guides.
  - Chart pack.
  - Marine Weather Services chart.
Communication
- Cell phone. I have a dual band digital/analog, need to look into renting/buying GlobalStar satellite phone. 12 V power plug.
- Standard Horizon HX260S Marine VHF radio, in Aquapac waterproof bag, attached to PFD. Radio is rated as "submersible", but I don't really trust the sealing, so it is stored in a bag.
  - AA battery tray
  - Notes on VHF radio usage.
  - List of VHF channels and marine operators.
- Kenwood TH-D7AG Amateur Band Radio, 2 m and 70 cm, handheld with builtin APRS support. Info on my APRS setup. This radio is modified to be able to transmit on Marine VHF and FRS/GMRS frequencies for emergency use.
  - 12 V power plug.
  - Speaker/mic handset.
  - Cable to connect radio to GPS.
  - Waterproof flexible case (also includes GPS) for use underway.
  - Crush- and water-proof case for storage and transport ??.
  - Notes on Radio and band usage.
  - List of repeaters.
- FRS handheld ??.
- Improved (possibly boat mounted) antennaes for Ham, Marine radios ??
- ICOM IC-R2 handheld receiver (AM/FM/Shortwave/Weather/Marine) in waterproof bag. This is a very small scanner, useful for receiving a variety of frequencies. I just wish it had single-sideband capability.
Boat Clothing
- Kokatat Dry Suit.
- Synthetic underwear.
- Synthetic long underwear, tops and bottoms.
- NRS Hydroskin shorty wetsuit. For hot-weather immersion protection.
- NRS Hydroskin long sleeve shirt and pants. For layering over the shorty wetsuit or under the dry suit, depending on conditions.
- Paddling jacket
- Swimming suit, or synthetic shorts.
- REI Polarized Glacier Glasses w/ neck strap (extra pair ??).
- Wide brimmed hat for sun and rain.
- Windblocker Fleece Skullcap.
- SealSkinz Waterproof gloves.
- SealSkinz waterproof socks.
- Wool or synthetic socks.
- Sandals or boat shoes.
- Railriders adventure top. This is a supplex shirt which provides good sun protection and also provides ventilation with mesh panels up the side and under the arms.
- RailRiders Eco-mesh pants. Lightweight supplex for sun protection, with zippers on sides that open mesh panels for ventilation.
- Camp towel to wring out clothes at end of day.
Shore Clothing
Not to be used while boating.
- Railriders weatherpants. Lightweight supplex, with cordura reinforcements in seat and knees.
- Supplex long sleeve shirt.
- Underwear.
- Smartwool liner socks.
- Thicker pair of wool or synthetic socks.
- Synthetic or wool long underwear.
- Synthetic insulation jacket. For cold weather and sleeping bag supplement,
- Poncho or rain jacket.
- Frog Toggs rain pants.
- Synthetic Stocking cap.
- Buff. This is a tube of light weight fleece which can be used as a hat, neck-warmer, headband, etc.
- Thin liner gloves.
- Gortex rain mittens.
- Hiking shoes.
- Sleeping clothes.
- Bandanas.
Camping
- Backpack/daypack.
- Matches and butane lighters.
- Water containers How much?
- Water filter, water purification tablets.
- Sleeping pad. Closed cell, or thermarest inflatable.
- Synthetic insulation sleeping bag. Easier to dry and retains more warmth when wet than down.
- Silk sleeping bag liner. Light weight and easy to wash, so keeps sleeping bag cleaner, and adds a bit of warmth.
- Bivy Sack.
- Hennesy hammock. Lightweight hammock with bug netting. Can be set up on slopes, forest, or uneven ground not suitable for tents.
- Ground cloth (for bivy sack and tent).
- Tarp to cover hammock.
- Tarp to provide shelter for cooking area. Cooking area will need to be separated from sleeping area in bear country.
- Tent stakes and lines for tarps.
- Plastic garbage bags.
- Tent ??. Something smaller than the huge dome?
- Stove and fuel bottles.
- Cookware, utensils, dish scrubber.
- Wash basin. Could be combined with bailer and bucket.
- Clothes line and a few clothes pins. Three-stranded surgical tubing type, or could use paracord in Tools. Or hammock line.
Health and Hygiene
- Prescription medications, if any needed for first aid kit.
- Sunscreen. Waterproof with high SPF.
- Bug repellant. For skin and clothes.
- Hand cleanser.
- Soap for dishes, bathing, clothes, etc.
- Saltwater soap (or soap that can make suds in saltwater).
- Tooth brush, tooth paste, dental floss.
- other toiletries: shaving supplies, deodarant, etc.
- Vitamins.
- Washcloth.
- Towel.
- Toilet paper in waterproof container.
- Lip balm with sunscreen.
- Hand lotion.
- Sun Shower ??
Tools and Repairs
- Surefire flashlight or bright and waterproof AA powered incandescent light. Very bright and small, but drains batteries fast
- LED flash light/headlamp and/or Shakelite ??. Dim but long battery life (or no batteries with Shakelite).
- Serrated lock back pocket knife. Good for rope and similar cutting tasks.
- Standard blade lock back pocket knife. Good for general knife use.
- Leatherman Flair tool. Pliers, screwdriver, corkscrew, scissors, etc.
- Small plastic spade.
- Hatchet/ax/machete/saw??. Some sort of cutting or chopping tool.
- Hacksaw blade.
- Small roll of duct tape.
- Parachute cord.
- Quick setting Epoxy.
- Baling/snare wire.
- Sewing kit (needle, thread, fishing line, safety pins).
- Catcrap, antifog treatment and lens cleanar for sunglasses, diving mask.
- Boat and equipment related spare parts
- Spare batteries for battery powered gear (nice if most/all shared common size, such as AA). Rechargeable w/ solar recharger?
- Bucket. Could be combined with wash basin, bailer, etc.
- Soldering iron (Ultratorch butane) ??, solder, multimeter ?? - if needed for 12 V electrical system or any custom electronics
- Electrical tape.
- Rags.
- Leather shoe laces.
- Snorkel, mask, fins, weight belt ??.
Other
- Waterproof waist or neck pouch containing:
  - ID. Passport, driver's license, ham radio license, Marine VHF license (needed for Canada). (Photo copies stashed elsewhere).
  - Money. Cash, travelers' checks, credit card, ATM card, coins for phone.
  - Calling cards.
  - Sheet with phone numbers and addresses of friends and family, credit card company, bank, and other useful numbers.
- Canon S100 digital camera, CF Cards, and waterproof case. Need to look into 12 V battery Charging system.
- Archos Jukebox Multimedia, CF card reader. An MP3 player for music, also serves as backup for digital camera photos. 12 V power plug and waterproof case.
- PDA/Handheld/Laptop computer ?? and waterproof case Handheld or PDA with snap-on GPS and software might allow APRS mapping (with TNC to ham, or Kenwood TH-D7 w/ builtin TNC)?
- Folding bicycle, trailer, helmet. Probably not enough room for this, but could be fun and useful if there is (for getting supplies, exploring, etc.)
Index

Matt's Gear List for the Microship Flotilla

Basic Boat Equipment

Safety/Emergency/Survival

Navigation

Communication

Boat Clothing

Shore Clothing

Camping

Health and Hygiene

Tools and Repairs

Other