Paddling gear checklist

What the rules on this site actually require you to carry:

• A Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket for each person (required everywhere; worn in cold months in CT, MA and NY, and always in NM).
• A whistle or horn (federal rule).
• A white light (flashlight or lantern) after sunset.
• Your state sticker or permit where one applies: see your state.

Before you buy, check your kayak's maximum capacity with the kayak load calculator.

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