How do you store your water?

[Jason Jones]

As I prepare and research for multi-day trips in the glades, I am confused over what the best method for storing water is. 

I'm using a sea kayak, so unlike a canoe I do have somewhat steep restrictions regarding the size of my water containers. I also know that protecting your water from raccoons is important. 

I'd be interested in hearing how some of the more experienced kayakers handle their water and food storage.

[vivian]

I always had a camel back with hose that was behind my seat. The hose was threaded under spray deck I saw some folks make a port on rear deck for hose.  For water storage I used dromedary bags like these from MSR, just make sure not to leave them out at camp or the coons will put holes in them.

http://www.cascadedesigns.com/msr/water/storage/dromedary-bags/product

Water is very heavy so I mainly kept bags close to cockpit for best balance.

Food is packaged per meal with all packaging removed for weight savings.  Try to consolidate all meals per day to make it easier to find and label all packages.  While using dehydrated foods is easy you do need to bring enough water to hydrate.  I am also using canned food that  does not need water for some meals.  I usually use a vacuum sealer to package meals making them more waterproof.  Then put them in colored stuff sacks for ease of organizing. For my method I use Green for morning, yellow for lunch  and red for dinner.  Blue is for snacks.

[CaptAlan]

MSR 10 liter dromedaries:

https://www.rei.com/product/733948/msr-dromedary-bag-10-liter

I keep 2 in the bow next to the bulkhead and one in the stern next to the bulkhead. Ill also put a camlel pack or smaller dromedary behind my seat in the cockpit for drinking while paddling i feed the mouthpiece through spray skirt and up PFD. As a backup i keep two nalgenes 80% full in the cockpit If i use up my camel pack on the water.

Ill also throw in some bleach jugs if i have the space and need for more than 8 gallons of water cheap and durable.

[Jeremy Clark]

I usually bring 1 32 oz sports drink and 4 20 oz water bottles for each day, which is slightly less than 1 gallon per day. (112/128) On a longer trip I make up the difference with 2 liter jugs. At night, or if I am not close by, I make sure that the hatches are shut. I have had birds and raccoons poke a hole in some of my gear, so, I prefer smaller containers. For an Everglades trip, I skip the freeze dried meals, and just go with canned stuff. You carry the water to rehydrate, or carry the water in the can. I try to go pouch-can-jar, leaving all of the cardboard at home. The empty cans slide onto the bottom of a 20oz water jug taking up little room. Good Luck, JRC.

[Kim Gass]

My husband uses a Greenland ( low volume) style kayak

He does carry water. Up top on the deck he uses a Dromedary ( 70 oz) for during the day water slid under deck bungees

He uses  2 liter soda bottles ( after the soda is gone of course) for transporting water that might be for the next day or later that day.

The danger with small bottles and even 2 liter soda bottles is that for him they can get jammed in the bow of the kayak. This makes for interesting contortions on a chickee.. Its just something you have to be aware of

[Dave Briggs]

I use the MSR bags too. Splash out and get the thicker black ones instead of the "lite" red ones. A 10L Drom fits in my day hatch behind the cockpit bulkhead, a second fits in the rear hatch up against the dayhatch bulkhead and a third in the front hatch against the bulkhead, trying to keep the weight as central as possible.If I need more I squeeze smaller water bottles in gaps. I also take a 20oz Gatorade per day and these squeeze in small gaps between bags. Once packed with all your gear check the kayak floats level, If it is front heavy it will weathercock like crazy and you spend a lot of energy trying to go straight in a side breeze.

I use my own dehydrated food for some meals, most only take a pint of water so not too bad. I like to have a couple of real easy meals in case you have a crappy/cold/wet day paddling and you just want something quick. I have a 16oz thermos flask which I put hot water in the night before, then in the morning I prefer a no-cook breakfast and coffee from the thermos.  No need to cook in the morning. I like to sort out the days lunch and snacks every morning and put them in the day hatch, everything else just pack wherever

[vivian]

Dave, I too love my thermos for the morning tea/coffee/oatmeal whatever.  Leisurely packing up while the bugs are most active no need to go outside until all is in dry bags and I am dressed for another day on the water - plus sunscreen and bug dope :-)  My thermos is the Nissan thermos. I boil water at dinner which is usually around 6 pm and the water stays boiling hot until morning. This is even when we get those cold snaps in the 40's at night.

http://www.thermos.com/products/vacuum-insulated-32-oz-stainless-st...

[Flex Kayakfari.com]

Here's new way to carry - meet the "Water Vest":

Carries up to 40 litres / 10 gallons!

http://watervest.org/

(no association - but I support this message)

[Swamp Hunter]

that could come in handy for those looking to cross the border into Texas.

Flex Kayakfari.com said:

Here's new way to carry - meet the "Water Vest":

Carries up to 40 litres / 10 gallons!

http://watervest.org/

(no association - but I support this message)