Gear List

Many of you have been asking specific questions about the gear that Becky and I are using on our trip. As you might expect, we need less than we thought. As the trip evolves, so has the equipment. At this point we’ve discarded all the extraneous junk. Here are the essentials that have remained with us through our last resupply.

Boats

Nick is paddling a modified, self built Artic Tern from Pygmy Boats in Port Townsend, WA. Modifications include a day hatch, perimeter deck lines, retractable skeg, graphite bottom paint, reinforced keel strip, and Necky seat and backband. The boat is 17’ long and 23” wide with three watertight compartments and thigh braces.

Becky is paddling a 1997 Nigel Dennis Kayaks Romany Explorer from the UK. The boat is 17’ long and 21.5” wide with a retractable skeg, and day hatch for a total of three watertight compartments.

Paddling Hardware

Werner Ikelos bent shaft paddle

Onno Mid-Tour straight shaft paddle

Spray Skirt

PFD (lifejacket) with hydration pouch

Cockpit cover

Paddling Software

Kokatat Meridian Gore-Tex drysuit with removable hood

Neoprene booties

Neoprene gloves

Kokatat Surfskin skull cap with brim

Long sleeve rashguard shirt

Kokatat Storm Cagoule hooded paddle top

Universal Clothing

3 Pairs socks

Underwear (not telling how many!)

2 midweight capilene longjohns

1 Fleece pants

1 Quick dry nylon pants for camp and town

1 Gore-Tex rain pants

1 Short sleeved capilene tee shirt

1 Long sleeved midweight capiline zip-tee

1 Long sleeved cotton tee for town

2 Expedition weight capilene tops

1 Hooded Primaloft anorak

1 Gore-Tex rain jacket

1 Wooly Hat

1 Visor

1 Headnet

Footwear

Extra-Tuff rubber boots

Neoprene booties

Keen sandals

Safety Gear

6 Red meteor flares (2 in PFD, 4 in boat)

2 Red locator flares in boat

Knife in PFD

Signal mirror in PFD

Whistle in PFD

Tow-line

Pig-tail

Bilge pump

Paddle float

Bailing sponge

VHF Radio

C-Light

Horn (The use-your-lungs kind.)

LED Headlamp

Bear spray

Sunscreen and chapstick

Water Filter w/ spare element

Iodine tablets

Fire starter, matches, lighter

Spare batteries w/ AC charger (DC solar charger died early in trip)

Repair Kits

Leatherman Multi-Tool

First aid kit

Water filter maintenance kit

Stove and pump maintenance kit

Drysuit repair kit (Next time we’ll bring more spare gaskets!)

Boat repair kit

Sewing kit / software repair kit

Plenty of Aquaseal

Camp Gear

MSR Mutha Hubba 3-season, 3-person tent with footprint

Big cheap plastic tarp

Thermarest Trail Comfort sleeping pad (2.5” thick!)

20 degree Dryloft, down sleeping bag

Compressable pillow (yes, a pillow!)

Dry Bags

Kitchen Gear

Black Diamond Megamid single pole, pyramid cook shelter

MSR simmerlite stove (Later we used a borrowed whisperlite.)

2 pots w/ lid and pot gripper

Outback Oven non-stick frypan w/ lid and baking cover

Simmer plate

Folding aluminum stove table

Stove mat made from flameproof fire shelter material

Plastic fold flat “goldfish” bowl

Fillet knife

Spatula

MSR Mugmate coffee filter

Thermos

Waterbottle, 1 Liter

MSR Dromedary watersacks (2x 6 Liter, 1x3L, 1x2L)

Rubbermaid bowl with lid

Mug with lid

Spoon

Fork

Scrubber

Dish soap

Fuel Bottles (2x33oz, 1x22oz, 1x11oz)

Lighters and matches

5 Ursack spectra food storage bags w/ OP-Sack liner bags

50’ bear line with 2 mini carabiners

Navigational Hardware

Deck compass

GPS (used only for long crossings)

PDA with Tide Tool, Coast Pilot, and Sailing Directions

Hand compass

Waterproof binoculars

Large waterproof chart case

Navigational Software

Topo maps (1:250,000)

Nautical charts for AK

Hilson Historical Atlas for AK and central BC

Wild Coast Kayak Atlas for southern BC

Guidebooks (Miller, and Wild Coast)

Tide tables for AK (free!)

Ports and Passes tides and currents for BC and WA

Additional

Toiletries

Fishing gear and license

Natural history guidebooks

Journal and pens

Digital camera with waterproof housing

Prayer flags

Believe it or not, all this stuff fit comfortably in the boats. We even had room to spare for booze and chocolate!