Enjoying the great out doors in a canoe or kayak is one of the best ways I know to get to experience the wilderness. There is nothing quite like the serenity of cutting through a perfectly still lake while the morning mist hangs over it. Or the thrill of tackling big water on the northern shores of Lake Superior in a sea kayak. And arriving at that completely remote campsite in the middle of Algonquin park after a long days paddle really fills you with a sense of accomplishment.

Whatever boat you are in, you are still in a water craft. And with that in mind, there is some basic safety equipment that every water craft has to have (and some that should be considered). There are some more specific items dependant on the type of boat you're in that I'll discuss in another article.

In Canada, there are laws governing the minimum equipment you need. The entire text is long and covers much more than just canoes and kayaks, and is very much filled with 'legaleze' in typical government fashion. But, it boils down to the following list. Most items are common sense items and a couple are just silly, but it is the law, and nobody wants a great trip tainted by a big fine.

There you have it. That's the law. That's the minimum safety gear that you need to paddle in Canada. Of course, there are some other things that you should consider.