Thank you all for your advice so far. I appreciate the small tips learned over years of experience. Please keep those coming (I just washed out a gallon milk jug from the recycling bin for a bailer).

Paddle and PFD are definitely the first purchases. What do you use? What do you recommend?

I will need PFDs for me (XXL), DW, and one each for DD and DS, ages 2 and 7 respectively.

I will also want two paddles. Mine will do most of the work, but the other will be mostly used/carried by my son so I will want a fairly decent one and an inexpensive/cheap one.

Thanks for the help given and to come!