- - Pack it In: Tips for Packing Your Kayak - - The nice thing about kayak camping is you don't need to carry everything on your back. Therefore, it may be tempting to bring everything including the kitchen sink. The problem is, a kitchen sink won't fit through the hatches on a touring kayak. And neither will most of the stuff you are tempted to take. Packing a boat is a lot like a puzzle. The fewer pieces you have, the easier it will be to put together. First off, assemble your packing tools. Dry boxes protect fragile items like cameras. Dry bags of different sizes and colors will help you keep your stuff organized. Mesh bags come in handy for keeping loose gear together. The heaviest items should be kept low and centered and away from the ends of the boat. This will make boat handling much easier in rough conditions. It also increases stability. The cargo in the front and rear of your boat should be packed tightly so it doesn't roll around. The ends of the boat are a great place to pack small items like fuel containers or small dry bags that will cram easily into these spaces. Tents and sleeping bags (items that you won't need during the day) make perfect bow and stern fillers. Keep items accessible that you may need, such as a first aid kit, water bottles, flares, extra layers and food. These are items you may want to pack in your cockpit. You will become very frustrated if you have to pull over and unpack the entire boat to locate the bottle of sunscreen you inadvertently jammed into a dry bag at the bow of the kayak. Don't count on your hatches to be watertight. Play it safe and keep all your gear in dry bags. This will protect the items and also provide floatation. Strapping gear on the deck will compromise stability and make the boat more affected by wind. This could be dangerous. Limit your deck gear to a single small bag for snacks, camera, water bottle and VHF radio. Pack the boat as close to the water as possible. This will help avoid hauling a heavy boat across the beach, tempting you to drag it. Pay attention to the tides when packing the boat. The tide could come up substantially in the time it takes you to load your gear. You don't want to be carried out to sea until you are ready to go. It helps to be well organized and have long arms. It always seems as though the item you are looking for is just out of arms reach, especially in the bow of a boat. Tie a retrieval line to the deepest packed bags. If you are really organized you will mark the end of the line with a label of the bag's contents. This will minimize the amount of rummaging. And reduce the "now, where did I put the . . ." syndrome. If you do pack equipment in the cockpit and around your legs, be sure to secure it. Pack items in small containers rather than large ones. For example, instead of packing two-gallon jugs of water, carry them in easy to pack quarts.