All the news reports seem to parrot the official law enforcement statement, with no added detail whatsoever. Not helpful at all.

I doubt the water temperature in a Minnesota river is tropical, so a sit-upon kayak might get you wet and cold if you're unlucky and inadequately dressed.

On the other hand, having paddled one of the larger-sized sit-upon jobs, there's plenty of room to lash on a pack or dry bag containing all the essentials for an unexpected overnight.

If it's not on you, it won't save you. Article seems to imply that she became seperated from her canoue.
Personally I think a 4 hour basic survival class qualification should be a basic requisite for kyackers amonst others.

I have always preferred a PFD with pockets so that signalling and survival gear can be carried on one's person. Assume you are going to get wet when kayaking anywhere - at least Minnesota waters are delightfully fresh.

I disagree -- having extra gear in the boat might be of use.

The wonderful thing about a kayak, at least the sea kayak variety, is that you can stash much more gear within it than you would ever want to put in a backpack - easily 100 pounds or so. So you can carry lots of nice stuff. Problems arise when you consider that it is all too easy to become separated from your kayak and all that nice gear. Tht is my rationale for a pocketed,roomy vest with critical survival gear.

Of course, it is probably true that one does not always ear their PFD....

They're not mutually exclusive. Keep the essentials on you, and the nice to have stuff that's not practical to carry continuously on the boat.

^^ This. Canoedogs has an awesome life vest set-up and this is a great thread, with even more suggestions. Personally, I take notes from it whenever I'm prepping to hit the water. It's a darned solid survival kit set-up!!

http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=10186&Number=115815#Post115815a

I bought my girlfriend a sea kayak so she can go with me.

I equipped her life jacket with a full complement of basic survival gear including a strobe, knife, hand and aerial flares, smoke, rescue streamer, mirror, whistle, flashlight, pocket survival pack plus.

In each of our boats is a dry flotation bag tethered in the stern compartment with additional, duplicate, and more bulky gear.

Even on short day trips on the local little lake we carry everything and are self sufficient. Practice the same way every time.

If only I carried gear how would she fend for herself if I get taken out? I need to know she can take care of herself if I'm not around any longer or we get separated!

You can lose a boat or sink one, but most often on a river it goes a bit downstream and gets stuck..so yes, its ok to store more in it.