Safety (next to having fun) is always the most important thing to keep in mind when out on the water. In addition to the key guidelines listed in your instruction manual, here are some safety tips that can make your kayaking experience top notch.

Life Jackets
There are many life jackets on the market that range from inexpensive to top-of-the-line. It is important to choose a jacket that best suits your needs. For a fisherman and most users, we recommend "suspender type" life jackets which provide the necessary buoyancy, but help give your arms free range of movement.

Foot Protection
Since our feet are a little more delicate than a mountain goat's...most likely you'll need some sort of protection when walking over sharp rocks or hot pavement. Old running shoes work great. When you take your shoes off, loop the Bungee cords through the laces to keep them attached to the boat.

Getting In And Out of Your Boat
There are many different ways to get into your kayak. Here are a couple of scenarios and suggestions.

From a beach launch, we suggest that you get the boat in water just deep enough to keep the Mirage Drive pedals off the bottom. Turn your back to the boat and hold the boat behind you, sit down as far into the seat as possible and then pull your feet in. Getting out, just make sure the flippers are up against the bottom and beach the bow on the shore. This stabilizes the boat to make it easier to get out.

Dock launches are a little trickier as your are entering the boat from a higher level. Sitting perpindicular to the kayak (in the water up against the dock), place both feet in front of the seat. Keeping one hand attached on the dock, slide your rear into the seat of the kayak, manuvering your feet however it is comfortable to get in, and use your other hand to stabilize the kayak. Reverse this procedure to get out.

When entering/exiting the kayak, remember that the lower you keep your body in the boat, the more stable it will be.

Taking Long Trips
The ease of the pedaling system makes the Mirage Outback a great boat for extended trips. The primary consideration on an extended trip (one day or longer) is safety.

Some considerations are climate, length of trip, water conditions, accommodations along the way, or going alone. If the weather is hot, water will obviously be a necessity. Though you will not expend a lot of effort if you are going at a leisurely pace, dehydration can sneak up on you, so carry a little more water than you think you'll need and drink often, especially if you are alone. Know the condition of the water you are going to be traveling in, and put a some thought into how to navigate it safely.

No matter what time of the day, consider something to make the boat more visible. Placing an orange flag on a pole stuck in the sail mount works great. If you are going to be out past dusk and into the night, a headlight might be in order, along with running lights on the boat's bow and stern or a flashing light attached to your boat.

On overnight or extended day trips, stick with essentials for whatever you need for a night or two. However, with the dry storage inside the boat and the areas with the Bungee cords on the bow and stern, you should have room if you plan well. Be aware of the total weight you will be carrying and the conditions under which you will be carrying them. Other items to consider are binoculars, a camera, a small radio for entertainment, a GPS, a two-way radio or cell phone for emergencies, flashlight, headlight, extra batteries, and other items depending on the environment and weather. Use zip-lock bags to keep items dry. By leaving a little air in the bags, most items will float if they fall overboard.

If you have taken a neat trip, tell us about it in our kayaking forum. Let us know how you prepare, what you bring, etc.