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BEST PADDLE FLOAT The Paddle Float from North Water Paddlesports Equipment  As a group, inflatable paddle floats received the most votes, but the most votes for a single model made North Water’s foam paddle float our readers’ pick.Compared to an inflatable paddle float, a foam float needs no inflation, so it’s quicker to deploy, can’t develop leaks so it’s not nearly as vulnerable to damage, and has flat faces that make it a better training tool for learning to roll. On the downside, a foam float is not as compact on deck as a rolled-up inflatable. For many kayakers, the instant availability is worth the more noticeable presence on deck. North Water’s Paddle Float has a volume of 468 cubic inches—not quite that of many inflatables, but enough to provide the support necessary to stabilize a kayak for reentry. It has a mesh pocket that slips over the paddle blade and a webbing loop with a buckle to snap around the paddle shaft. As the reviewer noted in our October 1998 review, the North Water float has “enough flotation and functions simply, so the whole float-assisted reentry process is much quicker.” North Water made an interesting advance in paddle-float design by adding a fabric pouch to one of their models that takes on water while the paddle float is in use. The weight of the water provides a counterbalance to prevent a recapsize if you shift to the wrong side of the kayak. More recently, they’ve introduced the Sea Tec, a curved version of their float to reduce its profile when stowed on deck. Paddle Float North Water Paddlesports Equipment (check with manufacturer or retailer for pricing) 604-264-0827 northwater@northwater.com www.northwater.com BEST DECK BAG The SealLine Baja from Cascade Designs  You can carry a lot of gear aboard a sea kayak, but after you’ve closed the hatches, you can’t easily get to it. You can pack some of the emergency essentials in your PFD pockets, but you may still have a lot of important gear that you’d like to get to easily and safely. To be sure, there may be plenty of room in the cockpit, but pulling back the spray deck may not always be an option.A deck bag provides on-deck storage with safe access. The Baja deck bag has a pair of straps underneath it with wide Velcro facings to hold it securely on a standard set of deck bungees. The heavy-duty 20-ounce PVC fabric has welded seams and a plastic insert to give it its arched shape. A set of light bungees on the top of the bag can serve as a paddle park, and a mesh pouch on the aft end of the bag can hold small items like sunglasses and lip balm. The main zipper is easily opened and closed with one hand. (The zipper sliders will require a little care in the long run. Wear and salt-water corrosion resulted in a seized-up zipper on one of the early SealLine deck bags we reviewed. A freshwater rinse and a bit of zipper lube should remedy the problem. If not, the Baja carries a lifetime warranty.) The zipper is not waterproof, but it is protected by a flap and a set of “ziplips” that are pretty effective against everything shy of immersion. Items like cameras and cell phones that are vulnerable to water damage will require additional protection. Food, water, sunscreen, a hat, a pair of gloves, a notebook and a few bits of line are some of the things I like to have at the ready, and a Baja deck bag has been a good place to keep them. SealLine Baja Deck Bag $79.95 Cascade Designs 800-531-9531 customer@cascadedesigns.com www.cascadedesigns.com |
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