A Tactical Kayak in a SHTF Scenario = Gold
When the Golden Horde has headed your direction, your best bet for getting out of Dodge with that 80-pound bug-out pack could very well be your trusty kayak. Haven't thought of that? Maybe you should. Swift and wickedly silent, a low-signature kayak is capable of
carrying you and your bug-out-bag to safety. Slipping silently into the water, full of food and gear, all while
vanishing without a trace. If you are not planning your escape route or scouting the waterways with this shallow-running craft, then your foolproof evacuation route is
already landlocked -- and for allowing such a fubar, fellow survivalist, you deserve a Darwin award.
Paddled in tandem, or strung like a caravan of pack
mules, kayaks bridge the water-surface mobility gap, serving as your conduit to
security when vehicles halt and roadways are impassable. To paraphrase an old
saying, don't get caught up SHTF creek without a paddle.
Unlike larger craft, the kayak is man-portable, capable of starting over
stones or a sea wall -- particularly using portage wheels (think two-wheeled
dolly). No fossil fuels needed, and no motor to flood. No batteries. And there
are few if any moving parts to maintain or rust. Your tactical kayak should be pre-staged
at your house or camp, or strapped to your roof rack and secured with a bike
cable, a torpedo-shaped plastic storage pod packed with gear below deck. A
kayak may result in a limitless supply of drinking water, help you identify or
scout for possible hazards, and be used for fishing or food gathering.
TYPES OF KAYAKS
The current kayak design stems from the national explosion in
recreational kayaking. These tough, accessible, and affordable reinforced
polyethylene boats vary from 9 to 16 feet or so. They're acceptable for all
ages, skills, and body types. Recreational kayaks are usually divided into two
styles: "sit-inside" open cockpit and"sit-on-top" chairs
that are molded into a decked or closed hull. Both have built-in floatation and
some storage.
Our preference is the sit-ins by Swifty Perception sporting a cargo area in the back, multiple colors, and gasket-sealed storage hatches. Some versions come armed with a flip-down rudder system, where the foot pedals become the steering
system, helping the kayak trail and preventing kayakers from wasting energy on
corrective paddle strokes while going to the wind or upstream against the current. Rail
system fittings hold adjustable tie-downs for customizing places of additional
dry storage bags, fishing-rod holders, anchor lines, and electronic equipment.
With the hatches latched closed, the sit-on-top enclosed
deck Adds seaworthiness into the ship during rough waters and storms. These
kayaks are self-bailing when punching through waves or storms because the water and
rain drains through built-in scuppers, characteristic sit-inside boats lack
in open waters.
Regarding carrying capability, one 16-foot kayak timeless,
silent Hull Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 we assessed is rated for 375 lbs of
load-out such as the paddler. The stout Confluence Ride 13.5 version was rated
for 550 pounds of power including paddler.
PACK MULES ON WATER
To determine if the BOY concept would work for kids and
wives, we Recently gave a petite female buddy some conditional paddling
instructions and sent her on her way. She carried 100 lbs of equipment balanced
on her kayak for a couple of miles without undue strain. Trading her trekking
staff to get a double-bladed paddle, she managed to save her energy over a few
hours by resting and drifting between strokes. Trying to carry that identical
load in a backpack on property could have crushed her within 100 paces. Yet, in
her'yak she had strong legs at the end of the day.
To paddle efficiently, one can trim the'yak by adjusting the
load fore and aft. The BOY provides recreational fitness paddling for your
loved ones and group members, but only if you load it correctly. Build trust
and endurance during trial runs near your dwelling. Quantify your pace and
shake off your equipment along the way, putting into practice the concept of
navigational chart and compass. Plot these classes on your handheld GPS unit,
adding miles to your everyday paddles in a walking pace.
Squared-away BOY watermen learn basic paddle strokes
required To move the ship efficiently and without wasted motion. Work on the
forward, reverse, and sweep strokes, in addition to simple bracing or sculling
moves. Practice draw strokes and rudder strokes to help build your confidence
with a fully loaded kayak in open seas, tidal flows, and river currents. Find a
trainer and practice rescues. You might be the one called upon to go after an
overboard team member, or to evacuate a child, relative, or puppy using the
kayak as a waterborne stretcher.
ALTERNATIVE ESCAPE ROUTE
In the USA, flood remains one of the leading causes of
weather-related deaths. Surviving extreme urban flood may depend on your
temporary access to kayaks pre-staged at home or in your vehicle with your
family load outside, together with a technical knowledge and practiced skillset
to comprehend the necessity to escape structures and browse just those paths
when safe to do so.
But even if it's not floodwaters contaminated with gasoline,
sewage, And debris, a tragedy can still induce widespread chaos. With a
population dependent upon prescribed paths, waves of panicked people after
their on-grid mentality will guarantee gridlock on roads and highways. As order
quickly breaks down, roving predator packs will recognize these chokepoints as
ambush points to assault the immobile stragglers. Insert blackouts, rioting and
looting, fuel shortages, and communication breakdowns, and all bets are off.
In tough times, disconnecting from the grid may require
reconnecting with the water. A kayak can offer a means out of danger once your
car or even your bug-out truck can not. However, the safest distance between
two points isn't always the straightest.
Revisit your bug-out path, focusing on the grim lines which
radiate outward toward your safe zones. Like the third airplane on a
three-dimensional chessboard, there is within our innermost cityscapes a
serpentine labyrinth of water. Search for those tiny feeder creeks, bayous,
sloughs, tributaries, and natural or man-altered drainage channels. Identity
the intersections of streets and rivers near your home, business, or distant
security website. These are your BOY's on- and off-ramps. After your home
waters are mapped, plotted, and researched, your kayak becomes a rogue chess
piece free from the limiting black-and-white grid of concrete and asphalt.
NINJA MODE OF TRANSPORT
Post-hurricane hostilities may require you to temporarily Abandon
your house or automobile to adopt a defensive position. A BOY offers an
effective way of escape and evasion. After all, a'yak leaves no tracks, gives
off zero emissions, and is somewhat quieter than a Hummer.
And unlike hiking on foot ('cause you are certainly not
driving To security ), this sort of boat lets you pass through urban waterways
having the capability to quickly access and hide any way of long-gun,
considered the greatest instrument for repelling plastic-boat pirates. Tandem
paddle teams can put a scout bow-gunner or tail-gunner out your bunch of
paddlers, presenting a non-toxic deadly combo.
But to remain discreet about the water, you will need to
train. Practice hand signs with your loved ones and friends. Don't give away
your quiet advantage by too speaking because sound carries over water. If your
party must break, start looking for all those side feeder creeks offering a
detour off the main water body, lake, bay, or river system.
Of utmost importance is the paddle choice. Do not scrimp or
allow this to become an afterthought. Cry once. Reach for the innovative
composite paddles, like the Adventure Tech Fishstix with adjustable angle and
length, and woodland camo design. This paddle combines a bent shaft to reduce
wrist strain and a feathery buoyant blade with severe bite. Let it become part
of you.
When You've escaped the first flooding or the resultant
urban Chaos, after that you can have a stand on the high ground, hunker down until
conditions improve, move to your next strongpoint, or return home. Like some of
the greatest survival gear, bug-out'yaks include this simple instruction:
Simply add water.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF KAYAK ACTION
-- "Kayak" comes from the Inuit word
"qayak," a 2,000-year-old Term for"hunter's ship." These
ancient kayaks consisted of organic skins stretched over bone and wood frames.
-- The World War II"kayak commandoes" of the
British Royal Marines were immortalized in the 1955 British film The
Cockleshell Heroes, which is a fictionalization of the epic raid on German
ships in Nazi-occupied France.
-- You'll find a faded black-and-white photograph of two
kayakers at The U.S. Navy UDT-SEAL Museum at Fort Pierce, Florida, serving as a
reminder that not all surveillance missions occur in inflatable rafts.
-- Medal of Honor recipient Thomas R. Norris is responsible
for Among the most famous paddle missions while serving as a SEAL in Vietnam.
When American airmen were downed over hostile territory, Norris and his South
Vietnamese counterpart could rescue two pilots behind enemy lines on two
different nights by disguising themselves as local fishermen and paddling a
sampan.
-- Now, troops that are modern train with kayaks Klepper
faltboote (folding boat), which can be shaped by tautly fitting tough, coated
cloth over wood and composite frames which are capable of deploying out of a
backpack. These kayaks feature airtight sponsons to stay afloat and beneath
radar with low acoustic and acoustic signatures. Even in the era of drone
strikes, today's elite warriors still use paddle strokes to conduct
surveillance.
WATERPROOF RIGGING
Saltwater destroys. It is ridiculously corrosive to steel
and Strips off at pretty much anything it touches. Even freshwater might be
contaminated. So you've got to waterproof your gear if you have selected a
bug-out kayak as your way of evacuation.
The Trick to waterproof rigging is breaking down your load
by Group and independently encasing essential elements, then compartmentalizing
each group in cases like a little Pelican hard case. For an amazingly
watertight barrier and a silent-running strategy, nothing surpasses the
flexibility of this line of Watershed Bags by Drybags. To conveniently secure
that 12-gauge shotgun on deck and out of sight, go with the
Watershed"Torpedo" case. Trim the boat for quiet running with three
or more duffels, backpacks, maritime survival bags, or the complete SOF
backpacks (standard issue for U.S. Navy SEALs).
Encase heavily compacted firearms individually from ammo.
Outfit Vulnerable electrical and optical bits, lighting tools, batteries,
cameras, power resources, and communications equipment. Bag sub-groups,
including permits, documents, tools, and medical kit and prescriptions. Strap
securely to the deck or stow below, but not expect even gasketed hatches to
offer a watertight seal.
YOU'VE BUGGED OUT... NOW WHAT?
Sea kayakers can cover marathon distances in hours under
flat-water conditions. When paddling a fully loaded bug-out'yak (BOY), avoid
strain, accidents, and detection by keeping a steady but silent stroke, gliding
in a walking speed, paddling a few miles per hour until you get to your first
waypoint on the way to base camp.
Ideally, you should try to achieve high ground carrying out
a Military-quality solo tent and rain fly just like the Raider by Catoma.
Weighing less than 2 lbs, these miracles are pure shield, particularly when
coupled with a lightweight sleeping bag such as the Elite Survival Systems
Recon II. At a minimum, the orange mini space blanket sleeping bag and
glow-worm SOL tent will work, even though highly visible.
To lay low during night or day, pull the kayak completely
clear Of the waters and bring it into camp, anchor, paddle and all, so it is
going to be there in the morning (or night) if flood waters and pirates
accompany you. Erase your trace, smoothing any'yak drag marks in the dirt or
sand that points the way to your camp. This is much more secure than blowing
off the hatches and flotation to weigh and tie off your ship, completely
submerging your kayak in the water's edge, and a lot less trouble.
For temporary or late night rests during still-water phases,
the BOYs are stable enough to be lashed together and cross legged with paddles,
allowing small teams to extend out at anchor for temporary shuteye. For
overnight stays in standing water, two kayaks lashed side by side and
cross-decked with scavenged planking make it possible with practice to vertical
self-supporting solo or two-man tents with rain fly.
When the all clear comes through your VHF, the"strategy
with Caution principle" applies while turning back to urban areas. Be
prepared to portage your ship with the two-wheeled dolly you stashed at your
launching point. Return super early through non-curfew hours, moving easily,
quickly, and decisively with photograph I.D., a powerful flashlight, hidden pistol,
and paddle to re-stake your claim to your house...or to'yak back to security.
BUG-OUT 'YAK GEAR CHECKLIST
Having the Perfect kit at a time of crisis can mean the
difference Between starvation and survival (or worse yet, a victimization by
violent raiders). On a watercraft, having the ideal equipment becomes even more
significant. Our author lists numerous alternatives for what to pack in a
bug-out kayak as a way to inspire and inform those of you who are eyeing an
aquatic warfare program.
-- Aquatic Gear: 4mm Blue Line, folding sail, V-mast,
12-gauge Flare pistol, handheld flares, nautical charts, scale, solar panel,
anchor, lines, throwable buoy, and sea anchor, double-bladed two-piece paddle
on leash, spare paddle, snorkel, mask, fins, pole spear, and Hawaiian Sling
-- Illumination: SureFire Maximus headlight, Petzl IR
strobe, chem lights
-- Navigation: Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS and spare Garmin
78sc, batteries, Ritchie Compass and spare
-- Communications: Horizon VHF hand-held radio, emergency
locator beacon, Spot phone
-- Safety Gear: Flotation vest and whistle with Benchmade
security hook strap cutter
-- Eye Protection: Polarized Wiley X sunglasses, Total Rx
Wiley X Goggles
-- Storage: CamelBak Linchpin hydration pack, YETI Roadie
Cooler for medicine
-- Tactical Gear: FirstSpear chest rig (with suppressor,
MUT, SS KABAR, Dark Angel Kit, waterproofed, Medical Kit Below, medicine,
stamps, documents, etc.)
-- Clothing: Total MultiCam outer wear, boonie, two-piece
storm Suit and weather protective clothing, gloves, hat, face cover
-- Footwear: Danner USMC boots, Altama Jungle Boots
-- Weapons Gear: Spare magazines, cleaning kit, weapon-light
batteries, ammo, Elite Bandolier, bow, arrows
-- Shotgun: Remington 870 Marine Magnum, Stoeger 12-gauge
Coach, Snake Charmer
-- Rifle: Colt AR-15, Ruger 10/22 SS takedown, .177-cal. air
rifle
-- Pistols: SIG SAUER P556 SWAT Pistol, SIG SAUER P226 Navy
9mm, Glock 19
-- Electronics: Mobile phone, camera, crank charger, solar
panel
-- Fishing & Gathering: Cuban yo-yo, light trolling
rods, Handle, throw net, bait seine, spool line, hooks, sinkers
-- Cooking: Coleman Peak stove, grill, skewer
-- Toiletries: laundry detergent, hand soap, ChapStick,
cleaning solution, eye drops
-- Camping Gear: Tent, rain fly, floor cloth, bug spray,
repellent, bug suit, hanging head net, gloves
-- Tools: Binoculars, Zeiss Monocular, Casio G-Shock watch,
Stainless Steel sternum Spartan Blades knife, Glock folding shovel, machete,
KABAR
Kukri, Swiss Army Knife, pliers, filet knife, snares,
fire-starter sticks, fuel, signal mirror
-- Water Management: Katadyn Vario Water filter, stainless
cup, canteen
-- Admin: Cash, weather writing pads
-- Repair: Steel cable, plastic tubing (kayak
repairs/spares)
-- Private Matters: Flask, Siesta Key Honey Spiced Rum,
Zippo, cigars
Full gear: Kayak 101.
