Jonathan Hanson Jonathan Hanson Jonathan Hanson is a writer whose lifelong appreciation of nature shows up frequently in his work. Meet Jonathan Previous Answers

Second? Wear your PFD. Every time you get in the boat. Period. And carry a spare paddle.

Third: Make sure you have emergency signaling devices within reach at all times. My basic setup — even for a lunch-break paddle — is three meteor flares in a PFD pocket, a strobe clipped to the outside of the PFD, and a signal mirror in another pocket (buy a proper signal mirror with a sighting hole). Clipped to my PFD or strapped on deck in front of the cockpit is a VHF radio. Also on deck is a paddle float. Although I've never yet needed it, I always carry a razor-sharp one-hand knife, which I have vowed to never, ever use for anything but a life-and-death emergency.

For long expeditions, I also carry a couple of parachute flares and an EPIRB. You might also consider a See/Rescue banner, a long, orange distress flag that floats on the surface. It's much more effective than a dye marker.

I always carry a handheld barometer, which is surprisingly accurate for predicting local trends in the weather.

In the large back pocket of my PFD (an English model; U.S. PFDs don't have rear pockets because of bizarre Coast Guard rules) I carry an inflatable sit-on raft, which if I am somehow separated from the boat will allow me to get most of my body out of the water.

Another accessory I think is entirely undervalued is a sea anchor. Putting out a sea anchor (also called a drogue) is a great way to take a break during an upwind paddle, since it significantly retards your downwind drift. However, if you have to wet-exit the boat and perform a paddle-float re-entry, the drogue holds the bow into the wind, making the process vastly easier.

Finally, don't forget the basics: a good boat compass plus a handheld model (don't rely solely on a GPS unit), a comprehensive first aid kit, and a good set of tools and spare parts.

This sounds like an awkward lot of stuff to deal with, but it's not. And remember: A positive mental attitude is one of the best safety devices you can have. Knowing you've got the proper equipment along is a good foundation for that attitude.

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