Liverpool University Canoe Club

OK, you’re going on a trip, so what do you need to take / borrow from the sheds? Trinny and Tranny, what should we wear on the river?

The Checklist

Essential stuff: All these things can be borrowed from the club if you don’t have your own. Remember to sign them out, and remember: Its up to you to fetch these things out the shed and make sure they go on the bus. Don’t assume that someone else will get things for you. If you absolutely can’t make it to the sheds and need to arrange others to collect your kit for you, then you need to persuade an individual to do so as a favour to you. And you may then wish to thank them by buying them beverages.

If you are not sure, ask the equipment officer or other people there for advice about which kit is suitable for you / the trip - they will help you with advice about which boat is best for you / the conditions and how much warm wear you need to take.

What you need: The absolute minimum you will need is:

• Boat! (WITH AIRBAGS / SUITABLE BOUYANCY ) - An upturned boat is much harder to rescue if it does not have airbags, so it might endanger whoever is trying to rescue it. And won’t provide a floating rescue aid for you. So thats why all boats taken on rivers, lakes or the sea must have adequate bouyancy. Sit in the boat to check that you fit in and that the footrests are where you need them. Do this while still at the sheds.
• paddle! - the correct handed-ness for you.
• Spraydeck! - that fits you and the boat - check this while at the sheds.
• Bouyancy aid - that fits you comfortably and can be tightened so that you cannot fall out of it.
• Helmet - that fits you.

Make sure that you get to the sheds in time to find each of those things for yourself, check they fit you, sign them out in the book, help load them on the bus.These things too!

• Adequate warm clothes for on the water. Bring any thermals you own, also wetsuit. NO DENIM! - cotton is not nice when wet, it doesn’t keep you warm when wet, and will chafe. There is some suitable skankware in the sheds for you to borrow. Take care of it nicely, and return it hung up to dry.
• A cagoule - again, the club has a few, please look after them nicely
• Footwear - wetsuit boots or shoes, or failing that, old trainers.
• Other comfort-wear - skull cap or woolly hat, canoe gloves or marigolds
• Spare warm clothes to change into afterward

If something breaks, or you notice that it is broken, report it to the equipment officers so that they can arrange to mend it.