Kayaking Tips

Invest in a good cockpit cover. During transport to and from a launch site or during a storm, it will keep rain and debris out of your kayak.
Fleece dries quickly and retains much of its thermal protection even when wet. It's more efficient than wool. Down loses most of its insulating properties when wet. Cotton sops up water, takes forever to dry, and funnels off your body heat.
The damp environment of lakes and rivers can eat up delicate electronic instruments. Leave the electronic devices such as cameras, games, and music players at home. If they must go then enclose them in waterproof bags and store them out of the sun.
A great first-aid kit is useless if you don't know how to use it. A very basic kit is great in the hands of a trained person. Take a couple of first-aid classes before you need to know how to use your kit. It may save someone's life.
Paddling a kayak with a rudder? Don't forget the spare rudder cable, swages or cable clamps, and end fittings to match your system. They take up very little space and can be stored in a small watertight container.
Your first instinct will be to stop paddling if a wave splashes over the bow when you are paddling out through waves during a launch. Resist that instinct! Keep that paddle stroking to power through a wave and to keep your kayak more stable.
Paddling, and just being on the water, requires more calories than you normally use. As a starting point, figure an increase of 25-30 percent over your normal diet. Plan on eating three meals a day with a mid-morning and a mid-afternoon snack.
Every piece of equipment will fail at some point, and both rudders and skegs are very exposed pieces of equipment. You should learn to paddle your kayak without these aids in all kinds of weather and conditions before taking advantage of them.
Examine your kayak and make sure you have the necessary parts for repair while on the water. Include nuts, bolts, washers, cables and clamps for your rudder. Keep them and the tools needed to install them in a repair kit (a large plastic peanut butter jar works very well).
Test your PFD at the beginning of each season. Put it on and get in the water. If your mouth sinks below the surface, it's time to replace it. Throughout the season, check your PFD for signs of wear, fading, mildew, and tearing at the stitched seams.