Brian,
Thanks for answering my inquiry. I'll check the websites and look at the photos you recomend...right now, I'm being summoned by my children to watch a "show" they want to put on. More later.
Bill

: Bill,

: Go to http://community.webshots.com/user/brian_nystrom and check out the
: albums on deck rigging and outfitting. You'll see what cords and sliders
: are. My experience is that bungee cord is largely useless, except for
: holding light items like a chart case, neoprene hood, etc. I won't trust
: it to secure my spare paddle or anything else critical.

: I've thought about using netting, but it's just not versatile enough. It
: doesn't hold stongly and you can't read a chart through it easily.

: I carry as little gear on deck as possible. Typically, it amounts to my spare
: paddle, chart case, 3mm neoprene hood and occasionally a GPS or throwing
: stick (if I feel like practicing rolls with it). Everything else I need is
: either on my person or inside the boat. I have a couple of deck bags (Seal
: Line and Dagger), but haven't used either in at least two years. I guess
: it's time to sell one...

: I mount my pumps either under the foredeck (lots of unused space there) or
: between the right cheek plate and the hull, depending on the boat. The
: paddle float is stored in bungee loops on the back of my backband or
: behind the left cheek plate. I rarely access these items unless I'm out of
: the boat, so I see no need to keep them on deck. Smaller items are either
: in my PFD pockets or in the day hatch.

: I agree that items on deck are vulerable to loss and I've seen (and been
: involved in) some pretty big "yard sales" in surf conditions.
: I've also seen and experienced what a liability that gear laden decks can
: be during rescues. Rescue training, more than any other experience,
: convinced me that when it comes to decks, clean is good.

: Bungee is far from ideal for paddle float rigging, as it stretches and allows
: the paddle to move around too much. It also goes slack over time and
: rapidly loses stength. I simply don't trust it for anything structural or
: critical.

: I've never used a drogue or a kite, but may try them someday. In either case,
: some type of quick release is mandatory.

: Wrapping anything around the coaming is a bad idea. If it pops off, it will
: end up around your body and possibly around your neck. No thanks.

: If you check out Webshots albums, you'll see that I don't use the standard
: 'box' rigging and I rig my boats in similar fashion. Making them identical
: can be difficult with commercial boats, since the number and location of
: deck fittings varies.

: My preference is for lower volume boats. Although I do go kayak camping
: occasionally, I don't find that I need the room of an
: "expedition" boat. Large hatches are nice for loading, but huge
: volume isn't necessary. Unless you're going on long trips and/or are
: forced to carry all of your fresh water, a "day boat" will
: probably suffice for camping, too.

: As you'll see from the pics, I'm a Greenland paddle user. I find no
: difference in my ability to move the boat vs. a euro paddle. I prefer the
: GP for it's versatility and ease of construction, among other things. A
: 'storm paddle" is simply a shorter version of a GP that's used with a
: sliding stroke. My storm paddle has the same length blades as my standard
: paddle, but the loom (shaft) between the blades is only 3" long. The
: point of the short paddle is that by sliding it back and forth on each
: stroke, you get the same thrust as a full size paddle, but there is no
: upper blade to catch the wind. I use mine mainly as a spare, since I don't
: find my full-length paddle to be a problem in wind and I feel more secure
: using it.

: If you go to www.qajaqusa.org , you'll find lots of info on GPs and other
: Greenland kayaking related gear and techniques.

: Phew! I think that's everything you asked. What's next?