>>1712836(Continued)
6) DO NOT SKIMP ON SAFETY EQUIPMENT. I cannot stress this enough. Wear a PFD or a manual life jacket. Get a marine VHF radio and learn how to use it. Get an inshore flare pack / pen flare launcher. If you can afford one, get an EPIRB.
7) Buy second hand. You will get a lot more for your money, and more importantly you won't drop a ton of cash on something you later realise does not suit you at all. I'm on my fifth fishing kayak, and this one is the keeper. I bought one of those new, otherwise I've just sold one, bought one.
8) This guy
>>1712827 is not wrong about having a rudder. Particularly on the ocean, they are a complete game changer.
9) Once a year, find somewhere shallow, paddle out and capsize yourself. Practice self rescue for a few hours. Do it until it's second nature.
10) Do not go out alone in water you are not intimately familiar with.
11) Know the tides and currents where you're going, and know what they mean for a person on a small, unpowered craft.
12) Get the Windfinder Pro App on your phone. It's worth it.
13) Get the Boating HD app (formerly Navionics) on your phone. It's really really worth it.
